R’Bonney Gabriel of in the United States was crowned the 71st Miss Universe on Saturday night.
Gabriel Gabriel, who last year was the first Filipino-American woman to be crowned Miss USA, took the title before Amanda Dudamel from Venezuela and Andreina Martinez from the Dominican Republic.
The event occurred on the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, where 84 women from all over the world competing for crown.
On Saturday, it was final day of competition and eliminations reducing the finalist list until two of them remained.
When Gabriel was in into the Top 5, she was asked “Miss Universe has recently implemented an inclusive change, allowing women who are married and mothers to participate this year. What’s something else would you like to see, and what’s the reason?”
Gabriel said she was hoping the organizers of the contest would raise the limit on age for candidates.
“For me personally, I’d like to see an increase since I am currently at the age of 28. This is the earliest age for me to play in a tournament. It’s an amazing thing. My personal favorite is “if you don’t want to now, when? Since I’m a woman, I am of the opinion that age does not determine us. This isn’t tomorrow. and it’s not even yesterday. But it’s right now. Now is the time,” she said.
Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel is named the winner during the Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans on January 14 2023.
The Houston native Gabriel is a fashion designer, model also a teacher of sewing who is conscious of the environment when she works.
In the previous pageant, Gabriel dressed in a red and orange cape that was inspired by the rising phoenix and the phrase “if you don’t now but later,” that she dyed herself. The motto is derived from her father’s guidance to act in pursuit of goals, dreams and aspirations.
In the last part of the question and answer section of the contest the top 3 contestants were asked to explain how they’d work to show Miss Universe as an empowering and forward-thinking organization if they were to win the title.
Gabriel has said that she plans to make use of the platform to become an “transformational lead” and also emphasized her commitment for being a catalyst for change in the fashion industry through reducing pollution as well as using recycled material for creating clothing items.
“I give workshops in sewing to females who have been through domestic violence and human trafficking. And I do this because it’s crucial to invest in the lives of others by investing in our community and make use of your talents to change the world,” Gabriel said.
“We all share something unique which is why when we sow seeds in the lives of others our lives, we transform them , and use it as a means to bring about transformation.”
The Miss Universe pageant in 2013 was run in the very first year with the help of JKN Global Group PCL, an a Thai-based media distribution firm following the purchase of a transgender tycoon by a t rights advocate Anne Jakkaphong Jkrajutatip purchased the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million in October.
Jakkaphong has spoken out regarding her experience as transgender female and is the first woman to own the pageant.
She appeared on stage to present her the ImpactWayv Challenge winner to Thailand’s Anna Sueangam-iam. She was honored for her social responsibility commitments.
Miss Thailand had in the first round of the pageant wowed viewers with a dress that was made of soda tabs, a tribute to her humble origins and her parents’ jobs in the field of garbage collection.
The previous version of this story misidentified Gabriel. Gabriel is the first Filipina-American to be crowned Miss USA.
