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Catriona Gray’s ‘slow-mo twirl’ in Miss Universe prelims captivates fans

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Miguel Dumaual, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/20181213-catriona.jpg"/><figcaption>The Philippines’ Catriona Gray takes her turn on stage during the Miss Universe preliminary swimwear competition. <em>YouTube: Miss Universe</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>For a second, some Filipino viewers of the Miss Universe preliminary competition weren’t sure if the live stream from Bangkok suddenly had a hiccup as Philippines bet Catriona Gray emerged on stage, apparently in slow motion.</p><p>(See Gray’s preliminary swimsuit performance at the 46:32 mark in the video below.)</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DnNwMULWsaI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Gray had just started her walk for the swimsuit competition when she twirled and the “lag” was noticed by pageant fans online. But the “slow-mo” spin, it turned out, was choreographed to end with a swift hair flip and snappy hip swing that commanded attention.</p><p>Here’s a frame-by-frame look at that moment:</p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo1.png"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo2.png"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo3.png"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo4.png"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo5.png"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo6.png"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo7.png"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo8.png"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo9.png"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo10.png"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo11.png"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/12/14/1213catslowmo12.png"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Catriona Gray starts her swimsuit walk in the preliminary competition with a twirl that starts slowly and ends swiftly. <cite>YouTube: Miss Universe</cite></p></div></div></div><p>Going by Gray’s cumulative pageant efforts in recent months, the “slow-mo twirl,” as fans have now dubbed it online, may very well have been a calculated one to go with her “lava walk” for maximum impact.</p><p>And it worked, as evidenced by the flood of comments about her swimsuit competition performance on Thursday night. Here are some of them:</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">catriona’s walk and stare ughhhh she is carrying the Philippines with so much passion and love <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Philippines?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Philippines</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniverse</a> <a href="https://t.co/mFVDLF54Pb">pic.twitter.com/mFVDLF54Pb</a></p>— Jo Tolentino (@_vhnprz) <a href="https://twitter.com/_vhnprz/status/1073199173023891458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Ang galing ni Catriona mag slow-mo parang spaghetti na linasap tapos biglang hinigop ng mabilis HAHAHAHAHA what an analogy</p>— Lord (@lordnicolas_) <a href="https://twitter.com/lordnicolas_/status/1073217980811567106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Catriona&#x27;s turn only LOOKS slow mo because she was spotting. Basically gazing at a spot while her body turns then whipping her head as she completes the turn. Idk if ya girl a ballerina but it&#x27;s a neat trick <a href="https://t.co/FwKlnB5xQB">pic.twitter.com/FwKlnB5xQB</a></p>— Gigi 💋 (@gigi_dancing) <a href="https://twitter.com/gigi_dancing/status/1073214720973332480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">This slow mo cleared my skin and took away my stress. Catriona went to WERQ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniverse2018</a> 👑 <a href="https://t.co/7vbazC70qp">https://t.co/7vbazC70qp</a></p>— Tazjana 🌟 (@toitanya) <a href="https://twitter.com/toitanya/status/1073214322858385409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Catriona Gray was the first ever contestant to do live slow mo in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/missuniverse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#missuniverse</a> chrt. 😱😂<a href="https://t.co/vZAjOCSdyH">pic.twitter.com/vZAjOCSdyH</a></p>— Korte Supremo 👨🏻‍⚖️ (@KorteSupremo_) <a href="https://twitter.com/KorteSupremo_/status/1073211155483512833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">omg mga 10++ times ko na pinapanood yung slow mo turn ni catriona gray wtf ang ganda??????????????</p>— Vian Marie Paguio (@paguiocity) <a href="https://twitter.com/paguiocity/status/1073209570875461632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">BET NA BET KO YUNG SLOW MOTION NI CATRIONA GRAY ANG SARAP GAWIN SA MGA TAONG DI NANINIWALA SA KAKAYAHAN MO TAPOS IKUTAN MO NG GANYAN PANEEEEESSSSSS<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniverse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissPhilippines?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissPhilippines</a></p>— Rheane Martinez (@FebbruaRheaness) <a href="https://twitter.com/FebbruaRheaness/status/1073208685709541377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Long strides, swaying hips, facial expression and that slow-mo twirl ? Yup that&#x27;s how you slay the CATwalk <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniverse2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CatrionaGray?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CatrionaGray</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissPhilippines?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissPhilippines</a> 👑✨<br/><br/>📷: Vogue Thailand <a href="https://t.co/VTCBftufFF">pic.twitter.com/VTCBftufFF</a></p>— Ерецца Маы 🌹 (@ereccapatena) <a href="https://twitter.com/ereccapatena/status/1073224425418383361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">When all past <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissPhilippines?