The crown at the 71st Miss Universe Pageant went to the first Filipino-American to win Miss USA on Saturday night at the international beauty pageant in New Orleans.
R’Bonney Gabriel, a fashion designer, model and sewing instructor from Texas, beat out 83 other contestants.
Gabriel closed his eyes and shook hands with Miss Venezuela runner-up Amanda Dudamel at the moment of the dramatic winner’s reveal, then beamed after her name was announced.
Thunderous music played and she was presented with a bouquet of flowers, wrapped in the winner’s sash and crowned with a tiara onstage.
MISS UNIVERSE 2023 WILL BE PRESENTED BY OLIVIA CULPO AND JEANNIE MAI JENKINS
He Miss Universe Organization suspended the organizers of the Miss USA pageant, Miss Brand Corp, after allegations surfaced that the competition was rigged and the winner predetermined in October 2022.
Miss Texas R’Bonney Gabriel was crowned Miss USA on October 3.
Shortly after her win, contestants began complaining that she had actually been “shortlisted” to be the next starter.
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(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu held back tears and almost fell when she took the stage for the last time.
She has gained weight since winning the crown and said in August 2022 that she had been constantly criticized on social media.
“I was harassed for gaining weight,” said the Indian-born beauty queen. “It was kind of awkward and really amazing to me to see how people started having opinions, which really shouldn’t matter. It’s not about how you look, it’s about who you are on the inside and how you treat people and what do you believe”. “
The second runner-up for Saturday’s competition was Miss Dominican Republic, Andreina Martínez.
In the question-and-answer session at the last stage of the competition for the three finalists, Gabriel was asked how he would work to show that Miss Universe is “an empowering and progressive organization” if he were to win.
“I would wear it to be a transformational leader,” she replied, citing her work using recycled materials in her fashion design and teaching sewing to survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence.
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
“It’s very important to invest in others, to invest in our community and to use your unique talent to make a difference,” continued Gabriel. “We all have something special, and when we plant those seeds in other people in our lives, we transform them and use them as a vehicle for change.”
Stephanie Nolasco, Lauryn Overhultz and Fox News’ Associated Press contributed to this report.
