On Saturday night, Bonney Gabriel of the United States was crowned the 71st Miss Universe Winner 2023. Gabriel, the first Filipino-American to win Miss USA last year, triumphed over Amanda Dudamel of Venezuela and Andrena Martnez of the Dominican Republic.
The pageant took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, and 84 women from all over the world competed for the title.
Saturday night was the competition’s final day, with eliminations reducing the number of finalists to just two.
Gabriel, the Miss Universe 2023 was asked when she reached the Top 5: “This year, Miss Universe has made an inclusive change, allowing mothers and married women to compete. What other changes would you like to see, and why?”
Gabriel, the Miss Universe 2023 responded that she hoped the contest organizers would raise the age limit for candidates.
“Because I am 28 years old, I would like to see my age increase. That is also the oldest age to compete. And I think it’s a lovely thing. ‘If not now, when?’ is my favourite quote. Because I believe that age does not define us as women. It’s not tomorrow or yesterday – it’s right now. The time has come, “She stated.
Gabriel, the Miss Universe 2023 is a model, fashion designer, and sewing instructor. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design and a Minor in Fibres. Gabriel also runs her own sustainable clothing line.
The beauty queen is the first Filipino-American to win Miss USA, and her “mission is for women and young girls to see themselves in her, and feel inspired to conquer their goals by owning who they are,” according to her official bio.
The night began with the announcement of the Top 16 Miss Universe 2023 contestants following a preliminary competition.
Top 16 Miss Universe 2023: Ashley Cario (Puerto Rico), Mideline Phelizor (Haiti), Monique Riley (Australia), Andreina Martinez Founier (Dominican Republic), Payengxa Lor (Laos), Ndavi Nokeri (South Africa), Telma Madeira (Portugal), Amelia Tu (Canada), Alessia Rovegno (Per), Tya Jané Ramey (Trinidad & Tobago) (Colombia).
Following the Miss Universe 2023 competition of beauty queens in evening gowns and bathing suits, the Top 5 Miss Universe 2023 were announced as Amanda Dudamel (Venezuela), R’Bonney Gabriel (USA), Ashley Cario (Puerto Rico), Gabrila Dos Santos (Curacao), and Andreina Martinez Founier (Dominican Republic).
Following a round of questions, the Top 3 Miss Universe 2023 finalists were revealed to be Andreina Martinez Founier (Dominican Republic), R’Bonney Gabriel (USA), and Amanda Dudamel (Canada) (Venezuela).
Miss Congeniality was awarded to Sofia Depassier of Chile, the Social Impact Award was presented to Anna Sueangam-iam of Thailand, and the Spirit of Carnival Award was presented to Viktoria Apanasenko of Ukraine.
It was also revealed that the next Miss Universe pageant will be held in El Salvador.
Miss Universe 2023 Contestants
There were more than 80 Miss Universe 2023 Contestants whose names are listed in the table below:
| Miss Universe 2023 Contestants | Country of Origin |
| Deta Kokomani | Albania |
| Swelia Antonio | Angola |
| Barbara Cabrera | Argentina |
| Kristina Ayanian | Aruba |
| Kiara Arends | Australia |
| Monique Riley | Bahrain |
| Chayenne Van Aarle | Belgium |
| Ashley Lightburn | Belize |
| Tashi Choden | Bhutan |
| Camila Sanabria | Bolivia |
| Mia Mamede | Brazil |
| Lia Claxton | British Virgin Islands |
| Kristina Plamenova | Bulgaria |
| Manita Hang | Cambodia |
| Monalisa Mouketey | Cameroon |
| Amelia Tu | Canada |
| Chloe Powery Doxey | Cayman Islands |
| Sofia Depassier | Chile |
| Jiang Sichen | China |
| Maria Fernanda Aristizabal | Colombia |
| Fernanda Rodriguez | Costa Rica |
| Arijana Podgajski | Croatia |
| Gabriela Dos Santos | Curacao |
| Sara Mikulenkova | Czech Republic |
| Anderina Martinez | Dominican Republic |
| Nayelhi Gonazalez | Ecuador |
| Alejandra Guajardo | El Salvador |
| Alba Isabel Obama | Equatorial Guinea |
| Petra Hamalainen | Finland |
| Floriane Bascou | France |
| Soraya Kohlmann | Germany |
| Engracia Mofuman | Ghana |
| Noky Simbani | Great Britain |
| Korina Emmanouilidou | Greece |
| Ivana Batchelor | Guatemala |
| Mideline Phelizor | Haiti |
| Rebeca Rodriguez | Honduras |
| Hrafnhildur Haraldsdóttir | Iceland |
| Divita Rai | India |
| Lakshmi De Neefe Suardana | Indonesia |
| Virginia Stablum | Italy |
| Toshami Calvin | Jamaica |
| Marybelen Sakamoto | Japan |
| Roksana Ibrahimi | Kosovo |
| Altynai Botoyarova | Kyrgyzstan |
| Peayengxa Lor | Laos |
| Yasmina Zaytoun | Lebanon |
| Cheam Wei Yeng | Malaysia |
| Maxine Formosa | Malta |
| Alexandrine Belle-Etoile | Mauritius |
| Irma Miranda | Mexico |
| Zar Li Moe | Myanmar |
| Cassia Sharpley | Namibia |
| Sophiya Bhujel | Nepal |
| Ona Moody | Netherlands |
| Norma Huembes | Nicaragua |
| Hannah Iribhogbe | Nigeria |
| Ida Hauan | Norway |
| Solaris Barba | Panama |
| Lia Ashmore | Paraguay |
| Alessia Rovegno | Peru |
| Celeste Cortesi | Philippines |
| Aleksandra Klepaczka | Poland |
| Telma Madeira | Portugal |
| Ashley Carino | Puerto Rico |
| Anna Linnikova | Russia |
| Sheri’s Paul | Saint Lucia |
| Gabriella Gonthier | Seychelles |
| Carissa Yap | Singapore |
| Karolina Michalcikova | Slovakia |
| Ndavi Nokeri | South Africa |
| Hanna Kim | South Korea |
| Alicia Faubel | Spain |
| Alia Guindi | Switzerland |
| Anna Sueangam-iam | Thailand |
| Angel Cartwright | The Bahamas |
| Tya Jane Ramey | Trindad and Tobago |
| Alyena Sirin | Turkey |
| Viktoria | Ukraine |
| Apanasenko | United States |
| R’Bonney Gabriel | Uruguay |
| Amanda Dudamel | Venezuela |
| Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau | Vietnam |
