During the evening gown segment, she missed a step and fell from the platform to the floor. According to international beauty news sites, the crew and medical staff quickly arrived, placing Gabrielle Henry on a stretcher and moving her off the stage area.
People magazine reported that the organizers transported Gabrielle Henry to the hospital, where fortunately no bones were broken. Newsweek stated the beauty queen "did not sustain life-threatening injuries but requires continued health monitoring".
The Miss Universe Jamaica organization confirmed Gabrielle Henry's accident, issuing a statement that she was taken to Paolo Rangsit Hospital for tests. The organization has not yet announced whether Gabrielle Henry will be able to return to the stage for the finals on 21/11.
Gabrielle Henry, 28, was crowned Miss Universe Jamaica in August. She is an ophthalmologist currently working at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UWI) in Jamaica.
She is also a social activist, running the See Me Foundation, which supports people with blindness and low vision. She enjoys caring for plants. In an interview with local media, Henry stated that if she won the competition, she would use her influence to promote education, healthcare, and youth empowerment in Jamaica.
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Miss Gabrielle Henry at a competition event. *Photo: Miss Universe Jamaica* |
In an interview with The Gleaner prior to the preliminary activities, Henry expressed satisfaction with her experiences in Thailand, the host country for this season. She said, "I am grateful for what this journey has brought. It is truly wonderful to be alongside 120 outstanding contestants and to have the opportunity to experience the culture and hospitality of the Thai people."
Following the semi-finals, judges will select 29 contestants, with one additional contestant entering the top 30 through audience votes. The results will be announced during the finals on the morning of 21/11. From the top 30, judges will then select the top 12 (instead of 10 as in previous years), followed by the top 5, and finally the top three (comprising a queen and two runners-up). Miss Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark will crown her successor. The program is broadcast free and exclusively on FPT Play.
The 74th season, themed "Beyond the Crown," began in early november. However, controversies surrounding organizational aspects and internal conflicts among Miss Universe Organization (MUO) leadership have led audiences to perceive the competition as unprofessional. Several contestants withdrew due to health issues or personal reasons. Currently, 120 beauties continue their journey to win the crown. Before the semi-finals, two judges, former footballer Claude Makelele and musician Omar Harfouch, withdrew from their "hot seat" positions at Miss Universe.
Miss Universe was first held in 1952 and is one of the world's most-watched beauty pageants, with 165 countries and territories purchasing broadcast rights.
Currently, the competition has undergone several rule changes to promote diversity, honoring not only external beauty but also women's resilience and healthy lifestyles. Since 2023, the Miss Universe organization has accepted married women and mothers as contestants.
Tan Cao
