Catriona Gray has opened up about her canceled engagement to Sam Milby, sharing that while the experience left her “shattered,” it also became a turning point in her personal growth.
Photo: Karen Davila/YouTube
In an interview on Karen Davila’s vlog, the Miss Universe 2018 titleholder spoke candidly about what led to their split. According to Gray, Milby realized months after proposing that he was not ready for marriage.
“There was a point in our relationship where I think he just realized that he wasn’t ready to take it to the stage of commitment that we thought we were on, because he had proposed,” she said.
“And then, a few months later, [he] realized that hindi pala siya ready. So, that was very hurtful for me, and I was really blindsided at the time,” she added.
Gray shared that she tried to make the relationship work and was willing to adjust out of love. However, she eventually came to terms with what the situation meant for her.
“[When] you love someone, you’re willing to understand them. Pero, it got to a point na, at that age, and what we’ve been through, and hindi ka pa rin sure, I think that’s an answer already,” she said.
She described walking away as one of the hardest decisions she has made, but said it was necessary.
“I realized that I needed to choose myself in that moment, because I’ve given so much in trying to adjust,” she said. “I don’t look down on myself at that moment because I did it because I love the person.”
Gray also spoke about her long-term hopes.
“As a woman, I wanna have a family. I wanna get married, and I’d love to be a mom someday. So, I really want a partner who values me and sees that future, too. Ayokong ma-wait around for someone to figure out,” she said.
The beauty queen admitted that going through heartbreak in the public eye made things more difficult.
“I think that heartbreak taught me a lot, [because] I was really shattered—and to navigate that publicly was really hard, too. I didn’t wanna talk about it, kasi ang sakit niya eh,” she said. “I was so broken.”
Her healing journey
Following the breakup, Gray said she sought professional help and focused on strengthening her support system.
“Now, I’m so much better. I went into therapy for two years, and I became so close with my core group—my friends, my family—in a way that I don’t think I had before,” she shared. “It’s just been a really healing journey. I feel like I came back home to myself. The version of me now, I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been.”
Gray also noted that she and Milby remain civil and occasionally see each other at events, as they are under the same management.
Despite what happened, she said she still believes in love and remains hopeful about the future. She revealed that she has started dating someone outside the showbiz industry.
“Absolutely! I definitely believe in love. I think if you have a bad experience with a guy or two, you shouldn’t allow that to reframe or change how you see love. I think love is beautiful,” she said.
Milby confirmed their breakup in 2025, following split rumors that surfaced in February 2024. At the time, he did not disclose the reason for their separation but clarified that there was no third party involved.
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