Miss Universe 2023: Amanda Dudamel revealed what she said to R'Bonney Gabriel before becoming the winner

Gabriel was the winner amid controversy

ADAPTED BY SAM 21/01/2023 - 14:49 CST

The Miss Universe 2023 pageant had its share of controversy when it was announced that the winner was the American R'Bonney Gabriel, who was under fire from the Venezuelan Amanda Dudamel, who apparently did not congratulate the winner.

Dudamel clarified on the program Mesa Caliente that she had and has no problem with Gabriel, on the contrary, she pointed out that they were very close during the contest, but that when it came to finding out who won there was a bit of confusion on stage.

Amanda Dudamel: I would have loved to hug R'Bonney Gabriel

Amanda Dudamel commented in the interview that when the organizers announced the winner both she and Gabriel didn't know if they had said first or second place.

"The organizers came in and said, 'Miss USA, you're the winner,' and I was kind of pushed back a little bit," Dudamel explained in an interview with Mesa Caliente.

"I'm sorry I couldn't hug her, we are really close friends and I would have liked to give her that congratulatory hug."

Before knowing who would win the contest, Amanda approached Gabriel and said some very strong words to her.

"And when we got there, the first thing I said to her was, 'we're in power'. I felt that I had responded very well and I had felt very good on stage, but then I put myself in God's hands, just as I did as soon as the show started, because in the preliminaries I was still a little bit cold," she continued.

At the end, Miss Venezuela said she was very proud of her participation in the pageant, as well as being very calm because people consider her the queen without a crown.

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