13 things about Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel

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 and her mother Dana Walker Gabriel grew up in Beaumont, Texas.

BIOGRAPHY

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

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

On March 20, 2025, R’Bonney turned 31. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. From 2011 to 2013, she worked at 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 2015 to 2016, she worked at Shop Miss A in Dallas, Texas as an e-commerce model.
4. In 2015, she joined Callidus Agency in Dallas as a model.
5. In 2017, she was a production intern at Nicole Miller in New York City, New York, USA.
6. In 2018, she visited different parts of the Philippines including Cebu and El Nido, Palawan.
7. She was Miss Kemah 2020 first runner-up.
8. She won Miss Texas USA 2022.
9. She won Miss USA 2022.
10. She won Miss Universe 2022.
11. She co-hosted Miss Universe Philippines 2024, Century Tuna Superbods 2024 and the Miss Universe 2024 preliminary competition.
12. From 2024 to 2025, she was a guest co-host in the TV5 show “Eat Bulaga!”
13. She was a Miss Universe 2025 commentator.

TIMELINE

R’Bonney is 5’7″ tall. She is the second Miss USA of Filipino descent following Macel Wilson, who was crowned in 1962.

2010s

• In October 2011, she joined David Peck USA in Houston.
• In August 2013, she left David Peck USA.
• In August 2014, she entered the University of North Texas.
• In June 2015, she joined Shop Miss A in Dallas.
• In October 2015, she became a Callidus Agency model.
• In November 2016, she left Shop Miss A.
• In May 2018, she graduated from the University of North Texas.
• From June 2017 to August 2017, she was a Nicole Miller intern.

2020s

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• On July 18, 2023, she was 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.
• On November 18, 2023, she crowned her successor Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios at the Gimnasio Nacional José Adolfo Pineda in San Salvador, El Salvador.
• On May 22, 2024, she co-hosted Miss Universe Philippines 2024 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
• On July 9, 2024, she co-hosted Century Tuna Superbods 2024 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.
• On November 14, 2024, she and Palacios hosted the Miss Universe 2024 preliminary competition at the Arena Ciudad de México (Arena CDMX) in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico.
• She hosted the Miss Universe 2025 preliminary competition on November 19, 2025 and served as a commentator during the coronation ceremony on November 21, 2025 both at the Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand.