R’Bonney Gabriel from the United States was named the winner of the Miss Universe pageant for 2022 at a ceremony held on January 15 in New Orleans and she was crowned by the previous year’s winner.
Gabriel stood out during the competition, particularly in the final Question-and-Answer round. The final question asked to the three finalists was about how they would work to demonstrate that the Miss Universe organization is empowering and progressive.
Gabriel’s answer of using “fashion as a force for good” and her background in supporting survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence resonated with the judges. A video of this Q&A round was shared on Twitter by the official Miss Universe account.
USA’s top 3 answer!
The 71st #MISSUNIVERSE Competition is airing LIVE on @TheRokuChannel! pic.twitter.com/i7Ol0mPGFc— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) January 15, 2023
Gabriel is an instructor and a former high school volleyball player and a graduate of the University of North Texas. She currently holds the position of CEO of her own sustainable clothing line, R’Bonney Nola.
The Miss Universe website also states that as the first Filipino-American to win Miss USA, Ms Gabriel emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s culture and is a strong advocate for diversity and representation in society. She has also been featured in Vogue Philippines. Her goal is for women and young girls to see themselves in her story and to be inspired to achieve their own goals by being proud of who they are.
It’s worth mentioning that the Miss USA has not won the Miss Universe title in the last 11 years. The Dominican Republic placed third in the competition, while Venezuela came in second. India’s Divita Rai, who had made it to the top 16, did not make it to the top 5. A total of 80 contestants competed for the Miss Universe 2022 title.