Gabrielle Henry Sues Miss Universe After Stage Fall, Alleging Brain Injury Disrupted Her Medical Training

Gabrielle Henry has sued the Miss Universe Organization and related companies, alleging that injuries from her 2025 stage fall disrupted her medical residency.

Entertainment Weekly reported that the former Miss Universe Jamaica filed the case in Delaware Superior Court on 21 September 2026. It identified JKN Universe, JKN Legacy Inc. and Legacy Holding Group USA as defendants.

The report describes allegations of traumatic brain injury, continuing neurological symptoms and emotional distress. Those claims concern the consequences of the fall; they are not findings that the defendants were negligent.

The legal action comes about ten months after Henry fell during the preliminary competition in Thailand on 19 November 2025.

Official Statement Confirmed Serious Injuries

A joint statement issued by Henry's family and the Miss Universe Organization on 8 December 2025 confirmed that she had fallen through an opening in the stage.

It described bleeding inside her skull, loss of consciousness, a fracture and facial injuries. Henry was admitted to intensive care in Bangkok, where she remained in critical condition under neurological monitoring.

At the time, she required specialist supervision around the clock. The statement said arrangements were being made for a medically escorted journey to Jamaica and further hospital treatment there.

The organisation also rejected suggestions that Henry had caused the incident, saying it had never blamed her for the fall.

Medical Training Was Central to Her Career

Before the accident, Henry had spoken publicly about the importance of medicine to her life. An interview republished by the Jamaica Observer in August 2025 identified her as an ophthalmology resident at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

She described medicine as a source of discipline and purpose, and said building relationships with patients was among the most rewarding parts of her work.

Her interest in eye care also informed her advocacy. In an August 2025 interview with Our Today, she discussed the See Me Foundation's work supporting the inclusion and employment of people with visual impairments in Jamaica.

Henry said an encounter with a patient who had lost her sight and income helped inspire that work. Her account connected medical practice with a wider ambition to improve opportunities for people living with sight loss.

That professional background explains why disruption to her residency is a significant part of the lawsuit's reported impact, extending beyond her participation in the pageant.

Miss Universe Disputes Responsibility

A response reproduced in EW's 23 September report said Miss Universe had not received the lawsuit and could not address unseen claims. It assigned responsibility for the venue, stage and safety to MGI and Miss Universe Thailand, under Nawat Itsaragrisil.

That remains the organisation's stated position, rather than a court determination of responsibility.

In its December statement, Miss Universe said it had covered treatment and rehabilitation in Thailand, along with living expenses for Henry's mother and sister. It also pledged to fund her medically escorted return and future medical expenses arising from the incident.

Legal Action Follows Months of Recovery

The Jamaica Gleaner reported on 23 September that Jamaican firm Ramsay & Partners and US firm Napoli Shkolnik were representing Henry.

The newspaper also reported that she returned to Jamaica on 11 December 2025 and appeared at the national pageant in August 2026 to crown her successor, Celene Hall.

Her public return and the newly reported lawsuit mark different stages of the aftermath: resuming a ceremonial duty and pursuing her allegations about the harm she suffered.