Miss Universe Jamaica Gabrielle Henry is reflecting on the viral mishap during her time on stage at the 2025 Miss Universe pageant. You may recall that when she took the stage during last year’s preliminary evening gown round, in a stunning orange dress and high heels, she walked right off the edge of the runway and face planted, sustaining some pretty serious injuries as a result. Now she’s filed a lawsuit against the organization.
In a sit-down interview with Deborah Roberts from ABC News, Gabrielle shared more details about what exactly transpired that she claims led to her fall – she says that she was doing what she had been instructed to do.
"I was following what we had rehearsed. I stopped when I was told to stop, I looked at the cameras and then when I was instructed to go, I turned to the left, which I was told to do. And in that moment is when those dreams shattered," she said.
"The first memory I have is that of waking up to my mother who was looking down on me," she added. "It was the first time I have ever seen my mother look so concerned. As soon as I saw my mom, I blacked out again."
She said she was rushed to the Paolo Rangsit Hospital in Thailand, where she spent some time in intensive care. And though she says the Miss Universe organization was incredibly helpful and responsive during the initial days and weeks following the incident, they grew increasingly silent upon her return to her home country when she pressed them to cover her medical expenses. She is adamant that she ‘did not trip’ and says the fall ‘could have been avoided’.
"I think that proper measures could have and should have been put in place," Gabrielle said. "It was the responsibility of those who had organized the stage, who had put in the lighting to ensure that the protective mechanisms were also there, that the hole was barricaded or covered."
Naturally, social media users have had a lot to say in response to the interview, with many applauding her efforts to seek legal retribution against the Miss Universe Organization and its parent companies, JKN Legacy Inc. and Legacy Holding Group USA, for negligence, negligent hiring, retention and supervision and both negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Under this post, social media users have pointed out her specific verbiage, like her insisting she was ‘following instructions’, which could be the result of legal advice that might help her strengthen her case. Other people have asked questions, such as why she was the only one to fall and how they managed to complete prior segments of the show, like the swimsuit round, without anyone having fallen into the alleged ‘hole’ during those portions of the pageant.
According to Gabrielle’s lawyer, Joseph Ciaccio, he says Gabrielle is lucky to be alive.
"I don't think anybody assumes the responsibility that they could be basically almost killed walking on stage at a Miss Universe Organization pageant," he told ABC News. "I believe all the women there entrust the organization to have their well-being in mind to keep them safe to the best of their ability and take what in this instance would have been very simple steps to keep Gabrielle safe."
Initially, the characterization of her injuries by the Miss Universe pageant was ‘a couple of minor wounds’. But weeks later, the organization changed course, describing her fall as ‘serious’, which resulted in 'significant injuries’. The organization says it took ‘full and immediate responsibility without hesitation’ and insists that they did, in fact, cover all of her medical expenses.
But her injuries were definitely life-altering. According to Gabrielle and her legal team, the fall resulted in ‘extreme medical’ and ‘permanent brain injuries’. Upon impact, Gabrielle ‘lost consciousness and sustained a traumatic brain injury with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, frontal lobe hemorrhagic contusion, and subdural hemorrhage’, or brain bleeds. The lawsuit also highlights facial lacerations and a fracture.
In an essay written for PEOPLE magazine, Gabrielle says she suffered collapsed lungs that had filled with fluid and severe back pain. In addition, she says she now suffers "indescribable and excruciatingly painful" headaches and memory loss.
Besides the physical impact and effects of the fall, Gabrielle’s future as both a pageant queen and aspiring doctor is now unclear. Her Bangkok hospitalization, which continued in her home country between November of last year to this March, has meant that she’s been unable to complete her medical residency. And based on the nature of her injuries, her career in ophthalmology has caused "continuing uncertainty" over her future as a doctor.
Despite the amount of pageant drama we’ve seen unfold over the last few years, this is drama of a different nature – and certainly the type of drama that carries a different impact. And if the extent of Gabrielle’s injuries are as debilitating as she and her legal team are outlining, then the Miss Universe organization has a really big lawsuit on their hands.
Despite some online speculation that this is just an attempt at a money grab, if her future has been threatened as much as she claims it has been, then that’s exactly what she’s entitled to. Because to her point, the onus is on the production team, the organization and the crew to ensure the safety of pageant participants.
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