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Texas-born R'Bonney Gabriel, 28, was crowned the 71st Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2022) on Saturday, January 14 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Apart from her winning looks and undeniable stage presence, R'Bonney also gave impressive answers during the question-and-answer rounds. During the Top 5 Q&A, she was asked by Vyral Media PR co-founder Mara Martin: "Miss Universe recently made an inclusive change, allowing mothers and married women to compete this year. What's another change you'd like to see, and why?" She replied: "For me, I would 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" because as a woman, 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." R'Bonney advanced to the

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 a

It's confirmed, the 72nd Miss Universe edition (Miss Universe 2023) will be held later this year in the Land of Volcanoes, El Salvador. The announcement was made by the country's President Nayib Bukele during the 71st Miss Universe final competition in New Orleans. "El Salvador is a country that is full of beauty. We have the best surfing beaches in the world, magnificent volcanoes, exquisite coffee and we have now become the safest country in Latin America," the President stated in a recorded video. "I would like to thank the Miss Universe Organization for joining us in this historic process. El Salvador is changing and we want you to come and see it for yourselves." El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a country in Central America bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. Its capital and largest city is San Salvador. It will be the country's second time hosting the pr

Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu took to social media to issue an apology to Miss Universe Kyrgyzstan Altynai Botoyarova for a slip-up she made during the 71st Miss Universe national costume competition. While co-hosting with Miss Universe Organization TV producer and writer Nick Teplitz, the Indian beauty mistakenly mentioned "Kazakhstan" instead of "Kyrgyzstan" as Altynai walked down the runway wearing her white swan-inspired national costume. "During the preliminary event this week in New Orleans, I failed to properly say Kyrgyzstan. I am deeply sorry for this mistake," Harnaaz shared on her Instagram story and continued by saying she will never purposely say or do something to upset a contestant or their supporters. "The preliminary competition was my first time ever co-hosting and the jitters got the best of me. My nervousness onstage is not a reflection of the deep respect I have for Kyrgyzstan. Altynai, please accept my sincerest apologies,&qu

Based on the 71st Miss Universe preliminary and national costume competitions, and the official headshots posted by the Miss Universe Organization, we scored the 84 contestants to come up with our own set of winners for the special awards. Meet the winners: Best in National Costume Winner - Ukraine, Viktoria Apanasenko 2nd - Guatemala, Ivana Batchelor 3rd - USA, R'Bonney Gabriel --- Best in Evening Gown Winner - Thailand, Anna Sueangam-iam 2nd - USA, R'Bonney Gabriel 3rd - Dominican Republic, Andreína Martínez Founier --- Best in Swimsuit: Winner - Dominican Republic, Andreína Martínez Founier 2nd - USA, R'Bonney Gabriel 3rd - Puerto Rico - Ashley Cariño --- Miss Photogenic Winner - Philippines, Celeste Cortesi 2nd - Venezuela, Amanda Dudamel 3rd - Peru, Alessia Rovegno Don't miss the 71st Miss Universe final competition live from the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA this Saturday, January 14 at 7 p.m. CST. Photos: Miss Uni

One contestant will walk away with the most coveted beauty title and crown at the culmination of the 71st Miss Universe pageant this Saturday, January 14 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Reigning Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu of India will pass the new Mouawad crown to her successor at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Choosing a winner among 84 equally beautiful, confident, and empowered women is no easy task and the selection committee will surely have the toughest responsibility for it. Who will be the next Miss Universe?  Meet our Top 16 final favorites: TOP 16 (in alphabetical order) Aruba - Kiara Arends Curacao - Gabriëla Dos Santos Colombia - María Fernanda Aristizábal Dominican Republic - Andreína Martínez Founier Germany - Soraya Kohlmann Jamaica - Toshami Calvin Mexico - Irma Cristina Miranda Valenzuela Peru - Alessia Rovegno Philippines - Celeste Cortesi Portugal - Telma Madeira Puerto Rico - Ashley Cariño South Africa - Ndavi Nokeri Thailand - Anna Sueangam-

The 71st Miss Universe contestants had the chance to see the new crown by Mouawad for the first time in person on Thursday, January 12 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu was also present during the unveiling event along with Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart, CEO Amy Emmerich, new owner Anne Jakrajutatip, and businessman Fred Mouawad. The "Force for Good" crown which is worth approximately 5.58 million US dollars was first unveiled in Bangkok, Thailand last month. One of the 84 contestants will wear the Mouawad masterpiece for the first time at the culmination of the 71st Miss Universe pageant this Saturday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anne Jakrajutatip | แอน จักรพงษ์ (@annejkn.official) Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization, Anne Jakrajutatip / Instagram RELATED POSTS: 71st Miss Universe: Here's where to watch final telecast and livestream 71st Miss Universe

