-
R’Bonney Gabriel, of Houston, made history as the first Filipina American to be named Miss Universe during the 71st pageant held Jan. 14 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
R’Bonney Gabriel, of Houston, made history as the first Filipina American to be named Miss Universe during the 71st pageant held Jan. 14 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her parents are Remigio Bonzon “R. Bon” Gabriel, a Filipino, and mother, Dana Walker, who is from Beaumont. R’Bonney is also the half-sister of Joshua Cobb, an instructor at LIT.
The 28-year-old Gabriel is an eco-friendly fashion designer, model, and sewing instructor with an excitement for life. She attributes her opportunistic outlook to her upbringing immersed in the arts, sports, and travel. As a high-school volleyball player who pivoted to fashion, she quickly fell in love with constructing designs with fabrics and textiles at the young age of 15. At the University of North Texas, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design with a Minor in Fibers in 2018. She is currently CEO of her own sustainable clothing line, R’Bonney Nola.
She’s also the lead sewing instructor at Magpies & Peacocks, a Houston based nonprofit design house that is dedicated to using “Fashion As A Force For Good” through sustainability and community impact. As a “Gucci Changemakers” recipient, they were honored for their work of diverting unwanted textiles and fabrics from landfills and turning them into fashion collections. Within the “MAKR” program, she teaches sewing classes to women that have survived human trafficking and domestic violence.
R’Bonney’s mission is for women and young girls to see themselves in her, and feel inspired to conquer their goals by owning who they are.