R’Bonney Gabriel biography: 13 things about Miss Universe 2022

R’Bonney Nola Walker Gabriel is a Filipino-American fashion designer, model and beauty queen from Houston, Texas, United States. Her father Remigio Bonson “Bon” Gabriel was 19 when he immigrated from Metro Manila, Philippines to Washington, USA while her mother Dana Walker Gabriel grew up in Beaumont, Texas.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, R’Bonney is the youngest of four siblings. She has three older brothers including Brett Gabriel.

An advocate for sustainability in the fashion industry, R’Bonney runs the independent fashion label R’Bonney Nola and teaches sewing classes through the non-profit organization Magpies & Peacocks. Both are based in Houston.

R’Bonney is 5’7″ tall. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. From October 2011 to August 2013, she worked for David Peck USA in Houston as a production assistant.
2. From 2014 to 2018, she attended the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas where she earned her bachelor’s degree in fashion and apparel design.
3. From June 2015 to November 2016, she worked for Shop Miss A in Dallas, Texas as an e-commerce model. In October 2015, she joined Callidus Agency in Dallas as a model.
4. From June 2017 to August 2017, she was a production intern for Nicole Miller in New York City, New York, USA.
5. In 2018, she visited the Philippines. She went to different parts of her father’s home country including Cebu and El Nido, Palawan.
6. On July 25, 2020, she competed against 20 other candidates at Miss Kemah 2020 at the South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center in League City, Texas. She was runner-up to Gabriella Garza.
7. On June 11, 2021, she met Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo at a meet-and-greet dinner organized by the Filipino community in Houston.
8. On September 4, 2021, she competed against 131 other candidates at Miss Texas USA 2021 at Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel in Houston. She was runner-up to Victoria Hinojosa.
9. On July 2, 2022, she represented Friendswood at Miss Texas USA 2022 and competed against 88 other candidates at Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel in Houston, Texas. She won the title, making her the first Miss Texas USA of Filipino descent. During the competition, she wore a custom gown created by Filipino designer Rian Fernandez.
10. On October 2, 2022, she wore a creation by Patrick Isorena, a fashion designer who owns Starr Creations in Quezon City, Metro Manila, in the Miss USA 2022 state costume show at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Washoe County, Nevada, USA. On October 3, 2022, she represented Texas at Miss USA 2022, competed against 50 other candidates at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno and won the title. She is the second Miss USA of Filipino descent following Macel Wilson, who was crowned in 1962.
11. On January 14, 2023, she represented the U.S. at Miss Universe 2022 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. She won the title, making her the ninth Miss Universe from the U.S. On May 13, 2023, she served as a Miss Universe Philippines 2023 judge at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Metro Manila where Michelle Dee won the title.
12. On July 18, 2023, she reunited with Miss Universe Thailand 2022 Anna Sueangam-iam, Miss Universe India 2022 Divita Rai, Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 Evlin Khalifa, Miss Universe Australia 2022 Monique Riley, Miss Universe Iceland 2022 Hrafnhildur Haraldsdottir and Miss Universe South Africa 2022 Ndavi Nokeri for the launch of Miss Universe’s line of beverages at IconSiam in Bangkok.
13. She was 29 years old when she crowned her successor Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios on November 18, 2023 at the Gimnasio Nacional José Adolfo Pineda in San Salvador, El Salvador.