After a challenging competition at the Louisiana’s New Orleans Morial Convention Center, Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel was officially crowned Miss Universe 2022 on Saturday night.
The 28-year-old Gabriel won the coveted title after defeating the Miss Dominican Republic’s Andrena Martnez and Miss Venezuela’s Amanda Dudamel, who finished in second and third place, respectively.
The Texas native and sewing instructor is the first Miss USA to win Miss Universe in ten years. 2012’s Olivia Culpo was the last Miss USA to win the title.
Gabriel, according to competition organizers, was the first Filipino American to win the Miss USA contest.
Out of 84 delegates from across the world, only 20 had the opportunity to compete for the crown on Saturday. Culpo, 30, and Jeannie Mai Jenkins hosted and led the women through three rounds of competition: swimsuit, evening gown and interview.
During the final question round, Gabriel was asked how she would show that Miss Universe is “an empowering and progressive organization” if she were to win.
“I would use it to be a transformational leader,” she responded, before discussing her work using recycled materials in her fashion design, and how she teaches sewing to human trafficking and domestic violence survivors.
“It is so important to invest in others, invest in our community and use your unique talent to make a difference,” Gabriel continued. “We all have something special, and when we plant those seeds to other people in our life, we transform them and we use that as a vehicle for change.”