With her thoughts firmly fixed on her countrymen, especially those severely impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa, Miss Universe Jamaica Dr Gabrielle Henry departed the island for Thailand on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

Known for her compassion and service as a medical doctor, Dr Henry has been personally involved in outreach and assistance efforts, connecting with communities impacted by the storm and using her platform to encourage national unity and healing.

“My heart is broken for my country. Every image, every story, every voice from home stays with me. As I board that plane, I’m not leaving Jamaica behind, I’m carrying her with me. I am going to Thailand not just to compete, but to speak for every Jamaican who is hurting, to remind the world of our strength, our faith, and our unbreakable spirit,” she said.

She has pledged to use her time on the Miss Universe stage to highlight Jamaica’s resilience and to help mobilise global support for the island’s rebuilding.

On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 storm, the strongest-ever recorded in Jamaica.

The storm has claimed the lives of more than 30 Jamaicans and left widespread damage to the physical environment.

“We are a small island, but we are a great people. Even in our pain, we love, we give, and we rise again. I want the world to see that, and to stand with us as we rebuild the Jamaica we love,” Dr Henry charged.

The 74th Miss Universe pageant is scheduled for November 21, 2025 at the Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand. While the competition will bring together delegates from around the world, for Dr Henry, this year’s journey is deeply personal — a mission of love, hope, and healing for her country.