Miss Universe and actor boyfriend: How the pandemic lockdown brought power couple together

When Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and her boyfriend walk into Emara Ole Sereni hotel, where they are scheduled for an interview with The Standard, they immediately steal the show.
Not only are they both impossibly good-looking, tall, and radiant, but they are crazy in love, by all means.
They lean towards each other and giggle at inside jokes. When separated momentarily by journalists and event organisers to take part in different interviews, they look at each other longingly from across the room, smiling and sharing what appears to be their own secret conversation using only their eyes.
The Filipino-Australian beauty queen is in Kenya creating awareness about cleft-lip care and correction. She has been accompanied by her boyfriend, Sam Milby.
He is a Filipino-American actor and musician who is known for TV shows like The Law of Revenge, Mara Clara and appearing on Pinoy Big Brother in 2005.
Speaking to us in an exclusive interview, Miss Universe 2018 says that their love story was solidified during the lockdown necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Boyfriend of the year goes to Sam!” Gray says before breaking into a giddy laugh.
Miss Universe 2018 says that their love story was solidified during the lockdown necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic. [Courtesy]
“Last year, he actually got me my first dog as a Valentine’s Day gift. So he set the bar very high for future Valentine’s Days. I fell in love with him because, I mean, we have been in lockdown for an enormous amount of time in the Philippines, so having a puppy companion made that bearable. We added another puppy to our family just recently so I am an official dog-mum,” says Gray.
While the model praises her boyfriend for his caring nature only briefly, Milby, on the other hand gushes about his stunning girlfriend throughout the sit-down.
Opening up about how they met, Milby reveals that the pair’s friendship blossomed in church.
“We met a long time ago at an event. We had common friends but we never hang out. Then, before she actually competed for Miss Universe, we ended up going to the same church and became friends through that. We hang out with the same group of friends,” Milby says.
He adds: “Which is nice – the fact that we were friends before she became Miss Universe.”
When asked about how the model captured his attention, Milby says without hesitation that he knows his girlfriend “stands out”.
“She is gorgeous. She is very tall. We might be the same height but – look at her now, when she is in heels it is a different story – she has to stay away because she gets so much taller than me,” he says, and the two exchange playful looks.
Gray is all the way across the room talking to her artiste handler and other models that have attended the Smile Train charity event, but she is half-listening in on his interview, blushing and beaming at him.
Earlier this year, the famous actor told Filipino Magazine One Mega that he has a commitment on his mind, adding that he definitely sees a forever with Gray.
Opening up about how they met, Milby reveals that the pair’s friendship blossomed in church. [Courtesy]
“I would not be with Cat if I do not think she is the one. At my age also, why would I be wanting to stay and stick around if I do not feel that we have a future? I am really looking for my life partner obviously, and I really hope that she is. I mean, we have a lot that we are working on and we are both growing in our walk with God. The one thing that is very important to the both of us is keeping God in the centre of our individual lives and our relationship,” he says.
In a candid sit-down with The Standard, Milby opened up about accompanying his significant other to Kenya, noting that the cleft-lip awareness campaign has touched him too.
“I am here because of Catriona. She is the ambassador for Smile Train and has been for the last three years. Yesterday was my first time experiencing what they really do, and I was moved. It is amazing to bring back that confidence and give children and their families that transformation. I have even seen it bring spouses back together, it is incredible,” says Milby.
Speaking about the charity work she is involved in, Gray disclosed that cleft-lip awareness is a cause that she is passionate about, having worked with the charity organisation since her crowning in 2018.
“It does not matter the culture, or the language that you speak; the care that people give to individuals in need is still the same. To be able to give that care to cleft patients and seeing how it transforms not just one life or their physical appearance, but their whole family and community is really something special,” she says.
Gray says that one of the key messages she hopes to pass across is that cleft care is out there, free and available.
Speaking about the huge moment when she secured the prestigious Miss Universe title, the 27-year-old model says the feeling of being crowned was indescribable.
“I do not even know how to encapsulate a moment where you realise a dream. I think it is a very unique experience because when people look at goals, it is usually gradual. But with Miss Universe, it was instant. I could not even process it; I went completely blank and I guess you could say I left my body,” she says.
She adds: “It was not just a personal victory, I really felt the weight of my nation. It gave me so much pride to bring my nation pride. That made it so special.”