The 71st Miss Universe is Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel


Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel beat 83 other contestants to win Miss Universe 2022, the 71st Miss Universe pageant on Saturday, January 14 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

The 28-year-old fashion designer, model, and sewing instructor received the new Mouawad crown "Force for Good" from her predecessor Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu of India.

Amanda Dudamel of Venezuela and Andreína Martínez were named the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Gabriëla Dos Santos of Curacao and Ashley Cariño of Puerto Rico rounded out the Top 5 finalists.

The rest of the Top 16 were beauties from Australia, Monique Rile, Canada, Amelia Tu, Colombia, María Fernanda Aristizábal, Haiti, Mideline Phelizor, India, Divita Rai, Laos, Payengxa Lor, Peru, Alessia Rovegno, Portugal, Telma Madeira, South Africa, Ndavi Nokeri, Spain, Alicia Faubel, and Trinidad & Tobago, Tya Jané Ramey.

Chile's Sofia Depassier and Malta's Maxine Formosa Gruppetta were both awarded Miss Congeniality while Thailand's Anna Sueangam-iam received the ImpactWayv (Social Impact) Award.

Born in Texas to a Filipino father and an American mother, the new Miss Universe holds a bachelor's degree in fashion design with a minor in fiber from the University of Texas. The sustainability advocate is the lead sewing instructor at Magpies & Peacocks, a Houston-based non-profit design house dedicated to using “Fashion As A Force For Good” through sustainability and community impact.

Last October, R'Bonney became the first Filipino-American to win Miss USA, and now Miss Universe. She is also the ninth US representative to win the international beauty title.

Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

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