Houston, Miss USA has landed. When Miss USA R’Bonnie Gabriel took the stage at the Miss Universe 2023 National Costume Show this week, she wore the moon.
Gabriel’s costume, an homage to NASA’s Apollo 11 lunar landing and the current Artemis program, consisted of an actual scale-sized moon on her head, an intricate frame surrounded by shining silver stars, and red, white and blue There was a dress decorated with lights. To complete the look, he carried the American flag.
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“On July 20, 1969, two American astronauts became the first humans to set foot on the Moon, completing one of the most remarkable achievements in human history. Fast forward to today and women are the first in the Artemis program aimed at sending America includes far more than. Back to the Moon,” Gabriel (opens in new tab)28. Wrote about the outfit on Instagram (opens in new tab) Through her clothing brand R’Bonney Nola.
“As a Houston native, where NASA’s space center is located, I am proud to be from the city that is working to send the first woman to the moon,” she said.
Houston is the location of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, which is home to the agency’s Mission Control Center for human space flight missions and astronaut training centers.
“The dress was intended to inspire women all over the universe to dream big, shoot for the moon, and achieve something out of this world,” wrote Gabrielle.
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Gabrielle, the first Filipina American Miss USA, chooses Filipino designer Patrick Isorena (opens in new tab) to make a dress. Isorena also designed Gabrielle’s Miss Texas costume at the Miss USA 2022 pageant, according to ABS CBN News. (opens in new tab) Isorena told ABS CBN News that the costume weighs up to 33 pounds (15 kg).
The Miss Universe 2023 pageant kicks off tonight (January 14) in New Orleans. The National Costume Show took place on Thursday (January 12). You can watch the full national costume show below.
Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow @tariqjmalik (opens in new tab), follow us @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab), Facebook (opens in new tab) And instagram (opens in new tab),