Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray opened up about her view on beauty and confidence, sharing that for her, it all comes down to the energy a person gives off.
Catriona spoke with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) on the sidelines of her launch as the newest ambassador of Belo Genesis Lift, held at Belo Nexa in One Ayala Mall, Makati City.
CATRIONA GRAY ON TRYING LIFTING PROCEDURES
For Catriona Gray, confidence goes beyond physical appearance—it’s something that can be felt.
“I see confidence as an energy, because I think everyone can be beautiful in their own right,” Catriona told PEP and other members of the press.
“But there's a different language that's spoken if someone has a positive state of mind and is in a great energy of loving what they do, being happy, being grateful. It radiates.”
She added that confidence is something that develops over time through self-growth and life experiences.
“That's really what confidence means to me, as well as equipping yourself and always learning new skills, learning new things, because not everyone starts at a hundred.
“We all start somewhere. Confidence comes with experience and also being comfortable with who you truly are. Taking ownership of that.
“There's a confidence that comes from that too.”
Looking and feeling one’s best is also part of building confidence, according to Catriona, who shared that she has long been open to trying lifting procedures—even if some people think she doesn’t need them.
As someone widely regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the world, many may wonder why she still opts for such treatments.
But for Catriona, it ultimately comes down to how these choices make her feel about herself.
She shared: “Well, I'm no stranger to lifts din naman. Like, I've done Thermage and Ulthera before in the past. I think I started siguro when I was 28, 29.
“I'm 32 now. And I feel so confident in where I am at in life and the way that I look. Siguro that comes with age and becoming wiser and more assured in oneself...
“But also being a Belo baby. I feel so taken care of in this family that I really feel like I'm allowed to be my best self, aesthetically and also personally.
“So having that lift, I think we all look for that. Even with makeup, kahit yung mga contour ng jawline, upwards yung, yung angle para snatch, 'no?
“And of course, we could use makeup but as was mentioned kanina, sobrang mababang pain tolerance ko. So, knowing that I'm aging, I want to be proactive.
"I also want to feel confident, so that's why the Genesis Lift clicks all the boxes, or ticks all the boxes for me.
“It's quick. It's painless. I see the results straight away. The results get better over time. And also my skin quality improves and is at... its best. So why not, chocnut?”
Through her own experience with beauty treatments, Catriona has also observed how the definition of beauty has evolved over the years, with people now having more freedom to define it on their own terms.
For her, enhancing one’s features, whether through skincare, makeup, or procedures, remains a personal choice.
“I think the standards of beauty are ever-changing. So, siguro it's up to us to define what beauty looks like for us.
“For some it may be a very snatched complexion. Some of it may be embracing aging without any enhancement.
“Sometimes it could be surgical. Sometimes it could be non-invasive.”
She emphasized that the focus should shift away from judgment and toward removing the stigma surrounding such choices.
“I think it's not the question of being resistant. I think it's the question of shame that surrounds it.
“Now we're becoming more accepting that women and people want to take full ownership of how they express themselves and how they apply different procedures or treatments to themselves...
“And it's a matter of embracing that na if you feel beautiful there, go lang. We support that.
"It's your choice, your body, your face, your beauty, so take ownership of it.”
CATRIONA GRAY'S GO-TO BEAUTY TREATMENTS
Sharing her thoughts on beauty procedures, PEP asked Catriona about her current go-to treatments—and the Belo Genesis Lift topped her list.
The procedure is an advanced, multi-step, non-invasive face-lifting and skin rejuvenation treatment that utilizes High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), along with skin-repairing boosters like Red LED Light Therapy.
Catriona shared that she saw visible results right away, noting both lifting and improved skin quality.
She said: “I think what's great about the Belo Genesis Lift is, like, right after you finish the session, even if they do half of your face, you will see a significant difference to the lifting quality of the treatment.
“And then what's great is that after that you'll notice that your skin quality improves over time, and even the lifting effect also improves over time.
“So you get it maybe once a year, but that once a year is powerful enough to really sustain that amount of time. And it just gives you a different level of confidence.
“Hindi kailangang magme-make-up na yung snatch effect using contour and bronzer and all the works.
“I mean, make-up is fun, but why not achieve that with a non-invasive treatment that's painless pa. Kaya sobrang gusto ko siya.”
What stands out the most for Catriona is how comfortable the procedure is.
She added: “Out of all the lifting treatments, Thermage, Ulthera, Genesis Lift is yung pinaka-painless.
“I have such a low pain tolerance, and the Genesis Lift, talagang hindi mo ma-feel. Parang slight tickle lang siya. Wala siyang parang kailangang iitiis. You don't have to use EMLA [Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetics].”
Before discovering the Genesis Lift, Catriona revealed that her previous favorites included ADVAlight and ASCE+ Exosomes.
She shared: “My favorite treatments from Belo... Advalight, which is great for evening out skin tone.
“It's a laser treatment but walang downtime. It's again, painless, which I love and I notice a radiance in my skin after doing that.
“And also Exosomes, I love. It's a, parang, combination of skin-loving nutrients that they apply to the skin.
“It helps with my redness or if I have a flare-up or just general skin quality.”
The Belo ADVAlight is an advanced, non-invasive yellow laser treatment that addresses active acne, acne scars, oiliness, redness, and melasma.
Meanwhile, Belo’s ASCE+ Exosomes are freeze-dried, rose stem cell–derived exosomes designed to help repair damaged skin, boost collagen and elastin production, and improve overall skin health.
The Belo Genesis Lift is offered at an introductory price of PHP110,000 per session, while ADVAlight typically costs PHP19,400 for the face. The ASCE+ Exosomes treatment starts at PHP27,000 per session.
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