TV host-supermodel Tyra Banks and Miss Universe Canada 2016 Siera Bearchell showed their support to Miss Universe Catriona Gray’s performance in the preliminary competition of the prestigious pageant.
Gray’s ‘Lava walk’ during the swimsuit segment of the pre-pageant competition was widely praised, specifically for her slow motion twirl.
Banks lauded Gray’s runway skills on Twitter. The international model described it as “Pinoy Power to the Max.”
I mean…Pinoy Power to the Max!!! https://t.co/ar22wLvw2k
— Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) December 15, 2018
Gray noticed Banks’ tweet and immediately thanked her for the recognition.
OMG 😭😍 @tyrabanks https://t.co/vSL3NZyvHN
— Catriona Gray (@catrionaelisa) December 15, 2018
Meanwhile, Bearchell shared on YouTube that Gray’s catwalk during the semi-finals round was one of the best ones she has seen so far.
Bearchell included a video clip of the Filipino-Australian model’s executing her signature “Lava walk.”
“It was one of the best swimsuit walks I have ever seen in a long time. This may be one of my favorite swimsuits at Miss Universe,” Bearchell said.
She particularly loved Gray’s sexy look, her smile and the slow motion turn she executed.
“People have high expectations for her and I think she outdid the expectations for the swimsuit competition,” Bearchell said.
The Canadian model previously defended Gray from people taking a swipe at her as “fat” in the comments section of her swimsuit photos on Instagram.
Bearchell described them as “disturbing.”
“There are women, women of all ages, who are reading those comments and they’ll think, ‘If these people are saying these stuff about her, what would they say about me?” she said in a video.
At the end of her 12-minute clip on the pre-preliminary round, Bearchell reiterated: “And for those calling her fat, you’re wrong.”
The first international competition Gray joined was Miss World in 2016. However, she was cut short as one of the top five finalists.
She later competed in Binibining Pilipinas where she won and got the opportunity to represent the country in the Miss Universe event.
Last September, she was also chosen as one of the models of American designer Sherri Hill during the New York Fashion Week.
The brand was one of the chosen sponsors of the international beauty contest.
Aside from her lava walk, Gray was also praised for her evening gown in the semi-finals round. The design of the orange long dress with a high slit was inspired by the Filipino mythological bird, Ibong Adarna.
