It’s been days since we crowned the new queens of Binibining Pilipinas, but Catriona Gray and Nicole Cordoves’ hosting tandem is giving us chills. From their iconic looks to their exceptional hosting abilities, the former Miss Universe 2018 and Miss Grand International 2016 1st runner-up proved that they are the tandem to beat.
The former beauty queens redefined a new era of pageantry as the first all-female hosts in Binibining Pilipinas 2021. On an instagram post, Catriona said that she introduced this idea with Madam Stella Márquez Araneta, chairperson of Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI). With their preparedness and persistence, they translated this vision into reality. Truly, they are a powerhouse duo, and here are more reasons why.
Queen Besties
One month before the pageant’s grand coronation night, Nicole posted a vlog in her YouTube channel that shows an exclusive scoop of her and Catriona’s Binibini journey, their intertwined fates turned into friendship, and a sneak peek of their preparation as mentors for the Binibining Pilipinas hopefuls. Together, their individual personalities as well as their shared passions could make shiny things even brighter.
Superb Speakers
As someone who joined an international pageant twice, Catriona already mastered her craft as an effective communicator. She has always been purposeful in using her platform to speak up for her advocacies. Nicole, who is a TV and events host, is also It’s Showtime’s Miss Q&A Hurado. Her fun and clever remarks as a hurado exudes from her wit and confidence. The two, combined, are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with.
In a caption on her Instagram post, Nicole even said that Catriona has personally prepared index cards during rehearsals with the names, numbers, and provinces of the candidates. Who wouldn’t want her as a thesis partner? No doubt, these eloquent ladies both wowed the audience as they delivered a caliber performance during the finals night.
Empowering Mentors
Did you know that in Catriona’s pursuit of the Miss Universe crown in 2018, Nicole was one of her mentors? Nicole helped her prepare for the question and answer portion back then. Now that they are both successful queens, they wanted to empower and bring out the best in the next batch of candidates. Aside from their huge roles as hosts in the prestigious pageant, Catriona and Nicole also served as mentors for this year’s Binibinis. They have provided online training sessions that helped the girls find their personal styles and embrace their stories to transcend further and have a chance to be crowned.
Message of Hope
When you think that their contribution to the remarkable segment of Binibining Pilipinas 2021 is already outstanding, wait ‘til you know that they also decided to write the closing message of the program and bring it to the next level. They made an emotional tribute to all the heroes of today. Nicole said,“We wrote this message together in the hopes that we get to tell the story of every Filipino in this pandemic - a story of heartbreak and newfound hope”.
