Choosing herself: Catriona Gray on heartbreak, healing, and learning to love again

In a rare moment of emotional openness, Catriona Gray finally broke her silence about one of the most painful chapters of her life—her breakup with Sam Milby—during a candid interview on the YouTube channel of broadcaster Karen Davila, revealing how love, uncertainty, and self-respect collided in a relationship she once believed would lead to forever

Speaking with honesty and vulnerability, Gray shared how the turning point came after what she thought was a promise of lifelong commitment. “There was a part in our relationship na he realized na he wasn’t ready to take it to that stage of commitment we thought we were on ’cause he had proposed. Months later (after he proposed to me), he realized na hindi pala siya ready. That was very hurtful for me,” she said. “I was blindsided at the time and I really tried to make it work.”

For Gray, the realization was not immediate. Like many people deeply in love, she chose patience over pride and understanding over resentment. “I was willing to adjust ‘cause siguro when you love someone, you’re willing to understand them,” she admitted. “Pero it got to that point na at that age and after we’ve been through, kung ‘di ka pa rin sure, I think that’s an answer.”

She revealed that she exhausted every effort to save what they had built together, holding on to hope even when doubts began to surface. “So, I was willing to just—siguro, 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 repeated, underscoring how clarity sometimes comes only after deep emotional struggle.

Eventually, Gray reached a moment of reckoning—one that forced her to choose between waiting indefinitely and honoring her own worth. “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.”

Behind her poised public image, however, was a woman quietly falling apart. Gray admitted that navigating heartbreak under public scrutiny was especially painful. “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. I was so broken,” she confessed.

Instead of allowing the pain to define her, Gray sought healing with intention and courage. She turned to therapy and leaned on the people who knew her best. “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.”

Through that process, Gray rediscovered not only her strength, but also her sense of direction. She became clearer about what she truly wants in life and in love. “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 firmly.

Speculations about their breakup had circulated since early 2024, when their management described them as “facing some challenges.” Months later, Milby confirmed the end of their engagement, while Gray chose silence—immersing herself in work and personal growth. It was only now, after healing in private, that she felt ready to share her truth.

Despite everything she endured, Gray made it clear that heartbreak did not harden her heart. On the contrary, it strengthened her belief in love. “Absolutely! I definitely [still] believe in love,” she said. “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 also revealed that she is now dating a non-showbiz personality, approaching romance this time with greater self-awareness and emotional clarity.

More than a story of loss, Catriona Gray’s confession is a story of self-respect, resilience, and renewal. It is about learning that choosing yourself is not a failure of love, but an act of courage. In sharing her pain, she has given countless women permission to walk away from uncertainty, honor their worth, and believe—once again—that healing is possible, and love, when it is right, will never require them to lose themselves.