R'Bonney Gabriel of Friendswood, first Filipina Miss Texas and Miss USA, wins Miss Universe

R'Bonney Gabriel, the first Filipina Texan to win Miss Texas USA and Miss USA, has a new title: Miss Universe.

The 28-year-old from Friendswood was crowned the 71st Miss Universe in New Orleans late Saturday, beating out runner-up Miss Venezuela, Amanda Dudamel. The United States and Venezuela are the top two countries with the most Miss Universe wins — nine and seven, respectively. The last Miss USA to become Miss Universe was Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island in 2012. 

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Gabriel is an eco-friendly fashion designer, model and sewing instructor who crafted several of her own outfits for competition at the Miss USA competition in October, where she placed first against runner-up Morgan Romano of North Carolina. After graduating from the University of North Texas with a degree in fashion design, she founded and currently owns her own sustainable clothing line, R'Bonney Nola, according to her Miss Universe bio.

As an homage to her hometown, she donned a space-themed costume during the competition, complete with an American flag, glittering stars and a large moon balanced above her head. Gabriel explained on social media she chose the costume in honor of efforts at Space Center Houston to send the first woman to the moon.

She also advocated for raising the age limit at Miss Universe, which is 28, sharing with the judges that her favorite quote is "If not now, then when?" — a phrase she also had emblazoned on the cape made of recycled plastic containers she wore for the swimsuit competition.

"As a woman, I believe age does not define us. It's not tomorrow, it's not yesterday, but it's now, the time is now, that you can go after what she want," Gabriel said.

Gabriel shares a number of similarities with Chelsi Smith, the only other Miss Texas to become Miss Universe after claiming the title in 1995. Both represented the Houston-area at Miss Texas, both went on to win Miss USA and then Miss Universe and both made history with their Miss Texas wins — Gabriel as the first Filipina American, and Smith as the first biracial woman of African American descent.

While her mother grew up in Beaumont, Gabriel's father immigrated from the Philippines when he was 19. Her victory was celebrated in both countries.

Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted "so proud," following her win, and the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines also joined in congratulating Gabriel. Following her Miss USA win in October, Gabriel was featured in Vogue Philippines for incorporating elements of Filipina design into the outfits she designed for the competition, such as a collar inspired by a Maria Clara traditional dress worn by women in the Philippines.

In the final stage of the competition, Gabriel was asked what she would do to show Miss Universe is "an empowering and progressive organization," the Associated Press reported. She responded by speaking about her work to use recycled materials in fashion and teach sewing to survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence, according to the AP.

“It is so important to invest in others, invest in our community and use your unique talent to make a difference,” Gabriel said. “We all have something special, and when we plant those seeds to other people in our life, we transform them and we use that as a vehicle for change.”

Her answer was unsurprising to Sarah-Jayne Smith, CEO, and Ahshia Berry, vice president and director of communications for Magpies & Peacocks, the Houston-based nonprofit where Gabriel has worked for two-and-a-half years as a sewing instructor for women who have experienced trauma. 

The two have come to know Gabriel as a humble and authentic person with a passion for design, environmental activism and making change for the people around her, according to Berry. She became a perfect fit for the program because of her knowledge of design and fabric construction combined with her natural ability to draw others in, the two said.

"She has all of that, but she just happens to be incredibly beautiful as well," Smith said.

Throughout her run leading up to Miss Universe, Berry said Gabriel made it a point to keep in contact with the organization, even traveling back to Texas directly after her Miss USA win to make sure she could attend their annual fundraiser.

Gabriel will now spend the next year traveling the world representing the Miss Universe organization. Even when she's no longer popping into their EaDo warehouse to grab fabric or help out on a sewing machine, Berry said they know she'll still be video-calling them to keep up with the organization and with Houston.

"I feel a lot of WhatsApps in the future," Berry said.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misidentified 1995 Miss Universe winner Chelsi Smith.

megan.munce@chron.com