R’Bonney Gabriel Sparks Buzz After Revealing Her “Best Durian Ever”
R’BONNEY GABRIEL – While exploring Thailand during Miss Universe 2025, R’Bonney Gabriel made a durian confession that instantly caught the attention of Filipino netizens.
Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel charmed pageant fans once again as she shared her love for durian during her recent visit to Thailand, where she hosted segments of the Miss Universe 2025 competition. The Filipino-American beauty queen, known for openly embracing her Filipino roots, caught attention after mentioning her fondness for the fruit, particularly those she tasted in the Philippines.
R’Bonney reposted an Instagram Story from a user who highlighted her comments about enjoying durian from her father’s home country. The user shared a clip taken from her YouTube vlog documenting her behind-the-scenes experiences while hosting the 74th edition of Miss Universe.
In the video, R’Bonney can be seen cheerfully exploring an area in Thailand lined with food stalls. Her excitement became evident when she stumbled upon a vendor selling durian. “I’m a happy girl because I’ve found durian and it’s good,” she said in her vlog, her voice filled with playful enthusiasm.
The beauty queen went on to recall her most memorable durian experience, saying, “I was worried because the last durian was in the Philippines, in Iligan, and it was the best durian of my life.” Comparing the two, she added, “This is not as good, but, it’s still delicious,” as she gestured toward the fruit she was holding.
R’Bonney served as one of the hosts of Miss Universe 2025, which concluded with Mexico’s Fatima Bosch Fernandez being crowned the new Miss Universe. The Philippines’ representative, Ahtisa Manalo, finished strong as third runner-up and also brought home the Best in National Costume award.
The reigning queen has grown even more familiar with the Philippines over the past year. In September, she traveled to Iligan City for the Miss Iligan 2025 pageant. During her visit, she also explored several local attractions, including Tinago Falls, Mimbalot Falls, and the Sikyop Underground Caves—while enjoying more servings of durian along the way.
Her affection for the fruit is nothing new. Last July, she shared that its unique smell doesn’t bother her, saying, “It’s okay… I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but the smell doesn’t really bother me.”
Durian, native to Southeast Asia, is widely known for its strong odor and rich, creamy flesh with sweet, nutty notes—qualities that continue to win over adventurous food lovers like R’Bonney.
Watch the video below (09:00 hit mark):
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