Dr. Gabrielle Henry, who represented Jamaica at Miss Universe 2025, has spoken publicly for the first time about the life-altering fall that left her with a traumatic brain injury, brain bleed and other injuries.Nearly a year after the incident, Henry described the fall as one of the most traumatic experiences of her life. Speaking to ABC News’ Deborah Roberts, she said, “It’s one of the most traumatizing things. I would not wish it on my worst enemy.”Henry has now filed a lawsuit against the Miss Universe Organization, alleging that unsafe stage conditions contributed to her fall during the pageant’s preliminary competition in Bangkok, Thailand.
Gabrielle Henry recalls the moment her Miss Universe dreams changed
On November 19, 2025, Henry, an ophthalmology resident representing Jamaica, was participating in the evening gown segment when she fell nearly five feet from the stage.Henry said she had been following the choreography and instructions she had rehearsed for the competition.“I looked at the cameras as we were instructed to do,” she told ABC News. “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.”According to the lawsuit, stage lighting made it difficult for Henry to see the edge of the stage as she followed the stage director toward what her legal team describes as an “unbarricaded hole” containing lighting equipment and a concrete base.Henry said she did not trip and believes the incident could have been prevented.“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,” she said.
Henry lost consciousness and suffered a traumatic brain injury
Following the fall, Henry lost consciousness after hitting the ground and suffered a traumatic brain injury, brain bleed, as well as facial and back injuries, according to her attorneys.She was hospitalized from November 19 through December 10 and has continued to undergo regular physiotherapy, her attorneys said.Henry recalled waking up in the hospital and seeing her mother beside her.“The first memory I have is that of waking up to my mother who was looking down on me,” she said. “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.”The recovery has been lengthy and painful, Henry said.“It’s been very challenging. There have been nights where I have not been able to sleep because of how severe the pain is,” she said.Despite the difficulties, Henry said she remains focused on moving forward and hopes to “continue healing, continue growing and continue along the path that has been set out for me.”
Gabrielle Henry says Miss Universe support diminished after she returned to Jamaica
Henry also spoke about the support she says she received from the Miss Universe Organization immediately following the incident and how that support changed after she returned home.“In the initial stages, Miss Universe was quite present and did provide support while in Thailand,” Henry said. “However, following my return to Jamaica, I have not had much feedback from them as it pertains to covering my medical expenses, which are still ongoing.”Her lawsuit seeks accountability over the circumstances surrounding the stage setup and the safety measures in place during the competition.Joseph L. Ciaccio, a partner at Napoli Shkolnik and one of Henry’s attorneys, said the case is intended to address contestant safety.“The women representing their countries at Miss Universe deserve to know the stage they are walking across is safe,” Ciaccio said in a statement. “Dr. Henry suffered a traumatic brain injury after she was directed toward a pit that was neither marked nor barricaded, causing her to fall onto equipment and concrete.”Ciaccio added that Henry’s recovery has demonstrated “remarkable strength” but alleged that the incident was preventable.“We are filing this lawsuit to hold the Miss Universe Organization accountable and to make sure no one else suffers a nearly deadly injury because safety was an afterthought,” he said.
Gabrielle Henry says the injuries changed more than her career
In a statement shared by the law firm, Henry said the consequences of the fall extended far beyond her physical injuries.“The injuries from the fall took more from me than I can fully put into words,” Henry said.She said the incident affected “the career I’d worked my whole life for,” her opportunity to represent Jamaica and her chance to fully experience her year as Miss Jamaica Universe.She also reflected on the personal moments she believes she lost during her recovery.“Recovery from a traumatic brain injury doesn’t happen on a fixed timeline, and some days are harder than others,” Henry said. “But I’m filing this lawsuit now because accountability matters, and because the platforms we put contestants on need to be completely safe to prevent this from happening to anyone else.”The Miss Universe Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the publication.
