(BuzzFeed) The 28-year-old is mixed: Filipino on her dad’s side and white on her mom’s. She told ABC station KTRK, “I feel like I have a very big responsibility to not only share my culture as a Filipina and a Texan, but I really want to show people the importance of embracing who you are. My dad moved to America from the Philippines on a college scholarship with about $20 in his pocket. He wanted to pave a new life for himself. He met my mom in Texas, who is a country woman from Beaumont. I’m a very proud Filipina Texan.”
During the Miss Universe pageant, R’Bonney combined her talents as a fashion designer with her heritage. She created this beautiful interview outfit to “pay tribute” to her parents.
In the caption of an Instagram video sharing the design process, she wrote, “[My parents] got married in Manila, Philippines. I hand-painted the same flower design from my mother’s wedding dress onto my sleeves and tied in a traditional Maria Clara Filipina collar shape. I have immense gratitude for the opportunities my parents provided me and wanted to express my love to them through this.”.. Read More