It’s official: R’Bonney Gabriel of the United States is Miss Universe 2022! We know you’re curious about the newly crowned ~kween~, so we listed down nine facts and trivia about her.
Here's Everything We Know About R’Bonney Gabriel (So Far)
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She's half-Filipina!
R’Bonney, who was born and raised in Texas, made history as the first Filipino-American to win Miss U.S.A.
"My dad moved to America from the Philippines on a college scholarship with about $20 in his pocket. He wanted to pave a new life for himself. He met my mom in Texas, who is a country woman from Beaumont," she shared in an interview with ABC News. "I'm a very proud Filipina Texan."
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She's 28 years old.
During the first Q&A portion of the pageant, R’Bonney was asked what change she'd like to see in Miss Universe and why. She responded: "For me, I'd like to see an age increase because I am 28 years old and that is the oldest age to compete and I think it's a beautiful thing. My favorite quote is 'If not now, then when?' I believe age does not define us. It's not tomorrow, it's not yesterday, but it's now. The time is now that you can go after what you want."
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R'Bonney earned a Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design with a minor in Fibers at the University of North Texas in 2018.
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She's a fashion designer who advocates for sustainability.
R’Bonney is currently the CEO of her own sustainable clothing line, R’Bonney Nola. According to her Miss Universe bio, she's also a sewing instructor at Magpies & Peacocks, a Houston-based non-profit design house that's "dedicated to using 'Fashion as a force for good' through sustainability and community impact." They collect discarded materials and upcycle them into new collections.
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Instagram/rbonneynolaHelping provide opportunities to women, R’Bonney also teaches sewing classes to girls who have survived human trafficking and domestic violence.
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She designed her own cape for the swimsuit portion of the competition using plastic containers.
"I gathered and transformed this cape to showcase how art can be made out of what we perceive as trash. It also embodies my favorite message of 'If not now, then when?'" she shared in an Instagram post. "I designed this swimsuit cape inspired by the story of the Phoenix Rising who emerged from adversity to become stronger, smarter, and more powerful. I’ve kept this in mind during my journey through pageantry. Setbacks will always happen in life but we can choose whether to let them bring us down or use them as fuel to rise."
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R’Bonney designed some of her clothes for the pre-pageant activities, too!
This stunning ensemble, in particular, was made using her old jumpsuit:
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The proud Pinay also wore not one but two gowns that were made by Filipino designer Rian Fernandez at Miss Universe 2022.
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She's the first to wear the Force For Good crown!
It's valued at approximately USD 5.75 million (P316M based on current exchange rates). (READ MORE: Here's Everything You Need To Know About The New Miss Universe 'Force for Good' Crown)
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YouTube/Miss Universe - You can follow her on Instagram @rbnonneynola. As of this writing, she has more than 200 thousand followers.
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