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissPhilippines</a> got their signature walk, <a href="https://twitter.com/catrionaelisa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@catrionaelisa</a> got the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SlowMoTwirl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SlowMoTwirl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniverse2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/aORCDd5OwG">https://t.co/aORCDd5OwG</a></p>— Jericho M. Fernandez 🇵🇭 (@iJerichoMF) <a href="https://twitter.com/iJerichoMF/status/1073220783718096897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">How she nailed that slow-mo twirl, how she slain her high-slit gown OMG. I. AM. LIVING FOR. IT. SISTERRRRR!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniverse2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissPhilippines?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissPhilippines</a> 🔥💖💯🇵🇭</p>— WALTER (@waltyperry) <a href="https://twitter.com/waltyperry/status/1073221593889832960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">darating ang araw na masasama sa choreo ko ang manual slow mo turn ni catriona itaga niyo sa bato sabay lunok at sigaw ng darnaaaaaaa</p>— jepoy (@sexbombjepoy) <a href="https://twitter.com/sexbombjepoy/status/1073224465914286081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I mean, if this weren’t live??? iisipin kong edited yung pa slow mo effect ni Catriona HUHUH her walk has reached THAT level of perfection ✨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniversePhilippines?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniversePhilippines</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniverse</a></p>— ㅤLi Balt (@LiLiHadid) <a href="https://twitter.com/LiLiHadid/status/1073224285588766720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">First time ko napasigaw ng &quot;wow&quot; bigla at nigoosebumps sa pageant. Naloka ako mga mumsh may sariling slow mo app sa katawan yung ate girl niyo!!! OMG ang galing ni Catriona!!! Grabeng lava walk yan!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniverse2018</a></p>— Paulet Udarbe (@pauletriciel) <a href="https://twitter.com/pauletriciel/status/1073223882864091138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">PHILIPPINES RIGHT NOW AFTER SEEING CATRIONA’S SLOW MO SWIMSUIT WALK + LONG GOWN TWIRL. <a href="https://t.co/EES4KvDGLM">pic.twitter.com/EES4KvDGLM</a></p>— DEWANIE KIM ♥️ (@waniedoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/waniedoo/status/1073223772319014913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">YUNG SLOW MO NI CATRIONA PAANO??? ASKING FOR A FRIEND!!</p>— kimm hadap (@kimmalulalei) <a href="https://twitter.com/kimmalulalei/status/1073223381661577216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Is there anything more beautiful than Catriona&#x27;s slow-mo twirl</p>— uwu (@mamirajartinez) <a href="https://twitter.com/mamirajartinez/status/1073223364561387520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">RIP play button, that slow-mo turn (akala mo edited) with fierce on her face. You slayed it Catriona Gray! Bring home the crown😘</p>— AppleLonzaga (@lonzagapple) <a href="https://twitter.com/lonzagapple/status/1073222402765611008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Updated software ni Catriona, built in man slow mo niya. Clap, clap, clap, GORGEOUS! <a href="https://t.co/9M7CJEvAeh">https://t.co/9M7CJEvAeh</a></p>— Yel (@carealmay) <a href="https://twitter.com/carealmay/status/1073222071809826816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Pinagpalit ko ang panonood ng Halik sa Preliminary Competition ng Miss Universe 2018. Worth to watch and support our Miss Philippines!! 🇵🇭 That slow-mo twirl of yours, Catriona!! 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniverse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniverse2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CatrionaGray?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CatrionaGray</a> <a href="https://t.co/q8qHS6GzSa">pic.twitter.com/q8qHS6GzSa</a></p>— Anya Molina-Buco (@anyabuco) <a href="https://twitter.com/anyabuco/status/1073221571345448962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">can go lesby bec of catriona 😍 did u guys just see that slow-mo turn during swimsuit competition???? uwian na huy hahaha</p>— Jen Rey (@nitrojenrey) <a href="https://twitter.com/nitrojenrey/status/1073221562021699586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">did anyone else watch Miss Universe tonight? did you guys see that slow-mo twirl of Catriona? AHHHH <a href="https://t.co/U6gsr2eyQ9">pic.twitter.com/U6gsr2eyQ9</a></p>— lou 💫 | semi-ia (@daomingcai) <a href="https://twitter.com/daomingcai/status/1073219910619123712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">What a night. Thank you giving your best, Catriona. I got swayed with your slow-mo twirl. ANG GALING MOOOOO. GO GET THAT CROWN HONEY.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissUniverse2018</a></p>— liel; exam namin (@saintliel) <a href="https://twitter.com/saintliel/status/1073218511021989889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Aside from the swimsuit competition, the preliminary pageant also saw the candidates taking turns on stage in their evening gowns.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/12/13/18/miss-universe-prelims-catriona-dazzles-in-long-gown-competition">Miss Universe prelims: Catriona dazzles in long gown competition</a></li></ul><p>The preliminary competition will determine the top 20 to be announced on coronation day on December 17.</p><p>If Gray succeeds in being crowned Miss Universe, she would be the fourth Filipina to do so after Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, Margie Moran in 1973, and Gloria Diaz in 1969.</p>

<p>For a second, some Filipino viewers weren’t sure if the live stream suddenly had a hiccup as Catriona Gray emerged on stage, apparently in slow motion.</p>

For a second, some Filipino viewers weren’t sure if the live stream suddenly had a hiccup as Catriona Gray emerged on stage, apparently in slow motion.

Catriona Gray’s ‘slow-mo twirl’ in Miss Universe prelims captivates fans

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Catriona Gray’s ‘slow-mo twirl’ in Miss Universe prelims captivates fans

Miguel Dumaual,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 14, 2018 12:32 AM PHT

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Updated December 14, 2018 09:40 AM PHT

Read More:

Miss Universe

Catriona Gray

preliminary competition

swimsuit

slow-mo twirl

slow motion

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