The Miss Universe 2022 titleholder will compete in the fashion design series’ largest contestant lineup.
Filipino American fashion designer and Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel has joined the cast of “Project Runway” season 22, extending her public career from pageantry and advocacy into a televised design competition.
Gabriel, who also uses the professional name R’Bonney Nola, is among 22 designers announced for the new season, the largest contestant field in the show’s history. The season is scheduled to premiere July 9 on Freeform and stream afterward on Hulu and Disney+.
Heidi Klum, Law Roach and Nina Garcia will serve as judges, with “Project Runway” season 4 winner Christian Siriano returning as mentor. The series is built around timed challenges in which contestants are assessed on concept, construction, styling and runway presentation.
A Texas-based designer, model and sewing instructor, Gabriel won Miss Universe 2022 after representing the United States. Pageant officials identified her as the first Filipino American to win Miss USA, according to the Associated Press.
Gabriel has often linked her fashion work to sustainability, including the use of recycled materials and sewing education. She has also spoken publicly about teaching sewing to women who survived abuse and exploitation.
Her casting adds another point of visibility for Filipino American, in mainstream U.S. fashion and entertainment. It follows a recent Filipino milestone in the franchise when designer Veejay Floresca won season 21.
Season 22 will test Gabriel’s design identity in a format defined by speed, critique and reinvention.
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