R’Bonney Gabriel from the United States was crowned the 71st Miss Universe on Saturday night.
Gabriel, who last year became the first Filipino-American to win Miss USA, took the crown ahead of Amanda Dudamel from Venezuela and Andreína Martínez from the Dominican Republic.
The pageant was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, with 84 women from around the world competing for the crown.
Saturday night was the last day of the competition, with eliminations narrowing down the number of finalists until the last two remained.
When Gabriel entered the Top 5, she was asked, “Miss Universe recently made an inclusive change allowing mothers and married women to compete this year. What’s another change you’d like to see and why?”
Gabriel responded that she hoped the contest organisers would increase the candidate age limit.
“For me, I would like to see an age increase because I am 28 years old. And that is the oldest age to compete. And I think it’s a beautiful thing. My favorite quote is ‘if not now, then when?’ Because as a woman, I believe age does not define us. It’s not tomorrow, it’s not yesterday — but it’s now. The time is now,” she said.
Houston-native Gabriel is a model, fashion designer, and sewing instructor who prioritizes the environment in her work.
Earlier in the pageant, Gabriel donned a red-orange cape inspired by a rising phoenix with the maxim “if not now, then when,” which she had dyed herself. The words take inspiration from her father’s advice to act on goals, dreams and desires.
In the final question and answer segment of the competition, the Top three contenders were asked how they would work to demonstrate Miss Universe as an empowering and progressive organisation if they won the title.
Gabriel said she would use the platform to be a “transformational leader” and emphasised her passion as a force for good in the fashion industry by cutting down on pollution and using recycled materials in making clothing pieces.
