Former Miss Universe Jamaica Dr Gabrielle Henry says moments before her serious and traumatic fall during the Miss Universe 2025 competition, she had simply been following instructions given to her by organisers.

“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 instructed to do,” she told Good Morning America (GMA), recalling the November 19, 2025 incident publicly for the first time, almost a year later.

At home, the video of her tumble generated shock and concern for the pageant queen, with Jamaicans offering prayers and well wishes.

The fall upended Henry’s life, shattering her dreams of representing Jamaica, she explained.

Henry’s disappointment was shared by her countrymen and was compounded by a series of prior shocks, including the Reggae Boyz’ failure to qualify for the World Cup and the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

“The devil may try to sabotage, but God’s purpose prevails! Get well soon, Gabby! We’re rooting for you to come back stronger and conquer the finals,” one user had posted under the Miss Universe Jamaica statement on Instagram.

Henry told GMA that after the fall, she was completely confused and disoriented, repeatedly blacking out for days.

“I have no recollection of the fall; I just know that the bottom of that hole was a concrete base, the first memory I have is that of waking up to my mother who was looking down on me. 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.” she shared.

When she regained consciousness fully, she was told she had received an intracranial haemorrhage and facial and back injuries.

“[A] brain injury is one of the most traumatising things; I would not wish it on my worst enemy. There is almost an out-of-body experience… it took me so long to get back to that place where I said, ‘This is MY body,’” Henry said in the report.

The doctor described the road to recovery as long and challenging, marked by sleepless nights and severe pain.

When asked who was to blame for the accident, she emphasised that she had not tripped and the fall could absolutely have been avoided.

“Proper measures should have and could have been put in place, it was the responsibility of those who had organised the stage who had put in the lighting to ensure that the protective mechanisms were also there,” she stressed.

Her comments align with allegations in a lawsuit she has filed against Miss Universe Organisation alleging that she was following rehearsed choreography when she fell into the unmarked hole.

READ: Dr Gabrielle Henry sues Miss Universe organisation over 2025 fall

The organisation in the wake of the lawsuit, has said they covered all of Gabrielle’s medical expenses in Thailand and “stood by her”.

The doctor confirmed that the pageant organisers had indeed supported her in the initial stages, including in Thailand 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.”

The doctor is hoping to get back to practising ophthalmology eventually but noted that she has a long recovery ahead of her.