Filipino-American Alboni Gabriel
"Age Does Not Define a Woman"
Filipino-American Albony Gabriel (28) won the crown at the 71st Miss Universe pageant held this year. Gabriel is known as the 'oldest' reigning Miss Universe.
According to local U.S. media such as CNN, at the winner announcement of the Miss Universe pageant held on the 14th (local time) in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. representative Gabriel took first place, beating Venezuela's Amanda Dudamel and Dominican Republic's Andreana Martinez Punie, among others.
Miss Universe is an international beauty pageant held since 1952, and in this 71st edition, contestants from 84 countries competed for the crown.
Gabriel, who was selected as the winner, is 28 years old this year, which is the upper age limit for participation in the Miss Universe pageant. At the time she made it to the final five, she expressed, "I am 28 years old. This is the maximum age allowed to compete in the pageant," and added, "Because of this, I hope the upper age limit will be raised in the future."
She also said, "Miss Universe has recently made broad changes to allow mothers and married women to participate," emphasizing, "As a woman, I believe age does not define us. What matters is not tomorrow or yesterday, but the present."
Born into a Filipino immigrant family, Gabriel is currently a model and fashion designer, and also works as an instructor teaching sewing classes for survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. When asked by the host what kind of activities she would pursue if she became Miss Universe, she expressed her ambition to "work to become a transformational leader."
She added, "We all have something special, and when we plant those seeds in the lives of others, we can bring transformation and change to them."
Gabriel emphasized that the age limit for participating in Miss Universe should be raised. / Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
Previously, Gabriel was selected for another beauty pageant, 'Miss USA,' in October last year, but became embroiled in controversy when some other contestants claimed that "the pageant results were rigged."
The Miss Universe Organization is currently continuing its investigation into the Miss USA-related incident but has stated that Gabriel's win at this Miss Universe pageant was fair.
Meanwhile, Miss Universe was initially operated by the U.S. entertainment agency 'IMG Worldwide,' but ownership was transferred when Anne Jakrajutatip, a Thai transgender woman and media mogul, acquired the pageant organization for $20 million (approximately 28.8 billion KRW at the time) in 2000.
CEO Jakrajutatip is striving to foster diversity throughout the Miss Universe pageant process. In a statement at the time of the acquisition in October last year, she said, "We will continue the legacy of the pageant as a platform for passionate people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and traditions, and work to develop the brand for the next generation."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
