As we recently shared with you, public concern over the health and well-being of Gabrielle Henry, MD, Miss Jamaica Universe 2025, has been significant since she suffered a frightening fall off the stage in late November during the preliminaries of the Miss Universe pageant. Her family and the Miss Universe organization have shared the latest update on her recovery to let people know the true extent of the injuries she suffered. The joint statement also shares good news: Henry will be returning home to Jamaica in the coming days after a lengthy stay in Bangkok, Thailand, which hosted the pageant.
“Dr. Henry suffered a serious fall through an opening on the stage while performing her walk during the preliminary competition on November 19, 2025, resulting in an intracranial hemorrhage with loss of consciousness, a fracture, facial lacerations and other significant injuries,” the statement read. “She was immediately admitted to intensive care in Bangkok, where she remained in critical condition under constant neurological monitoring, and continues to require 24-hour specialist supervision.”
This information, including that she suffered bleeding into the brain, is much different from what was initially shared after the incident. At the time, Raúl Rocha, co-owner of Miss Universe, stated that she didn’t suffer any broken bones and had no life-threatening injuries.
“She will return to Jamaica in the coming days accompanied by a full medical escort team and will be transferred directly to hospital for continued treatment and recovery,” the statement continued.
The update also noted that the Miss Universe Organization has assumed “full responsibility” for Henry’s care, covering medical costs and expenses, including accommodations for her sister and mother, the upcoming transport back to Jamaica, “and has committed to covering all future medical expenses arising from this incident.”
It was a controversial Miss Universe pageant for a number of reasons, including allegations that the results were fixed and Miss Haiti telling PEOPLE that a pageant staff member allegedly blamed Henry for not “paying attention” when she fell right after the incident. But as this new statement makes clear, she is not to be blamed.
“Certain media reports suggesting that Dr. Henry contributed in any way to the incident are entirely inaccurate. The Miss Universe Organization has never attributed blame to Dr. Henry and confirms that those suggestions are unfounded and do not reflect the facts,” the joint statement concluded. “Dr. Henry and her family extend their heartfelt thanks to the people of Jamaica, the Miss Universe community, and supporters worldwide for the overwhelming outpouring of love, prayers, and encouragement.”
Henry, an ophthalmologist who won Miss Universe Jamaica on her second attempt (she first competed in 2023 before winning the crown in 2025), created the See Mee Foundation for the visually impaired. When speaking back in August about her journey to win Miss Universe Jamaica and preparing for the world stage, Henry talked about what she realized was required to “be a queen,” and the traits were synonymous with being a proud Jamaican woman. “We are poised. We’re elegant,” she said confidently. “We’re refined.”