Things that are meant to be…will be. Melyssa Montfleury can attest to that. While the Utah resident was participating in the Miss United Nations pageant in her home State, a makeup-artist encouraged her to take part in other such contests. After doing her research, Melyssa came across Miss Haiti International director Hermanie Pierre’s contact information. The two spoke, and everything was in place for Melyssa to be a contestant for the Spring of 2014 edition of that pageant. But in the depths of Melyssa’s heart, something didn’t feel quite right. She didn’t feel ready and decided to take a year to prepare herself for the job. Fast-forward to this year, and Melyssa was ready—so ready in fact that she went on to get the Miss International crown and all the privileges attached. In her last year at Utah Valley University, the Behavioral Science major is planning on attending medical school at the University of Utah.
Born in Port-au-Prince, and having lived in the USA since she was a pre-teen, Melyssa hopes to use her medical degree for the good of both countries. “I want to be remembered as a source for good in my community and throughout Haiti,” she tells me. “I want to be a light to all those that I come across me, [and I want to be] a good friend and a great leader.”
Kreyolicious: What was it like throughout the pageant process?
Did I put in some work in competing of the title? More work than my tired eyes and feet care to talk about. I flew to New York on April 7th—five days before the pageant—to work on organizing the stage and production of the evening. A pageant is no different than the stage entertainment I’ve done. There is an audience ready to be entertained, and as one of the entertainers, it is my duty to make sure that my audience leaves satisfied. I spent hours working on my walk, overall stage appearance, and evening gown. Every simple detail was calculated to make sure I had done my best at representing my country. I had calculated my stage presence so much—that even where I stood on stage, and how many seconds I stood there—was previously rehearsed. At the start of the evening, I was nervous—although this was not my first pageant. But, it was however absolutely the most important one that I had ever done. My efforts were being broadcast live on television, and I was not about to mess-up. With all eyes on me, I stepped-up on stage fearlessly. I knew I had done all the rehearsals possible—and all that was left to do was to enjoy the stage.
Kreyolicious: Everyone has their own definition of beauty. Yours?
[This quote] “A positive attitude is the best make-up a girl can wear by anonymous.
Kreyolicious: Have you ever been bullied?
Yes. In Haiti, I was seen as the light-skinned girl. It impacted my self-esteem and I didn’t feel beautiful. Thankfully, I had an incredible grandmother who advised me to look in the mirror every day for a month and call myself pretty. It was silly for my eleven-year-old self, but I did it anyways. Soon enough, I was feeling pretty about myself and before I knew it, people saw my confidence going up and they started calling me pretty.
Photo Credit: John Rees
Kreyolicious: How do you stay looking your best?
I believe that true beauty is found on the inner appearance so for me I work hard at building myself up. Not one day goes by where I do not challenge myself mentally.
Kreyolicious: Do you think it’s possible for women to be friends? Sometimes the media tend to portray female friendships as volatile.
Absolutely. My platform is women empowerment. I have spent a significant amount of time mustering ideas and concepts for my book The Disastrous Women. During that time, I have increasingly noticed that well-versed women who are in control of their lives and create stronger bounds with other women, tend to have greater life satisfaction, are less likely to be taken advantage of. [They tend to] deal with life difficulties with more ease.
Kreyolicious: Sounds like some serious research…How do you stay connected to Haitian culture?
I have not been in Haiti since the age of twelve, but all I have to do is visit my parents’ home and [I’ll] be surrounded with Haitian culture.
Kreyolicious: What can we expect from you next?
Hard work. Not one day goes by that I am not promoting my platform. I wear it on my sleeve. I have definitely felt the weight of my platform. My journey to get to Miss Haiti [International] took some serious sacrifice—including many moments of pure sadness, happiness, craziness, and everything in-between. In the end, I’ve walked out with pure determination to promote my platform, and an undeviating goal towards Miss International.
Being crowned Miss Haiti has been a humbling experience for me. I honestly can say I feel like I’ve traded my pageant high heels for work boots, and my gowns for a shovel. I am ready to work. I have begun my hard work—starting from day one. My favorite quote—by Helen Lawrenson—sums up my feelings: “If a woman is sufficiently ambitious, determined, and gifted—there is practically nothing she can’t do.” I know this to be true, and I believe every word of that quote! I live by this every day of my life because I have always allowed my ambitions to carry me through life—not my fears. Miss Haiti International is my fourth pageant. I started in pageantry because I wanted to make a change in my personal life and in the lives of others. I wanted to support and empower women to rise and become the best that they can be.
As a Christian, it is easy to see God’s hands supporting me. For this [reason], I can do nothing but my very best to work hard—since I can never repay Him. I am still in absolute shock—and I am humbled and grateful—for being crowned Miss Haiti International 2015.
Photo Credit: (Main) Diana Hay Photography | Second photo: C. John Rees
CLICK HERE TO VISIT MISS HAITI INTERNATIONAL 2015 MELYSSA MONTFLEURY’S PAGE ON FACEBOOK