The 71st Miss Universe preliminary competition took place on Wednesday, January 11 in New Orleans where the 84 contestants glided onstage with confidence, poise, and elegance wearing their chosen evening gowns. Based on their preliminary evening gown presentations, meet our favorites: TOP 5 (in alphabetical order) Dominican Republic - Andreína Martínez Founier Puerto Rico - Ashley Cariño Thailand - Anna Sueangam-iam USA - R'Bonney Gabriel Venezuela - Amanda Dudamel Top 10 - Aruba, Colombia, Curacao, Mexico, Vietnam Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization RELATED POSTS: FAVORITES: 71st Miss Universe preliminary swimsuit competition 71st Miss Universe preliminary and costume competition standouts 71st Miss Universe: Here's where to watch final telecast and livestream 71st Miss Universe final telecast performers announced

Eighty-four contestants confidently walked the stage wearing their Jacqueline Aguilera swimsuits, personalized capes, and Jojo Bragais shoes during the 71st Miss Universe preliminary competition on Wednesday, January 11 in New Orleans. Based on their preliminary swimsuit presentations, meet our favorites: TOP 5 (in alphabetical order) Aruba - Kiara Arends Dominican Republic - Andreína Martínez Puerto Rico - Ashley Cariño USA - R'Bonney Gabriel Venezuela - Amanda Dudamel Top 10 - Australia, Mexico, Philippines, Portugal, Vietnam Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization RELATED POSTS: 71st Miss Universe preliminary and costume competition standouts 71st Miss Universe: Here's where to watch final telecast and livestream 71st Miss Universe final telecast performers announced 71st Miss Universe: Meet the hosts, where to watch the final show

The 71st Miss Universe preliminary and national costume competition took place on Wednesday, January 11 at the New Orleans Ernest E. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Hosted by WDSU News Channel 6 anchor Randi Rousseau and Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu, the event featured 84 of the world's most ambitious and beautifully confident women competing for coveted spots in the semifinals. The contestants paraded in their Portia and Scarlett dresses, swimsuits and evening gowns to impress an all-women selection committee consisting of sports broadcaster, TV host, and activist Emily Austin; author, model, TV host, producer, and Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam; Emmy-award winning journalist, TV and radio host, and author Myrka Dellanos; model, mom, women's advocate, and co-founder of Vyral Media PR Mara Martin; Senior Vice-President and Board Member of ImpactWayv Kathleen Ventrella; and actress, model, and Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan. During the preliminar

The Miss Universe Organization has announced the special guest performers for the 71st Miss Universe final telecast. Don't miss watching the spectacular show this coming Saturday, January 14 live from the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The pageant starts at 7 p.m. CST (local time) on The Roku Channel, Telemundo, and different national channels and streaming platforms across the world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe (@missuniverse) Big Freedia - rapper and performer known for his work in the New Orleans genre of hip-hop called bounce music. Big Sam's Funky Nation - a New Orleans band known for their boisterous blend of funk, jazz, rock, hip-hop, and a whole lot of Southern charm. Amanda Shaw - a fiddler, singer, songwriter, producer, and actress from Mandeville, Louisiana. Tank and the Bangas - a Grammy-nominated musical group based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They have released t

Choosing the semifinalists from 84 equally beautiful and empowered women is no easy task and the Miss Universe Organization has appointed a selection committee to do the job. They will determine who will make it to the next rounds of the competition and eventually the 71st Miss Universe winner based on what MUO is looking for. Two former Miss Universe titleholders will be part of the committee — Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam from Trinidad and Tobago and Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete from Mexico. They will also be joined in the preliminary by former Miss USA and Miss Universe 2015 second runner-up Olivia Jordan of Oklahoma. Meet the selection committee: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe (@missuniverse) Big Freedia - American rapper and performer Myrka Dellanos - American television and radio host, journalist, author and socialite Ximena Navarrete - Miss Universe 2010 from Mexico Sweta Patel - Vice President of Growth Marketi

Eighty-four of the most beautifully confident and empowered women in the universe are in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, competing in the 71st Miss Universe edition. They have been in the host city for over a week now and making the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent their countries and territories on the prestigious global stage. The preliminary competition and final telecast are fast approaching and in less than a week, we will find out who will become the next Miss Universe. Based entirely on their official headshots posted at missuniverse.com and official app, meet our Top 12 favorites: TOP 12 (in alphabetical order) Albania - Deta Kokomani Angola - Swelia Da Silva Antonio Armenia - Kristina Ayanian Colombia - María Fernanda Aristizábal Indonesia - Laksmi De Neefe Suardana Jamaica - Toshami Calvin Kosovo - Roksana Ibrahimi Peru - Alessia Rovegno Philippines - Celeste Cortesi Spain - Alicia Faubel Venezuela - Amanda Dudamel Vietnam - Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Châu Special

The 71st Miss Universe contestants have been very busy with their pre-pageant events and activities ahead of the preliminary, national costume, and final competitions. Brennan's, a famous New Orleans restaurant located in the heart of the French Quarter, hosted the contestants a special dinner where they enjoyed delicious and authentic Creole cuisine. In addition to touring, filming, and rehearsing for the big show, a welcome press conference was held for the 84 contestants on Monday, January 9 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. Present were Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Jerry Reyes (President of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Board of Commissioners) Kelly Schulz (Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Relations at New Orleans & Company), Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart, and outgoing queen Harnaaz Sandhu. The contestants were also taken to a welcome reception at Gallier Hall, a historic building on St. Charles Avenue.