NORTH MIAMI BEACH (Le Floridien) — On Saturday, November 18th, Pololo Production presented the Grand Coronation Miss Teen Haiti Pageant at the North Miami Beach Ampitheatre. Approximately 600 people attended the 4th annual red carpet event.
There were two categories for the pageant: 13 to 15 year olds and 16 to 18 year olds. Carel Pedre and Vanessa Joseph were the hosts as 15 contestants vied for the title of Miss Teen Haiti, thus earning scholarships for their future educational endeavors.
Numerous dignitaries were in attendance for the function, including Florida Senator Daphne Campbell,
North Miami Councilman Alix Desulme, Father Reginald from Notre-Dame D’Haïti Catholic Church, Model Reyna Love and her mother/manager Lorna Shuford, Pastor Dunac Catul, Ernst Vincent from Bethanie Maranatha Church, Maestra Beaubrun with Group Dame from Mount of Olives Church of God, Minister Brother Roland St. Gerard, and international chefs Thia and Joe.
The contestants had attended a number of workshops and training throughout a 16 week period that included a trip to Holy Land. The executive director of the event is Paule Villard, a retired 28-year veteran of the Miami Police Department. Ms. Villard firmly believes that it’s crucial to invest time and money into the youth so they can learn and grow as they will be tomorrow’s leaders. She also added that it’s important to be willing to listen to them and what they have to say.
Pololo Production’s motto is ‘It Takes a Village.’
The goal of the pageant is to celebrate Haitian heritage while developing a ‘sisterhood’ with like-minded girls as they move toward womanhood. The founder of the pageant hopes that the participants understand that beauty goes deeper than the skin and it’s a product of what’s beneath the surface as much as what’s on the outside.
By exposing these girls to professionals within the community, it’s hoped that they will embrace the same concepts of hard work and dedication and eventually come to appreciate the value in giving back to the community as they grow older and find success as women in society.
The winners for their respective age groups were: Patricia Toussaint, 13 and Nya Labossiere, 16. Patricia is an altar server at Notre-Dame Church and attends Bartholemy Catholic School. Nya attends Chaminade-Madona High School and helps to feed the poor during her free time.
Patricia Toussaint sang the Haitian National Anthem while Nya Labossiere sang the American National Anthem.
Manoushka Remogene was a contestant of this pageant in 2015 and gave back by coaching these girls this year. Other committee members include: Mariette Francois, Carol Munroe, and Rose Reeder.
The event was sponsored by BD Foundation, the City of North Miami, Josette and Conceptia St. Gerard, Officers Helping Officers, Lakay Foods, Haitian Business, Welcome to Haiti, Dr. Dorval, City of Miramar, and Lindsey Hopkins Center.