Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel, who was crowned Miss Universe 2022 bared her plan to visit the Philippines and hold a sewing workshop for women.
“I want to reach out to them [Filipinos]. Well, my world just got turned upside down. But I absolutely would love to visit the Philippines,” the USA’s representative and Filipino-American said in a press conference on Saturday, January 14 evening. (January 15, Sunday, Manila time).
The fashion designer also said that she had a conversation with a fellow designer friend about her plan to set up a workshop in the country.
“I was speaking with a friend a couple of months ago that’s in the Philippines. He’s a designer. And I told him, I would love to set up some sewing workshops and teach little girls how to sew because it was all about planting the seeds and giving them a creative opportunity,” R’Bonney said.
“So I really look forward to that and I hope I have the opportunity to do that in the Philippines hopefully within the next few months,” she added.
R’Bonney is the lead sewing instructor at Magpies & Peacocks, a Houston-based non-profit design house, where she teaches women who have survived human trafficking and domestic violence.
The 28-year-old Filipino-American beauty has been doing this to empower women. This advocacy was highlighted during the Question and Answer portion of the pageant.
READ: Q&A Full text: Winning answers of Miss Universe 2022 Top 3 finalists
R’Bonney is the first Filipino-American to clinch the Miss USA and Miss Universe crowns.
RELATED: Who is Miss Universe 2022 Filipino-American Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel? ‘For Pinoy pride’: Pinoys rally behind USA’s R’Bonney Gabriel at Miss Universe 2022