Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel revealed she didn't wash her hair for 2 weeks while competing in the pageant

• Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel didn't wash her hair for two weeks while competing.
• Gabriel told Insider she avoided daily showers so she could preserve her self-tanner.

Now that she's the new Miss Universe, R'Bonney Gabriel is ready to share some of her competition secrets.

The 28-year-old fashion designer told Insider on Monday that she didn't wash her hair for two weeks while competing in the pageant, which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana.

"People think it's funny because we come onstage and we look so beautiful and fresh," Gabriel said with a laugh. "But I actually felt so dirty by the time I was at the final."

"I haven't washed my hair this whole time since I left for the pageant on January 1," she added. "And I still haven't!"

Gabriel also told Insider she didn't shower every day at the pageant because she wanted to preserve her self-tanner.

"I do self-tanner because I'm fair-skinned and when you're onstage, the lights wash you out," she said. "You want those muscles to pop."

Knowing she had to skip showers to keep her tan, Gabriel said she didn't use hairspray "until I absolutely had to."

"I'll do a lot of updos in the beginning of the pageant, and as it goes on, I'll start wearing my hair down and putting hairspray in it and letting that build up," she said.

But skipping showers actually helped Gabriel's hair in the long run.

"By the time finals come around, I have a good foundation of hairspray in it and the curls will really stay," she said. "Because the dirtier the hair, the more the curls will stay nice and clean and crisp."

Gabriel now plans to use her platform to show how "fashion is a force for good." And the new Miss Universe is excited to enjoy what she calls the "sweetest victory" after her Miss USA reign was overshadowed by allegations that the pageant had been rigged in her favor.

"I hope it just proves to everyone, not as revenge, but just shows people that I deserve this," Gabriel told Insider.

"This is a strong message that I want to share with the world," she said. "No matter if people try to knock you down, or there are misconceptions about you, you can't let that get to you. Just keep going and you'll get what you deserve — so I'm so happy to be Miss Universe."