R’Bonney Gabriel from USA is Miss Universe 2022. India's Harnaaz Sandhu who won the beauty pageant title in 2021 crowned the new Miss Universe in a grand event held on Sunday morning. India's Divita Rai made it to top 16 but she couldn't go further. The ones who made it to top 5 were, Venezuela - Amanda Dudamel Newman, USA - R’Bonney Gabriel, Puerto Rico - Ashley Cariño, Curacao - Gabriëla Dos Santos, Dominican Republic - Andreina Martínez. Of these, Dominican Republic, USA and Venezuela moved to the final top 3 round.
The second runner-up was Dominican Republic's Andreina Martínez and the first runner-up position was held by Venezuela - Amanda Dudamel Newman. R’Bonney Gabriel, a fashion designer, model and sewing instructor from Texas is the first Filipino American to win Miss USA.
In the Q&A at the last stage of the competition for the three finalists, Gabriel was asked how she would work to demonstrate Miss Universe is “an empowering and progressive organization” if she were to win.
“I would use it to be a transformational leader,” she responded, citing her work using recycled materials in her fashion design and teaching sewing to survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. 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.”
Before R'Bonney, Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned Miss Universe 2021. Harnaaz Sandhu, from Punjab, represented India at the 70th Miss Universe 2021 pageant, which was held in Eilat, Israel. The 71st Miss Universe competition was to be held at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
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