Catriona finally speaks up about her real status with Mayor Vico Sotto. Are they dating?

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray couldn’t help but laugh when asked about her mutual Instagram follow with Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto. The attention from something as simple as a mutual follow was so unexpected that Catriona could only laugh as she tried to clear up the speculations flooding social media — speculations that were brimming with kilig (romantic excitement).

On June 4, 2025, netizens first noticed that the two had followed each other back on Instagram. Since then, it sparked a wave of online excitement. A new ship was born: Cat fandom — a blend of their names, Vico and Catriona — and it wasn’t just for fun. Nearly every timeline on social media was flooded with memes, edits, and fan-made videos of “Cat moments” — even though no actual real-life moment between the two had been captured yet.

What made things more intriguing? Both of them are currently single.
Catriona had previously called it quits with her ex-fiancé Sam Milby, while Vico — despite being linked to a few personalities — has remained quiet about his romantic life.

So when the Marites (gossip-hungry netizens) noticed the follow, fan theories exploded. Some speculated that they’d already been talking off-cam. Others joked this might be the ultimate power couple the country has been waiting for: a beauty queen with a passion for education and culture, and a mayor known for transparency and good governance.

But Catriona remained calm and casual.
In a recent interview, she laughed and said that the follow really didn’t mean anything. It was just a mutual follow, and there were no feelings involved. She added that she was surprised by how far people’s interpretations had gone. And while she was entertained by the fans’ energy, she clarified that people shouldn’t expect anything — maybe everyone’s just too excited about the idea of the two of them together.

When asked if she was aware of the ship name “VCat,” she smiled and laughed again. She didn’t expect fans to feel this level of kilig, but she said she appreciated the love and support.
“It’s cute,” she said. “But wow, the internet is really fast at creating love teams, huh?”

So far, Mayor Vico has not released any statement regarding the issue.
But if we base things on his usual demeanor — lowkey, serious, and not really involved in showbiz — it’s unlikely he’ll give any reaction.

Still, the fans haven’t given up.
Some believe the two are just being private, preferring to keep things low-key rather than showbiz.
To be honest, it’s not impossible — both are intelligent, grounded, service-oriented, and passionate about causes beyond themselves. So if something does spark between them, fans wouldn’t be too surprised.

But for now, as Cat said, it’s just a mutual follow. That’s all for now.
But of course, kilig is different when it involves a Miss Universe and a reserved young mayor — the internet won’t stop clinging to the possibility.

So the real question is: When will they have a real moment together?
Or has it already happened… in secret?

For now, everyone’s just staying tuned — waiting for the next IG story, next interview, or the next accidental sighting — if ever there will be one.