R’Bonney Gabriel. Image: Instagram/@rbonneynola
Filipino-American beauty queen R’Bonney Gabriel will be representing the United States in the Miss Universe 2022 pageant after she bested 49 other candidates in the recently held Miss USA competition.
Gabriel, the first Filipino-American to have won the title, inherited the crown from Miss USA 2021 Elle Smith in the pageant held on Oct. 3 (Oct. 4 Philippine time), as seen in a clip on Miss USA’s Instagram page today, Oct. 5.
“It’s going to be an incredible year!” it said.
Gabriel, who is also a fashion designer, made history in July as well after she became the first Asian-American to claim the Miss Texas USA title.
Prior to the competition’s finals night, Gabriel spoke about how the pageant reflects her as well as her fellow contestants’ dedication and the effort they exerted to “push past their comfort zones.”
“[It has] been an incredible week in Reno with 50 other beautiful dynamic women. [It is] an honor to be here and I feel so inspired by the diversity and strength each of my USA sisters hold,” she stated. “Forever thanking God for this.”
Maria Clara-inspired outfit
In a separate post, Gabriel also showed the process of making her Miss USA interview outfit, which was inspired from the dress worn by Gabriel’s mother in her wedding in the Philippines.
“I designed this to pay tribute to my parents. My mom is from Beaumont, TX and my father is from the Philippines,” she said. “I hand painted the same flower design from my mothers wedding dress onto my sleeves and tied in a traditional Maria Clara Filipina collar shape.”
“I have immense gratitude for the opportunities my parents provided me and wanted to express my love to them through this,” she added.
Gabriel will be competing against Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi in the 71st Miss Universe competition, which will be held on Jan. 14, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. EDV
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