Miss Universe 2022, the 71st edition of the international pageant, was held tonight at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States where R'Bonney Gabriel of USA was crowned the new queen. She succeeds and was crowned by Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu.
R'Bonney Gabriel of USA gave an outstanding performance at Miss Universe 2022 and was one of the strongest contestants since the beginning of the competition. She made history as she became the first Filipino American delegate to be crowned Miss USA 2022 in October last year. Gabriel was born in San Antonio, Texas to a Filipino father Ramon Bonifacio ‘R'Bon’ Gabriel and an American mother Dana Walker. R'Bonney followed in her father’s footsteps and also graduated from college attending the University of North Texas. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fashion design with a minor in fibers.
Gabriel also runs her own independent clothing label out of Houston. She is a model and a designer who runs her own fashion label R'Bonney Nola. The brand uses sustainable design methods and a combination of repurposed or natural fabrics in all its clothing. The newly crowned Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel of USA’s court included –
1st Runner-up – Amanda Dudamel of Venezuela
2nd Runner-up – Andreina Martinez of Dominican Republic
Top 5 also included Gabriëla Dos Santos Miss Universe Curaçao 2022 and Ashley Cariño Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022. Top 16 included Monique Riley Miss Universe Australia 2022, Amelia Tu Miss Universe Canada 2022, María Fernanda Aristizábal Miss Universe Colombia 2022, Gabriëla Dos Santos Miss Universe Curaçao 2022, Andreína Martínez Miss Universe Dominican Republic 2022, Mideline Phelizor Miss Universe Haiti 2022, Divita Rai Miss Universe India 2022, Payengxa Lor Miss Universe Laos 2022, Alessia Rovegno Miss Universe Peru 2022, Telma Madeira Miss Universe Portugal 2022, Ashley Cariño Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022, Ndavi Nokeri Miss Universe South Africa 2022, Alicia Faubel Miss Universe Spain 2022, Tya Jané Ramey Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago 2022, R'Bonney Gabriel Miss Universe USA 2022, Amanda Dudamel Miss Universe Venezuela 2022.
The accomplished panel of jury included Ximena Navarrete – Miss Universe 2010 from Mexico, Big Freedia – American rapper and performer credited with helping popularize bounce music, Mara Martin – American model and co-founder of Vyral Media PR, Wendy Fitzwilliam – Miss Universe 1998 from Trinidad and Tobago, Emily Austin – American actress, sports journalist, model and social media influencer, Olivia Quido – Filipino-Chinese CEO and founder of O Skin Med Spa, Myrka Dellanos – American television and radio host, journalist, author and socialite, Sweta Patel – Indian author, member of the Forbes council and founder of Healveda.