by Robert Requintina
Filipino-American R’Bonney Gabriel was crowned Miss Universe 2022 during a worldwide broadcast from New Orleans, Louisiana on Jan. 14 (Jan. 15 in Manila).
Gabriel, 28, is the ninth Miss Universe from the USA since the pageant started in 1952. She is also the first Fil-Am beauty queen to win Miss Universe.
First runner-up honors went to Miss Venezuela while second runner-up, Miss Dominican Republic.
The three winners are expected to fly to Thailand where they will spend their reign aside from New York City.
In the final round of the competition, the top three candidates were asked by the host the same question: “If you win Miss Universe, how would you work to demonstrate this as an empowering and progressive organization?”
Gabriel answered: ”Well, I would use it to be a transformational leader. As a very passionate designer, been sewing for 13 years, I use fashion as a force for good. In my industry, I am cutting down on pollution through recycled materials when I make my clothing. I teach sewing classes to women that have survived human trafficking and domestic violence. I say that because it is so important to invest, and others invest in our community and use your unique talent to make a difference. We all have something special and when we plant those seeds to other people in our life, we transform them and we use that as a vehicle for change.”
Filipino-Italian Celeste Cortesi of the Philippines failed to enter the top 16 of the competition.
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Other candidates who finished in the the top 16 of the 71st Miss Universe Competition were delegates from Puerto Rico, Haiti, Australia, Laos, South Africa, Portugal, Canada, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, India, Spain, and Colombia.
Eighty-three lovely women competed for the title of Miss Universe 2022.
As announced during the show, the 72nd Miss Universe Competition will be held in El Salvador in December.
Gabriel, who hails from Texas, is an eco-friendly fashion designer, model, and sewing instructor with an excitement for life. She attributes her opportunistic outlook to her upbringing immersed in the arts, sports, and travel. As a high-school volleyball player who pivoted to fashion, she quickly fell in love with constructing designs with fabrics and textiles at the young age of 15.
At the University of North Texas, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design with a Minor in Fibers in 2018. She is currently CEO of her own sustainable clothing line, R’Bonney Nola.
The beauty queen is also the lead sewing instructor at Magpies & Peacocks, a Houston based non-profit design house that is dedicated to using “Fashion As A Force For Good” through sustainability and community impact.
As a “Gucci Changemakers” recipient, they were honored for their work of diverting unwanted textiles and fabrics from landfills and turning them into fashion collections. Within the “MAKR” program, she teaches sewing classes to women that have survived human trafficking and domestic violence.
As the first Filipino-American to win Miss USA, she shares the importance of embracing your culture. As a voice for Asian-Americans, she opens the door for more diversity and representation in society and was honored to be published in Vogue Philippines. R’Bonney’s mission is for women and young girls to see themselves in her, and feel inspired to conquer their goals by owning who they are.
Gabriel has been to the Philippines on several occasions.
“Luckily, my mom adopted some recipes. I grew up on chicken adobo, ensaymadas, sinigang. Luckily I was able to visit the Philippines growing up numerous times. I spent a lot of time in Manila. I’ve been to El Nido. I want to explore more. It’s so beautiful,” said Gabriel, during an interview with CNN Philippines last October.
As a fashion designer, Gabriel showcased her Filipino roots through her outfit during the interview portion of the Miss USA 2022 pageant.
“My mom is from Texas. My dad is from Manila, Philippines. They actually got married in the Philippines. And those flower designs were the same flower designs that were on my mother’s wedding dress and I have the Maria Clara color just to champion not only my love for my Filipino roots and how proud to be a Texan and I just want to show my best self as a designer at the Miss USA stage,” the 25-year-old beauty queen said.
“My advice is to tap into what makes you special, and what makes you unique, and fully embrace that. As the first Filipina-American Miss USA, I embrace that wholeheartedly, and I think it’s what makes me strong.
“So I encourage girls to look into what makes them unique and special and not compare themselves to anybody, else.
“I was first runner-up three times in a row before I finally won Miss Texas USA and then went on to win Miss USA. So never, never, never let rejection make you give up.
“I think rejection just offers you ways to analyze in ways that you can get better. So never give up, keep going, and embrace what makes you special,” she added.
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