Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel thanked Filipino fans after her victory in the prestigious pageant.
Gabriel, who’s a Filipino-American thanked her fans in the Philippines using the Filipino language to prove that she never forgot her heritage.
The Filipino-American beauty queen represented the USA during the said pageant.
“Maraming, maraming salamat sa lahat ng tulong niyo. The support is everything. I feel it in my heart. The Filipino blood is so strong. We are hardworking, we are fun, and we are determined. I am so proud to be a half Filipina.” Gabriel said.
Gabriel was the first Filipino-American who won Miss USA and also Miss Universe.
She also shared that accepting her Filipino roots helped her to become stronger.
“My advice is really tap into what makes you unique and fully embrace that. As a first Filipina-American Miss USA, I embraced that whole heartedly,” she said.
“I think that’s make me strong so I encourage girls to really look in what makes them unique,” she added.
New @MissUniverse R'Bonney Gabriel message to her Filipino supporters #MissUniverse pic.twitter.com/c87yY8WQRB
— MΛRS (@marvingil) January 15, 2023
Gabriel was born in Texas to a Filipino father R’Bon “Bon” Gabriel and American mother Dana Walker, who left the Philippines at the age of 19 to study in America.
Despite not representing the Philippines, Gabriel received support from the Filipinos especially when the official representative of the country, Celeste Cortesi failed to enter the top 16 of the pageant.
“The Filipino diaspora should never be shamed in claiming every inch of space our heritage allows us to have. Besides, R’Bonney has been extremely proud of being Filipino. I think all her gowns and even nat’l wear are PH made! Galing!” netizen @aarondimaano said.