NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (The Adobo Chronicles, New Orleans Bureau) – It doesn’t matter that Celeste Cortesi didn’t even make it to the top 16. The Philippines nonetheless won its 4.5th Miss Universe Crown today when Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel was named the new Miss Universe.

Ms. Gabriel from Texas made headlines last year when she was crowned Miss USA, resulting in allegations of favoritism by other pageant contestants.

The new Miss Universe is half-Filipina which gave the Philippines an addition half point in terms of the number of Miss Universe crowns it has garnered.