By Marisol Bo-oc | 12:14 PM January 15, 2023
Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel was proclaimed 2022 Miss Universe at the culmination of the pageant’s 71st edition held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States on Jan. 14 (Jan. 15 in Manila).
Gabriel, who is part-Filipino, bested 82 other aspirants to inherit the title from 2021 Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu, the third winner from India who captured the title in the pageant’s 70th edition held in Israel in December 2021.
Settling for the first runner-up spot in the most recent competition was Amanda Dudamel from Venezuela, while Andreína Martínez from Dominican Republic was proclaimed second runner-up.
The Philippines’ 12-year streak of semifinal placements at the Miss Universe competition has finally been broken after Celeste Cortesi failed to enter the Top 16 in the 71st Miss Universe.
