Gabrielle Henry, a former Miss Universe Jamaica, has shared her experience and visible scars following a traumatic brain injury sustained from a fall during the Miss Universe pageant.
On October 5, she posted personal photos of her scars on social media, marking ten months since the incident that altered her life. In her post, she opened up about her healing journey and how her daily routine has had to adapt significantly.
She named her post “What recovery from a TBI has looked like for me,” featuring a series of images that reflect her progression through recovery.
The close-up photos highlighted a noticeable scar on her chin and another on her chest.
“It’s hard to explain what living through this injury feels like. It’s almost as if I’ve returned to a body that doesn’t feel like my own,” she expressed on Instagram.
“Recovery has been fraught with ups and downs, lots of setbacks,” she continued.
Henry shared pictures of nutritious meals she’s been preparing, which are tailored to aid her healing process.
“Some scars may remain, but I aim to shine and find joy even in tough times,” she mentioned.
She remains optimistic, stating, “Through therapy sessions and visits to the clinic, I know I’ll emerge stronger.”
Still, she acknowledged the challenges of the past months.
“I’ve had to focus more on my self-care and adequate rest,” she added.
“With sleep sometimes reaching 12 hours yet still feeling exhausted, off-balance, and disoriented, rest has become crucial.”
Henry earlier shared a statement saying that she had to relearn basic bodily functions while recuperating.
On September 21, she filed a lawsuit against the Miss Universe organization, claiming that negligence and unsafe conditions contributed to her serious fall during the 74th competition.
She noted that rather than engaging in rigorous preparations for the pageant, her new routine consisted of using an incentive spirometer—a device for measuring lung capacity.
She described this exercise as a way to reconnect with her lungs, emphasizing a sense of rebirth in learning to use her body again.
Henry accused the organization of various forms of negligence, including inadequate hiring and infliction of emotional distress.
She reported falling five feet through an unmarked gap in the stage that was housing lighting equipment and concrete, asserting that bright stage lights obscured her view and contributed to the accident.
