Recently crowned Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel stopped by the Cheddar News studio to talk about fashion, sustainability, and her morning routine. Here are some of the highlights.
On her goals for her year as Miss Universe:
"I want to expand on my mission to use fashion as a force for good. I'm a designer, and I've been sewing for half of my life now, and I want to push more sustainability and ethical practices within the industry, because the industry is the second-largest polluting industry in the world."
On her training regimen leading up to her big win:
"Training is everyday in one way or another. It's like a sport, so you have to dedicate all of your time to it. For me, I would wake up and practice walking, go to the gym, eat very healthy and clean."
Being a designer, she also spent "hours and hours" making the pieces that she ended up wearing at the pageant. "It's very intense," she added. "You have to sacrifice to get where you want to be, so I wouldn't trade it for the world."
On being the first Filipino-American Miss Universe:
"When I was a child, I wasn't so sure, and I didn't own it as much as I do now. So I really hope this inspires little girls to feel special and see themselves in me."
On how she finds time for herself:
"I think it's a juggling act. I like to put a lot on my plate, and that's kind of how I function. When I have free time, I'm not sure what to do with myself."
That being said, she stressed the importance of a "solid morning routine." For her, that means at least five minutes of yoga and some journaling. "That just helps me pause and reflect when everything is so busy around me," she said.
On what's next after taking the crown:
"It feels good that I'm not competing anymore, because it was so intense. Now I can actually focus on doing the job as Miss Universe. There's a lot of travel involved, and a lot of charities that Miss Universe has been working with for years that I get to be a spokesperson for now."
