Gray bested first runner-up South Africa's Tamaryn Green and Sthefany Gutierrez of Venezuela, who rounded out the top three.
She succeeds Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa who took home the crown last year.
Miss Universe 2018 is... PHILIPPINES! pic.twitter.com/r2BkN8JpXh
— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 17, 2018
Comedian and talk show host Steve Harvey returned to host the contest and did not misread the winner's name as he did in 2015, although Miss Costa Rica, a TV host, too, joked about the infamous mix-up, according to PhilStar Global.
Harvey asked her if she had any professional advice for him
and she joked, “If they ever give you, like, a really, really, really important envelope, try to read it carefully, OK?”
Credit: Gemunu Amarasinghe
Credit: Gemunu Amarasinghe
The pageant was judged this year by seven women, including business women and former Miss Universe winners, in keeping with the contest’s theme of “Empowered Women.”
The pageant also made history this year with the first transgender contestant to ever take part in the contest. Miss Spain, Angela Ponce, however, did not make the top 20.
Miss USA, Sarah Rose Summers, did make the finals, but did not break the top 10.
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