For the first time, Catriona Gray broke her silence about her breakup with Sam Milby, describing it then as one of the hardest things she had to do.

“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 proposed, and then a few months later, realized na hindi pala siya ready,” the beauty queen said in an interview with broadcaster Karen Davila’s YouTube channel.

She admitted that she was hurt and blindsided at the time, but was willing to make things work and adjust.

“Kasi 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, kung hindi ka pa rin sure, I think that’s an answer already,” Catriona said, adding she eventually realized that she had to choose herself in that moment.

Despite this, the beauty queen clarified that she did not look down on herself at the time, stating she did it because she loved the person. Catriona also opened up about getting married and wanting to have her own family someday. Having those goals in mind, she said, “I really want a partner who values me and sees that future with me too. Ayoko mag wait around for someone to figure out [if he’s ready].”

Navigating a Public Breakup

Although Catriona and Sam are still in the same management and sometimes see each other, she said that navigating the breakup publicly was also a challenge in its own right.

“I think that heartbreak taught me a lot ‘cause I was really shattered. And to navigate that publicly was really hard too, ‘cause I didn’t want to talk about it, kasi ang sakit niya e. Until everyone kept asking, ‘Anong nangyari, bakit hindi kayo nag-post together? What’s happening?’ I was so broken, I’m just like, please let me grieve,” Catriona recalled.

A few years after her split with Sam, Catriona said she is doing much better, adding that her healing journey felt like coming home to herself.

“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. The relationships around me are the richest they’ve ever been. In a way, I see a blessing in the hurt. A year, two years ago, I couldn’t even say that,” she said.

Although it was one of the more challenging chapters of her life, Catriona said she still believes in love. A bad experience with a guy or two should not reframe or change someone’s perspective on romantic love, she said. In addition, Catriona revealed she is dating someone outside the showbiz circle.

“‘Cause I think love is beautiful, and I think God’s will for us is to find someone to be married to and have love with. So if it’s not yet good, God’s not yet finished,” she stated.

The former couple went public with their relationship in 2020.

In 2023, Sam confirmed their engagement, stating that an intimate wedding is scheduled for the following year.

However, in 2024, eagle-eyed netizens noticed that Catriona's engagement photo with Sam was no longer on the beauty queen’s Instagram account. Amid rumors of a possible breakup, their talent agency, Cornerstone Management, said that Catriona and Sam are “working on resolving” the issues in their relationship.

In 2025, Sam confirmed his breakup with Catriona.