Filipino-American Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel amused Pinoys when she suddenly spoke Filipino while hosting the national costume segment of the Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand.
The half-Pinoy trended on social media after Pinoys uploaded clips of her switching to the Philippine national language, delighting viewers who noted the unexpected use of Filipino during the international competition.
“Sa dami ata ng Pinoy sa venue, akala ni R’Bonney nasa Miss Universe Philippines siya. Luv u, teh,” an online user commented.
“Kita tayo mamaya? Opo, Queen R’bonney Gabriel,” another said, sharing a clip of the former Miss Universe titleholder speaking Filipino.
kita tayo mamaya? opo, queen r’bonney gabriel. https://t.co/Tr9VCoOzfG pic.twitter.com/CY4TXoEDxD
— ⁷ ᡣ𐭩 (@rishimntbllr) November 19, 2025
“Aliw ka, R’Bonney!” exclaimed a different Pinoy with a laughing emoji, sharing another clip of R’Bonney addressing the audience.
Aliw ka R’Bonney! 🤣
“Masaya po ba ang lahat?” 🤣😂
Ma. Ahtisa Manalo, PHILIPPINES! ✨#MissUniverse2025 #The74thMissUniverse #AhtISApa #Ahti5aForU #AhtisaMananalo #AhtisaPanalo #Ahti5a pic.twitter.com/PG3YbyeWi5
— 𝓐𝓱𝓽𝓲𝓼𝓪 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓤 ✨ (@iPsyCARLogy) November 19, 2025
Another Filipino joked that R’Bonney’s sudden switch to Filipino must have been the effect of her shopping trips to Divisoria and ukay-ukay (thrift stores) in the Philippines.
“T**** ni R’Bonney! Nag-Tagalog! Teeeeeh. Nasa Thailand ka! Kakatambay mo ‘yan sa Divisoria at mga ukay-ukay! HAHAHAHA LAROOOOO,” the X user wrote.
R’Bonney, who has been traveling back and forth to the Philippines since her reign as Miss Universe 2022, previously shared that she enjoys shopping in Divisoria and practicing her bargaining skills.
“OUR MISS UNIVERSE 2022 CHANNELING HER INNER FILIPINA,” a Facebook user also said, sharing a clip of the beauty queen speaking Filipino.
“Nakaka-proud talaga si R’bonney Gabriel, ang cute niya mag-Tagalog,” the online user said.
“The Supremacy, the one and only R’Bonney Gabriel! Baka EAT BULAGA yarn!” another quipped, referring to the beauty queen’s stint as a co-host and guest in the noontime variety show.
R’Bonney previously shared that she studied Filipino to embrace her Pinoy roots on her father’s side. She is the daughter of Malate native Remigio “R.Bon” Gabriel and American Dana Walker from Texas.
Meanwhile, Philippine bet Ahtisa Manalo impressed fellow Filipinos with her fiesta-inspired national costume designed by Mak Tumang, the same designer who went viral for creating Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s “lava gown.”
Ahtisa is vying for the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe crown in the 74th edition of the beauty pageant, with the coronation set in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, November 21.
