CONGRATULATIONS to the newly-crowned winners of the Mrs. Universe Philippines 2022 finals held at Okada Manila last Sunday. Veronica Yu, a wife and mother who is very active in her Rotary District 3780 in Cubao, Quezon City, won the coveted title from among 20 finalists who strut on the ballroom stage in national costumes, swimwear and evening gowns before a panel of celebrity judges, among them former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Charmaine Arnaiz, Karla Estrada, Azenith Briones Reyes, and former Binibining Pilipinas Jenette Fernando-Dizon.
Yu, an entrepreneur, Philippine Air Force reservist and youth service chair at Rotary Club of Cubao – Crossroaders District 3780, won the coveted title and the right to represent the Philippines at the Mrs. Universe pageant to be held in Seoul, South Korea from December 3-11, 2022. Five other ladies were crowned with their own special area titles and will also compete in South Korea, namely: Gines Santiago-Angeles of Nueva Ecija, Mrs. Universe Philippines – North Pacific Asia; Lady Chatterly Alvaro-Sumbeling of Pangasinan, Mrs. Universe Philippines – Northeast Asia; Jeanie Jarina Macabus of Valenzuela, Mrs. Universe Philippines – West Pacific Asia; Jessa Macaraig of Bulacan, Mrs. Universe Philippines – Pacific Continental; and Michelle Solinap of Iloilo, Mrs. Universe Philippines – Continental Asia.
Hosted by actor-singerJojo Alejar and former Miss Philippines Water Sam Purvor, the pageant was produced by singer-actress Charo Calalo and directed by Anshari Alonto.
***
R’Bonney Nola Gabriel from Friendswood, Texas was crowned as Miss USA 2022 in Reno, Nevada last Sunday and became the first Filipino-American to win the title, representing her Asian culture and roots on the Miss USA stage, and previously on the Miss Texas USA pageant.
Gabriel, 28, was born in San Antonio, Texas to a Filipino father, R’Bon Gabriel and American mother, Dana Gabriel, and is a model and fashion designer.
In a media tour after the pageant, Gabriel said her father was only 19 years old when he migrated to America from Manila and had just 20 dollars in his pocket.
Gabriel owns her own label, R’Bonney Nola. She designs everything from shirts to dresses and uses sustainable practices for her designs. She currently teaches sewing at the Magpies and Peacocks fashion house in Houston, teaching students how to sew different things using fabrics and textiles from remnants.
Gabriel will represent the USA at the 71st Miss Universe Competition in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 14, 2023.
