Congratulations to Miss USA 2022 – Miss Texas R’Bonney Gabriel
Introducing the Filipina American winner of Miss USA 2022. Texas native R’Bonney Gabriel was crowned the new Miss USA 2022 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. She is a 28 years old fashion designer who promotes the importance of using sustainable materials to protect the environment. A resident of Harris Country, Texas. She had graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton. Her love for fashion has led her to learn about sewing from a young age, she has attended the non-profit organization Magpies & Peacocks in the city. R’Bonney Gabriel created history as the first-ever Filipina American winner of Miss Texas USA and now she has gone on to win the national title of Miss USA 2022. She will now represent the land of the brave and the home of the free at the 71st edition of Miss Universe 2022 next year in New Orleans, Louisana.
Final Question for Gabriel: “Global studies indicate that women are increasingly seen as more vulnerable to the impact of climate change. You are asked to create a task force to help address this issue. What’s your first priority?”
Gabriel winning answer: “Well, I think there’s eight ways 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 like it’s my duty. So I think that’s something we can all look for in our certain industries and in our homes — to be more sustainable.”
R’Bonney Gabriel wears many hats, but when she made history as the first Filipina American to win Miss Texas USA, she added her first crown. News of her victory lit up social media, and R’Bonney was flooded with cheers, especially from Filipinas, who cried tears of joy for her achievement. But then she noticed that congratulations were coming in from people of many backgrounds, both male and female, and the “Filipina Texan” realized she is paving the way for Asian-Americans, yes, but also dreamers of many stripes, all drawing inspiration from her, in whatever lane they’re in.
The more her fans learn about R’Bonney, the more they discover her strengths as a Renaissance woman: eco-friendly fashion designer, sewing instructor for domestic violence survivors, artist helping women learn tools for success, and advocate for sustainability in the fashion industry.
R’Bonney’s belief that people should get to explore an abundance of opportunities to find their purpose and passion hearkens back to her own experience, as a high-school volleyball player who pivoted to fashion when she started sewing at age 15 and fell in love with constructing things at fabrics and textiles. At the University of North Texas, she earned a degree in fashion design with a minor in fibers in 2018. Next, she enjoyed an internship with fashion designer Nicole Miller in New York City.
For the past three years, R’Bonney has worked at the nonprofit design house Magpies & Peacocks, which collects discarded materials and upcycles them into new collections. Texas was awarded as the winner of Best State Costume.
She modeled for six years before discovering the opportunities afforded by the Miss Universe Organization. In 2021, her first year at Miss Texas USA, R’Bonney placed as first runner-up, then she returned in 2022 with the mindset of out-competing everyone else, and her dedication paid off.
Meanwhile, her fundamental focus of honoring her talents by “giving back” remains true; it’s just that winning Miss Texas USA has made her classroom bigger and more glamorous. At rbonneynola.com and Instagram: @rbonneynola, followers can learn a book’s worth by seeing, for example, how she ripped up a coat she found at a thrift store and whipped up her dress for the pageant’s opening number. She also designed and crafted her interview outfit and rehearsal wardrobe. For the evening gown competition, she wore a stunning, hand-beaded creation by Filipino fashion designer Rian Fernandez.
Away from the spotlight, R’Bonney loves to hula hoop, backpack, and read, especially the writings of motivational speaker Les Brown, who authored her favorite quote, “Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality.”
Full Results:
Top 5
Miss USA 2022 – Texas R’Bonney Gabriel
1st Runner Up – North Carolina Morgan Romano
2nd Runner Up – Nebraska Natalie Pieper
3rd Runner Up – Ohio Sir’Quora Carroll
4th Runner Up – Illinois Angel Reyes
Top 12
Connecticut – Cynthia Dias
Kansas – Elyse Noe
Minnesota – Madeline Helget
New Hampshire – Camila Sacco
New Mexico – Suzanne Perez
Tennessee – Emily Suttle
Vermont – Kelsey Golonka
Top 16
California – Tiffany Johnson
District of Columbia – Faith Porter
Missouri – Mikala McGhee
West Virginia – Krystian Leonard
