Catriona Gray reveals reason behind canceled engagement with Sam Milby
Catriona Gray has finally shared more about her canceled engagement to Sam Milby, saying that although she was "shattered," she learned a lot from heartbreak.
In her interview on Karen Davila's vlog, the beauty queen talked about how Milby realized that he wasn't 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 told Davila.
"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 went on to share how she "really tried to make it work" as she was willing to adjust and understand, but ultimately realized that it wasn't meant to be.
"[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 added that, although walking away from the relationship was one of the hardest things she had ever done, she knew she needed to choose herself.
"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," she added.
"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," the beauty queen stressed.
"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 lamented. "I was so broken."
Her healing journey
She added that she went into therapy for two years and is now the healthiest version of herself.
"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," Gray said.
"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," she added. She also shared that she and Milby remain civil and see each other at events since they are under the same management.
Despite the heartbreak, the Miss Universe 2018 titleholder said that she is still hopeful for love and prays for her future husband all the time. She has also 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. He did not disclose the reason at the time, but clarified that there was no third party involved.
They went public with their relationship in 2020 and later announced their engagement in February 2023.
