Miss Jamaica Shares Updates on Healing and Recovery After Week in ICU Following Miss Universe Fall

Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry.
Credit:

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• The Miss Jamaica organization is sharing a message of healing ahead of the holiday season.
• This message follows the recent fall of Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry during the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 19.
• Henry was hospitalized following the incident, and no updates on her condition have been released yet.

The Miss Jamaica organization has reached out with a message of healing as the nation approaches the holiday season, just over a week after Miss Jamaica 2025, Gabrielle Henry, fell from a stage while competing at the Miss Universe pageant. The organization announced this message on December 1 through their official social media account, describing a “season of recovery, reflection, and renewed resilience.” They noted, “After Hurricane Melissa, we rise with gratitude – for safety, for community, for the strength that binds us together.”

The statement continued, emphasizing the importance of hope and compassion in times of hardship: “This is our time to rebuild with hope, to restore with compassion, and to uplift each other with kindness.” They called on individuals to be intentional, empathetic, and to generously extend grace.

Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry.

Miss Universe Jamaica/Instagram

The organization concluded the statement by reaffirming Jamaica’s resilient spirit: “Even in hardship, Jamaica’s spirit remains unshaken – we endure, we unite, and we shine. Welcome, December – a month of healing, courage, and forward movement.” This message comes amid ongoing concerns for Henry, who also missed the final competition round of Miss Universe on November 21 due to her injury.

Updates regarding Henry’s condition were shared by the Miss Universe Jamaica organization on Instagram on November 21. The post mentioned that her sister, Dr. Phylicia Henry-Samuels, and their mother, Maureen Henry, were with her in Thailand. In a statement, Dr. Henry-Samuels said, “Gabby isn’t doing as well as we would have hoped, but the hospital continues to treat her accordingly.” Medical personnel indicated that she would remain in the intensive care unit (ICU) for at least seven days for close monitoring and specialized care.

On November 29, Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, expressed gratitude for the public’s support. She reported that, while still in the ICU, Henry is in good spirits and the family is hopeful for her recovery. “The family is confident that her resilience and strength will see her through ‘with all our support,'” the statement read, noting their ongoing consultation with her medical team as they await clearance for non-emergency transportation back to Jamaica.

Grange also reiterated previous communications that asserted there was no mistake made during Henry’s performance prior to her fall, which resulted in lacerations on her chin and foot. Further complicating the incident, fellow Miss Universe contestant Miss Haiti, Melissa Sapini, recounted a meeting where blame was placed on Henry regarding her fall. Sapini expressed disbelief at the comments made by a pageant staff member, which suggested Henry was not paying attention during the event.

In response to allegations regarding the handling of the situation, a representative from the host pageant organization, Miss Grand International, stated that the incident primarily occurred because Henry missed her blocking. They insisted that no blame had been placed on her and emphasized the safety of the stage. “The stage was extremely large — the catwalk was more than 5 meters wide with clear, oversized white borders,” the representative explained. No other contestant experienced any accidents on the runway, suggesting it was an isolated incident. There has been no response from the Miss Universe Organization regarding the incident.

Gabrielle Henry.

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