Miss Universe 2022 R'bonney Gabriel Is Competing on "Project Runway" Season 22

After Filipino designer Veejay Floresca's historic victory in the last season of Project Runway, another Pinay joins the competition—and she's going facing the biggest cast the show has ever had.

In an official announcement made earlier this week, Miss Universe titleholder R'bonney Gabriel was announced to take part in the fashion-themed reality series. Against a cast of 21 other designers, the Filipino-American is set to be judged by a panel composed of Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, and Law Roach.

In an Instagram post, the beauty queen expressed her excitement over being cast. "From 16 years of sewing, and soooo many hours of watching Project Runway, I thought it was time to enter the workroom. Design has been my passion since I was young, and it’s a dream come true to join this season," she wrote.

After winning the coveted Miss Universe crown in 2022, R'bonney dedicated herself to building her fashion brand, even showing a collection at BENCH Fashion Week 2023. Her style revolves around crafty fabrications, as she often enlists unconventional materials such as mussel shells and denim scraps to create unique ensembles. Much of her work is tied to her advocacy for sustainability and conscious consumption, which we can expect to see more of in the workroom.

Pegged as the biggest season of the franchise yet, the 22nd season of Project Runway sees many reality stars entering the sartorial gauntlet. R'bonney will be going head-to-head with two RuPaul's Drag Race alumni: namely, Plane Jane (Andrew Dunayevskiy) and Q (Robert Severson) from season 16. Also joining them is Bao Tranchi, a veteran Vietnamese costume designer who made a name for herself through film appearances and by working with global pop stars.

This edition of Project Runway is set to premiere on July 9 on streaming platforms Hulu, Disney+, and Freeform. Will Veejay's successor be another Pinay? Let's wait and see!