R'Bonney Gabriel gives closer look at outfit design that led to her 'Project Runway' Season 22 elimination
R'Bonney Gabriel shared a closer look at her upcycled denim creation that didn't land too well with the judges during the first week of Project Runway Season 22.
In an Instagram post, the Fil-Am Miss Universe 2022 titleholder shared pictures of herself wearing her creation as well as a few behind-the-scenes moments of her working on its early drafts.
"I love this design, but the judges didn't, and that's okay. I’ll forever believe that trying and failing is always better than not trying at all," she wrote.
"We can so easily talk ourselves out of taking risks because of fear or rejection, embarrassment, failure… but who cares? Life is too short not to go after opportunities," she added.
Gabriel went on to say that there were details in her design that she is considering tweaking, and how she also wants to explore different kinds of fabrics.
In the comments section of her post, her followers commended her for embracing the experience despite the outcome.
"Delay doesn’t mean denial. You’ll have many more opportunities come your way! So proud of you!" an Instagram user wrote.
Another said, "True strength of character lies in having the courage to do what many won’t because they fear failure. Proud of you RB!"
Gabriel previously opened up about how she felt when she got eliminated from Project Runway Season 22.
"When I got cut from the competition, in that judging room, my heart sank. I couldn't believe it was happening. But at the same time, I was not super surprised," she recalled. "All day that day, I had a lot of anxiety. This terrible feeling that I was not safe to stay in the competition. I kept it in my head but I was really trying to convince myself that maybe there's a glimmer of hope when I got to the bottom two."
Gabriel said she was "so devastated" and started crying when she went back to the workroom. While the designer said she rarely cries in front of the camera, she could not help it at that time.
"I had all these dreams of the success that could come from competing on this show. The opportunity to have FaceTime with the host, be immersed in the design room for a long period of time without any other distractions—I was fantasizing about that. And it got cut so short," she said.
Apart from winning the 2022 Miss Universe crown, Gabriel is also known for her love for fashion. Particularly, she uses her platform to advocate for responsible fashion, inspiring others through her upcycled works.
Project Runway Season 22 premiered on July 9 on Freeform, Hulu, and Disney+. The winner will take home $200,000, a fashion editorial in Elle Magazine, a mentorship with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and professional representation to launch their brand.