Women Compete for Miss Universe Haiti Crown at Miami Pageant

The Miss Universe Haiti pageant drew contestants to Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood on Sunday evening, where the competition determined who will carry the crown to the international stage. The newly crowned winner will represent Haiti at the Miss Universe pageant scheduled for November 24 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Reigning titleholder Melissa Sapini, the current Miss Universe Haiti 2025, will relinquish her crown to her successor at the event.

Sapini, a Haitian American with prior pageant experience, brings credentials from her time as Miss Massachusetts USA and her participation in the Miss USA competition. Director Lulu Orange emphasized that the competing women each represent the regions where their parents originated, creating a direct cultural connection to Haiti itself. The pageant, typically held within Haiti, took place this year at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex due to the country’s current circumstances.

Orange addressed Haiti’s ongoing turmoil and the termination of temporary protected status for Haitian nationals in the United States, characterizing the nation as resilient despite present hardships. “Haiti is a beautiful country. We are beautiful people, and we are going through some challenging times right now, but we are resilient and we will get through this,” she stated. The event concluded at 9 p.m.