Venezuelan Amanda Dudamel (23) and Dominican Andreína Martínez (25) took second and third place in the 71st edition of the beauty pageant.
Born in Houston, Texas, R’Bonney Gabriel holds a BA in fashion design, according to organizers. The former high school volleyball player now has her own company and works with eco-friendly and sustainable fabrics. According to organizers, she is the first US “Miss Universe” with Filipino roots. Her father hails from the island state of Southeast Asia.
In the question and answer session, Gabriel said that he wanted to work, among other things, to increase the age limit of the competition, which is currently 28 years old. “As a woman, I don’t think age defines us,” she said. Her favorite motto is “if not now, then when?”.