R’Bonney Gabriel was crowned as Miss Universe 2023 Half time

R’Bonney Gabrielit was crowned this saturday like Miss Universe 2023 in New Orleans, with the mission of being the face of the new stage of the organization focused on defending gender equality and women’s rights.

What first and second runner up Miss Venezuela was chosen Amanda Dudamel and Miss Dominican Republic andreina martinezrespectively. The three beauty queens must dedicate a year to the contest and move to thailandwhere is the venue of the contest starting this year.

Before announcing the winner, the Miss Universe organization revealed that the next editioncorresponding to 2023, will be held in El Salvadorthrough a video of the president of that country Nayb Bukele.

The new Miss Universe28 years old, is the ninth winner of the pageant for her country. Venezuela has won the crown seven times and the Dominican Republic once, in 2003.

Gabriel, was crowned by her predecessor, the Indian Harnaaz Sandhu, with the new Force for Good crown, which has 993 precious stones and a sapphire of 45.14 carats.

Valued at $5.3 millionis the most expensive crown in the 71-year history of the contestwho also gave him the first band made with recyclable materials.

FILIPINO AMERICAN

The new universal beauty queen she is the first woman of Filipino origin to have achieved the title of Miss United States. His father, Remigio Bonzon “R. Bon” Gabriel, is a Filipino who came to the country to study psychology at the University of Southern California. Her mother, Dana walker, is American.

The model and Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo and the american driver Jeannie Mai were the hosts of the galawhich took place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Rapper and Hip-Hop singer Big Freediathe band Big Sam’s Funky Nationthe violinist Amanda Shawthe group Tank and The Bangas and singer Yolanda Adams they were in charge of the musical part of the ceremonyin which the Afro-French culture of the city and the typical American country were marked.

Big Freedia was also part of the jurycompleted by the Cuban journalist and presenter Myrka DellanosMiss Universe 2010, the Mexican Ximena Navarretethe company executive Roku Sweta PatelMiss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliamactress and journalist Emily Austin and the CEO and founder of O Skin Med Spa Olivia Quido.

PARADES AND QUESTIONS TO DECIDE

Although this Miss Universe gala took place in 2023, the winner will hold the title of Miss Universe 2022well the contest it was postponed so as not to compete with the World Cup Qatar 2022.

The new Miss Universe and the finalists stood out in a preliminary group of 16 semifinalistsamong which were also the candidates from Puerto Rico, Curaçao, Spain, Haiti, Australia, Laos, South Africa, Portugal, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, India and Colombia.

This group was selected based on the scores obtained during parades in full dress and swimsuits and individual interviews with the jury that had been carried out previously.

Before the parade of the semifinalists, the new owner of the Miss Universe Organization, the Thai billionaire Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, assured that this saturday began “a new stage of Miss Universe, made by women for women” and recounted how she had “transformed the pain” of being rejected as a transgender woman into success.

Under this new administration, the pageant has accelerated the process towards feminism and equity issues. For Miss Universe number 72 it has already been revealed that married candidates with children will be acceptedsomething vetoed until now.

Gabriel said in his question and answer session that he would advocate raising the age limit for female candidates as well.

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