We have a new Miss Universe! Miss USA Bonney Gabriel was officially named Miss Universe 2022. She was crowned at the competition at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in Louisiana. The 28-year-old beat out runner-up Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel and second runner-up Miss Dominican Republic Andreina Martinez.
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Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu was the one who presented Gabriel with her crown as she passed on the title of Miss Universe. The model, fashion designer, and instructor from Texas is the first Miss USA to win Miss Universe in 10 years. The latest Miss USA that took the crown was Olivia Culpo back in 2012. According to competition officials, Gabriel was previously The First Filipino American to win the Miss USA pageant.
R’Bonney Gabriel
Out of 84 delegates from across the world, there were only 20 that had the opportunity to compete for the crown on Saturday. Culpo and Jeannie Mai Jenkins hosted the event and led the women through three rounds of competitions, evening gown, interview, and swimsuit.
During the final question, Gabriel was asked how she would show that Miss Universe is an “empowering and Progressive organization” if she was the one to win.
“I would use it to be a transformational leader,” she responded before she went on to discuss her work which uses 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.”
Hello, Miss Universe!
Gabriel also stated in the competition that she hopes Miss Universe would allow women past the age of 28 to compete in the pageant in the future. “I am 28 years old, and that is the oldest age to compete,” she said”And I think that’s a beautiful thing.”
“My favorite quote is, ‘If not now, then when?’ ” Gabriel stated. “Because as a woman, I believe age does not define us.”
She went on to add: “It’s not tomorrow. It’s not yesterday. But it’s now. The time is now that you can go after what you want.”