'I don't feel like a big deal, but I guess I am!' Miss Universe Catriona Gray says she spent her New Year watching reaction videos of people in the Philippines witnessing the moment she won the coveted title By Emma Shepherd For Daily Mail Australia Published: 20:54 GMT, 22 February 2019 | Updated: 20:54 GMT, 22 February 2019 Viewcomments She was crowned Miss Universe in 2018. And on Saturday, 25-year-old Filipino-Australian Catriona Gray admitted that she feels like a celebrity in the Philippines after winning the coveted title. Catriona explained to The Daily Telegraph on Saturday: 'I don't feel like a big deal, but I guess I am a big deal!' 'I don't feel like a big deal, but I guess I am': Miss Universe Catriona Gray says she spent her New Year watching reaction videos of people in the Philippines witnessing the moment she won the title Catriona competed in the Miss Universe pageant as Miss Philippines, and was appointed the winner during the crowning ceremony on Monday, 17 December. 'I don't want to sound like I'm up myself by saying that. But in the Philippines, I spent my New Year watching reaction videos of people there from when I won,' she said. Elsewhere in the interview, she explained that in the Philippines, pageants are almost their national sport. 'I don't want to sound like I'm up myself by saying that. But in the Philippines, I spent my new year watching reaction videos of people there from when I won. It's pretty full on,' she said 'In the Philippines we don't have Superbowl, we don't have footy, but we have basketball, boxing and pageants,' she added Catriona finished first ahead of the South African and Venezuelan finalists in the glittering televised Bangkok event hosted by American TV host Steve Harvey and supermodel Ashley Graham. 'A few years ago I lost a close friend to health complications with HIV,' she said during her speech. 'So spreading awareness on that cause and encouraging people to get the simple test and knowing their status is definitely one of my first projects that I'd like to pursue.' Winner: In December, Miss Philippines was crowned Miss Universe in Bangkok Previously, Catriona was crowned Miss Universe Philippines in 2018 and Miss Universe World Phillipiens in 2016. In 1999, she entered into the world of pageantry and won Little Miss Philippines in Sydney at the age five. Catriona, who was born in Cairns, Queensland, now calls New York home. Catriona Gray of the Philippines finished first in the glittering televised event Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility