While Virgin Islands (VI) representative, Ms A’yana K. Phillips did not take the crown or place in the top 10, her appearances on screen and across social media brought delight to the thousands of fans back home in the VI and abroad. Photo: Miss Universe

The Philippines' Miss Catriona E. Gray is the new Miss Universe 2018/19 after taking the crown and beating 93 other contestants when the competition concluded in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday, December 17, 2018. Photo: Miss Universe

Ms Phillips, no stranger to pageants won the local leg of the completion in August 2018 to secure her spot in Thailand. Photo: Miss Universe

Ms A’yana K. Phillips in swimwear. Photo: Miss Universe

Grey wore a sparkling red dress that she said was inspired by a volcano in the Philippines as she was handed the crown to the delight of a roaring crowd in the Thai capital city.

The 24-year-old singer and model said she wore red because, "when I was 13, my mom said she had a dream that I would win Miss Universe in a red dress."

BVI Still Shines

While Virgin Islands (VI) representative, Ms A’yana K. Phillips did not take the crown or place in the top 10, her appearances on screen and across social media brought delight to the thousands of fans back home in the VI and abroad.

Ms Phillips, no stranger to pageants was coronated as the local queen in August of 2018 to secure her spot in Thailand.

A year before in the 2017 Miss British Virgin Islands pageant, the beauty queen tied for the first runner-up position—never before seen in the Miss BVI pageant results—with Helina A. Hewlett, where she shared the prizes received.

Over in Thailand, this year's Miss Universe 2018/19 competition also included the first-ever transgender contestant, Angela M. Ponce of Spain. She said in a video presentation that it was not important for her to win, but was more important for her "to be here."