It's 2025, and if something makes you feel comfortable in your own skin, confident, and empowered—then go for it. That's exactly what Catriona Gray reminded us.
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona encouraged us to embrace these feelings and acknowledge them—because they are valid. In an Instagram Reel posted by Dr. Vicki Belo, featuring other two Filipina beauty queens Michelle Dee and Celeste Cortesi, Catriona openly shared that she underwent liposuction—a cosmetic procedure that removes fat from areas of your body—on the back of her arms.
"From my personalization of the Body Reset Program, I did a lot of Onda, XLS, MSculpt… Toning and tightening was really my goal. And I even tried lipo for the first time here at the back of my arms," Catriona revealed.
Even Belo was surprised by Catriona’s honesty. In a world where celebrities often face criticism—whether they admit to cosmetic procedures or not—Catriona's openness was refreshing.
But Catriona didn't seem to mind what people might say. For her, the procedure was a personal choice that helped her feel more confident. She explained that her arms were naturally bigger than the rest of her body, which led her to make the decision.
"You can see that's just a little thing that I did, and I'm able to carry myself in a certain way because I feel that," she said. "And that, you know, translates to confidence for me," she added.
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Catriona Gray, Michelle Dee, And Celeste Cortesi Open Up About Getting Liposuction
Two other beauty queens, Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi and Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee, also admitted in the same video that they underwent liposuction.
"So it was during Miss Universe, before I left for the US [Miss Universe competition]," Celeste recalled.
Michelle, on the other hand, shared that she had liposuction on her back and waist. "The thing is, as you grow up, you realize that some areas are just stubborn… Of course, I tried my best to lose weight, but there were parts that wouldn't budge. Sometimes, you just need that extra love," Michelle explained.
At the end of the day, no matter how others see us, there will always be things we want to improve in our own way. What works for one person may not work for another.
The truth is, we all want to feel good in our own skin. And gone are the days when society gets to dictate what people should or shouldn't do to feel their best.
