8 things to know about Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel
Miss Texas USA, R'Bonney Gabriel was proclaimed Miss USA 2022 last night at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada.
Here are 8 things to know about the new Miss USA:
1. She is the 10th Miss Texas USA to win Miss USA next to Crystle Stewart (2008) and the first Filipino-American in history to win both the state and the national pageant.
2. She was born to an American mother from Beaumont, Texas, and a Filipino father who left the Philippines for the US as a young student.
3. She is originally from Missouri City, Texas, and grew up in Houston with three older brothers. As the only girl of four siblings, she considers herself the baby of the family and often joked about being the favorite child.
4. At age 28, she is the oldest Miss USA winner in the pageant's 71-year history. But, that age comes with an intelligent, responsible, empowered, and well-accomplished young woman ahead of her time.
5. She is a very talented fashion designer who advocates sustainability in the fashion industry and she established her own eco-friendly clothing line, R'Bonney Nola. In addition, she works as a sewing instructor for Magpies & Peacocks, a nonprofit design house that aims to disrupt the cycle of waste textiles.
6. She designed most of her outfits for the Miss USA pageant including her winning state costume inspired by the Texas bluebonnet flower that made her the second representative from her state to win both the special award and the Miss USA title next to Kimberly Tomes in 1977.
7. Her final question at Miss USA "Global studies indicate that women are increasingly seen as more vulnerable to the impact of climate change, you're asked to create a task force to help address this issue, what is your first priority?" is actually related to what she does in her life's work and here's her winning answer:
"I think there's a way we can implement addressing climate change within our careers or our lifestyle. It's as easier as adding a recycle bin to your house, everybody can do that, or being creative in ways you can also implement it in your job. I am a fashion designer. I actually made the outfit I'm wearing and I upcycle pieces and recycle different clothing to be more sustainable in my industry because I feel it's like my duty so I think that's something we can all look for ways in our certain industries or in our homes to be sustainable as well."
8. She will represent the USA at the 71st Miss Universe pageant on January 14 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
