Miss Universe 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel tells Pinoy fans: 'Maraming salamat sa support'

R’Bonney Gabriel is filled with nothing but love and gratitude ever since winning the Miss Universe 2022 crown.

On the “Updated with Nelson Canlas” podcast, the Filipina-American beauty said she was overwhelmed with the support from Filipino pageant fans, most especially since Celeste Cortesi bowed out of the pageant early.

Filipino pageant fans started cheering for R’Bonney like she was also a candidate from the Philippines.

“I could feel that [support], it was so loud in that room. I mean it was the greatest feeling in the world,” the beauty queen said.

“You know I represent America, this is the country that I grew up in, but my father is from the Philippines so it was great to have that support,” she added.

R’Bonney feels it is also a win for the Filipino community in the US. “I'm able to represent diversity and share with the world how amazing Filipinos are."

She also thanked her Filipino kababayan and pageant fans for all their love and support.

“I would say it to them that I love them so much,” she said. “I feel very blessed to be half-Filipino, because I have the support of the most amazing pageant fans in the world. They are the most passionate, energetic, and the support really helps me."

“You know it brings me so much joy, it's one of the reasons I work hard to represent the Filipino and the Americans."

R’Bonney added that the energy and support from them helps her on days when she’s feeling tired or low.

“So I wanna say thank you so much. Maraming, maraming salamat sa support.”

Listen to Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel’s full interview on “Updated with Nelson Canlas" on Spotify. —Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News