Prayers for Miss Universe Jamaica after extent of injuries revealed
Dr Gabrielle Henry to continue hospitalisation on return from Thailand this week
Published:Tuesday | December 9, 2025 | 12:08 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
There has been an extra outpouring of love and prayers for Miss Universe Jamaica, Dr Gabrielle Henry, since the Miss Universe Organisation revealed via an Instagram post on Monday morning, the full extent of her injuries, following a fall from the stage in Thailand, where the finals were held last month.
The joint release from the organisers and the family, stated that Dr Henry “suffered a serious fall through an opening on the stage while performing her walk during the preliminary competition on November 19”. The statement also debunked “certain media reports suggesting that Dr Henry contributed in any way to the incident”, calling them “entirely inaccurate”.
“The Miss Universe Organisation has never attributed blame to Dr Henry and confirms that those suggestions are unfounded and do not reflect the facts,” the statement noted.
An additional note stated that the organisation was “affirming that Dr Henry holds no responsibility for the incident”.
Henry withdrew from the competition after being hospitalised.
‘SERIOUS’ CONDITION
Dr Phylicia Henry, Gabrielle’s sister, described her condition after falling in a five-foot deep hole in the stage as “quite serious”.
“Gabrielle had bleeding on her brain ...there was swelling on the brain ... and there are other things that happened in the course of treatment, like a collapsed lung. We don’t know how well she’ll recover, so that’s where the prayers are still needed. It’s something that has to be monitored long term,” shared Phylicia, who accompanied Gabrielle to Thailand, along with their mother, Maureen.
An ophthalmology resident at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Gabrielle now faces an uncertain future.
Online, fans reacted with prayer emojis and wishes of “speedy recovery” , to the revelation from the organisers that Henry’s fall resulted in “an intracranial haemorrhage with loss of consciousness, a fracture, facial lacerations and other significant injuries”.
Organisers of Miss Universe Jamaica franchise, Karl Williams and Mark McDermoth, stated in a separate release that they are “relieved and heartened” by Henry’s improvement and that they “look forward to welcoming her home soon”.
She is expected to return to Jamaica “in the coming days” and will be accompanied by “a full medical escort team and will be transferred directly to hospital for continued treatment and recovery”, the statement said.
An in-patient facility will be set up on the plane, complete with oxygen and all the medication that will be needed by Henry for the entire journey.
Williams and McDermoth thanked the Miss Universe Organisation for their “unwavering support throughout this time” and specifically singled out Raul Rocha Cantù, Mario Bucaro, and Maria Jose Unda. Also named in the “thank yous” were Vradda Rutnin, honorary Jamaican Consul to Thailand; Aisha and Emily Hall, former Miss Universe Jamaica contestants; and Ricardo St. Cyr, international photographer.
COMMITMENT
The organisation, in its statement, emphasised its commitment to Henry and her family.
“From the time the incident took place, the Miss Universe Organisation has stood beside Gabrielle and her family as if she were their own, assuming full and immediate responsibility without hesitation. The organisation has covered all hospital, medical, and rehabilitation expenses in Thailand, as well as the accommodation and living costs for Dr Henry’s mother and sister, who have remained by her side throughout this difficult period. In addition, the Miss Universe Organisation is funding the medically escorted repatriation flight arranged by the hospital and has committed to covering all future medical expenses arising from this incident.”
For their part, the family expressed “deep gratitude” to the organisation “for their unwavering compassion, presence, and love shown. Their response so far has gone beyond professional responsibility and reflected devotion and protection of the family”.
This year’s Miss Universe contest has been plagued with controversy and captured global headlines. What in the world is going on with Miss Universe? Here’s everything to know about the 2025 pageant drama, was the headline in businessinsider.com; Falls, feuds and fury: Miss Universe crowned after chaotic – and controversial – pageant, blared theguardian.com; Mexico’s Fatima Bosch crowned Miss Universe winner in glittering finale of scandal-hit pageant, said cnn.com; and Miss Universe is crowned in a pageant plagued by controversy and chaos, stated cbc.ca.
Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch was named Miss Universe 2025, with Thailand’s Praveenar Singh as her runner up. Rounding out the top five were Venezuela’s Stephany Abasali; Ahtisa Manalo from the Philippines; and Ivory Coast’s Olivia Yacé.