R’Bonney Nola Gabriel is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2022, and eventually Miss Universe 2022, becoming the 9th American and its oldest titleholder.
R’Bonney Gabriel was born in Houston, Texas to a Filipino father, Remigio Bonzon “R. Bon” Gabriel, and an American mother, Dana Walker.
According to the Houston Chronicle, R’Bonney’s father, Bon Gabriel, immigrated from Manila at the age of 19 and went on to earn his doctorate in psychology at the University of Houston.
R’Bonney followed in her dad’s footsteps and also graduated from college, attending the University of North Texas. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fashion design with a minor in fibres.
After placing second at both Miss Houston and Miss Kemah 2021, R’Bonney was determined to get better.
“I had to make sure I was strong in every category,” she told the outlet. “I worked hard every day for the past eight months. I wanted to outwork the competition and go in feeling confident.”
She went on to win Miss USA 2022, with North Carolina’s Morgan Romano coming in second place and Natalie Pieper from Nebraska in third.
