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5 things to know about Miss Universe 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel
Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel was just crowned the Miss Universe 2022, and she made not just the United States but also the Philippines proud.
The Filipino-American beauty queen bested 82 candidates on Sunday as the Miss Universe pageant entered its next era with new owner Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip.
Here are 5 things to know about our new queen.
1. Her father is from the Philippines
She was born in Houston, Texas. Her dad, Remigio Bonzon "R. Bon" Gabriel, was born in the Philippines and hails from Manila. He immigrated to Washington state at 25 years old. Her mom, Dana Walker, is from Beaumont, Texas.
Aside from winning Miss Universe, R'Bonney was also the first Filipino-American to win Miss USA.
2. She was 27 years old when she joined Miss Universe—the oldest age allowed to participate in the competition
R'Bonney is now 28 years old. One of the interview questions in the course of the coronation night was about any changes she would make to the Miss Universe competition. R'Bonney answered that she would raise the age limit.
"I do not believe age defines us," she said.
In line with her answer, she went on to say that her favorite quote is, "If not now, then when?"
3. She is a fashion designer and an eco-friendly one, at that
R'Bonney loved fashion as early as age 15. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor's degree in fashion design in 2018.
She is a fashion designer, model, and currently, the CEO of her own sustainable clothing line, R'Bonney Nola.
4. She wore pieces by Filipino fashion designers for Miss Universe
R'Bonney collaborated with Filipino fashion designers for her gorgeous outfits during the Miss Universe pageant.
Her evening gown during the preliminaries and the coronation night were created by Rian Fernandez, while her national costume was made by Patrick Isorena.
5. Her advocacy includes helping survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence
R'Bonney is the lead sewing instructor at Magpies & Peacocks, a Houston-based non-profit design house that is known for their commitment to sustainability and community impact. She teaches sewing classes to women who were victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.
—MGP, GMA Integrated News
