contest
American crowned the new “Miss Universe”.
Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel is crowned Miss Universe in New Orleans. photo
© Gerald Herbert/AP/dpa
R’Bonney Gabriel from Houston in the US state of Texas is the first “Miss Universe” from the USA with Filipino roots. The 28-year-old prevailed against 83 competitors.
28-year-old R’Bonney Gabriel from the USA has been named the new “Miss Universe”. In a live show in New Orleans, she beat 83 competitors late on Saturday evening (local time), the organizers said. Gabriel got the winner’s tiara from her predecessor, Harnaaz Sandhu (22) from India.
Venezuelan Amanda Dudamel (23) and Dominican Andreína Martínez (25) came in second and third at the 71st edition of the beauty pageant. 24-year-old Soraya Kohlmann from Leipzig represented Germany.
Born in Houston, Texas, R’Bonney Gabriel has a bachelor’s degree in fashion design, according to organizers. The former high school volleyball player now has her own company and works with environmentally friendly and sustainable textiles. According to the organizers, she is the first “Miss Universe” from the USA with Filipino roots. Her father comes from the Southeast Asian island state.
In the question and answer session, Gabriel said that she wanted to work, among other things, to raise the age limit of the competition, which is currently 28. “As a woman, I don’t think age defines us,” she said. Her favorite motto is “if not now, then when?”.