After a two-year absence, Haiti is returning to the Miss Universe competition, represented by Haitian-American beauty queen Melissa Queenie Sapini, who hopes to bring global visibility to her country with her message: “When Haiti rises, the world watches.”
Sapini will compete in the Miss Universe pageant on November 20 in Thailand, proudly representing Haiti on the international stage. “For Haiti and for every Haitian in every corner of the world — this is bigger than a nation,” Sapini wrote in English and Creole on Instagram. “It’s about unity, and the Caribbean coming together to celebrate a single love.”
Unlike traditional pageants where contestants compete for the crown, Sapini was appointed Miss Universe Haiti 2025 on October 19 based on her pageant experience. The television journalist and model’s appointment comes on the heels of fellow Haitian-American and marketing expert from South Florida, Lulu Orange, becoming the national director of Miss Universe Haiti. Orange — a beauty consultant and collaborator of the Miss Haiti Academy — received the Miss Universe franchise this year, fulfilling what she described as a decade-long dream.
Born in Boston, Sapini was raised in a family of strong women who instilled in her a deep pride in her Haitian roots.
“My grandmother never had the chance to learn to read or write,” Sapini told the Miami Herald. “When I was 7 years old, I was the one who taught her to write her name. That experience inspired me to cofound The Two Queens Foundation with my mother, which helps fund education for children in Port-au-Prince.”
The last beauty queen to represent Haiti at Miss Universe was Mideline Phelizor, who competed in 2022 on behalf of Port-au-Prince and placed in the Top 16. Haiti’s best performances in the pageant came from Raquel Pélissier and Gerthie David, who both earned the first runner-up title in 2016 and 1975, respectively.
At just 22 years old, Sapini brings solid experience to the global stage. Last year, she competed in Miss USA after being crowned Miss Massachusetts USA 2024. She went on to place in the Top 10 and took home the Miss Photogenic award. Often seen wearing a hibiscus in her hair — Haiti’s national flower — Sapini says it represents resilience and renewal.
“I wear it for every Haitian who has ever had to rebuild, rise up, and shine again. As Haiti returns to the Miss Universe stage, we bloom brighter than ever,” she also shared on her Instagram.
Queens to Miss Universe from the United States
Sapini joins a growing number of beauty queens from the United States who will compete at Miss Universe this year. Among them are Lina Luaces, a Cuban-American from Miami who holds the title Miss Universe Cuba 2025, and Itza Castillo, a model born in Managua who was crowned Miss Universe Nicaragua 2025 on September 4 in Miami. Also representing the U.S. Latino community is Yamilex Hernández of the Dominican Republic, who earned her place at the international competition after winning Miss Universe Latina: El Reality, a Telemundo-produced pageant show taped in Miami. Representing the United States at Miss Universe is Audrey Ecker of Nebraska, who was crowned Miss USA 2025 in Reno, Nevada, on Oct. 24. Ecker, who has been competing in pageants since the age of nine. Before heading to Thailand, Sapini spoke with the Herald, sharing her answers to a short questionnaire and offering a message of optimism to her fellow Haitians — who, after a two-year break, will once again cheer for their country on the world stage.
What did you feel when you were crowned Miss Universe Haiti?
I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude not only for the crown but for the responsibility it carries.
To me, being Miss Universe Haiti means being a bridge between cultures, between generations, between dreams and reality. Because no matter where you come from, when one woman rises, we all rise.
How was the preparation process for Miss Universe? Aren’t you worried about lack of time?
I’m not waiting for permission to be powerful. Miss Universe may be in a few days, but for me this isn’t sudden. It’s sacred. At every step of my life I’ve been preparing for this moment.
This journey goes far beyond the competition. It’s personal. I am the daughter of the Queen of Haiti’s National Carnival of 1998, Yvrose Brouillard, and the granddaughter of a market woman. From them, I learned that strength can wear a crown or carry a basket on her head; both always serve with purpose.
What does Haiti’s return to Miss Universe mean?
Haiti hasn’t competed since 2022 due to the country’s instability. It’s a reminder to the world that even in hardship, Haiti still rises. I am also the first dual citizen born in the United States to represent Haiti at Miss Universe, which is a historic moment in itself. This is bigger than one nation, it’s about the world coming together to celebrate the spirit of the diaspora. I may be representing Haiti, but I’m also standing for unity across borders.
Do you have a phrase or motto you say often?
Believe in yourself before anyone else believes in you.
What was it like growing up as a Haitian woman in Massachusetts?
It was a beautiful balance of cultures. I actually lived in Haiti for a time as a young girl and attended school there, which gave me a deep appreciation for my roots. When I returned to Massachusetts —one of the states with the largest Haitian populations, along with Florida— I was surrounded by the strength of my community.
I was raised in a Haitian household by my mother and grandmother, who taught me faith, family and hard work. At the same time, I grew up at the heart of the American dream. That duality made me proud of who I am and hungry to represent where I come from.
To me, it’s important to show the world that Haitians are in every corner of the globe and that, no matter who we are or where we go, we all must carry our culture, pride, and resilience with us.
Where do you live now and what is your role in media?
Now that I’ve been crowned, I split my time between Boston, Massachusetts, and Miami, Florida. In Boston, I work in broadcast television as an on-air host and media personality for the Boston Red Sox and Bruins Network (NESN). I began that role at just 18 years old, during my freshman year of college.
What message do you send to your compatriots?
To every Haitian around the world: Nou la toujou (We are still here). No matter where we are, Haiti beats in all our hearts. This crown belongs to all of us. I am just the vessel carrying our light to the Universe.
By SARAH MORENO/El Nuevo Herald
Sarah Moreno cubre temas de negocios, entretenimiento y tendencias en el sur de la Florida. Se graduó de la Universidad de La Habana y de Florida International University.