Conversation – Kalepwa Magazine

Catherine Edouard Charlot: A Conversation with the Eco-Sustainable Creator of Himane

K St. Fort — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 06:46:57 +0000

Have you ever heard of a nocturnal designer? No? Well, meet your first one Catherine Edouard Charlot of the accessories and apparel line Himane.

Edouard Charlot, who is based in New York, admits to getting most of her ideas for her sustainable line in the dead of night. “It is my best moment and ideas pour in my head like water in a beautiful fountain,” she says. This inspirational spurt is usually followed by a 10 minute stretch session, a shower around midnight, a bit of reading, while listening to some relaxing music and bedtime, usually by 1:00 A.M. And the next day the grind begins all over again for the environment-friendly designer.

Would you believe that Edouard Charlot made her first design from an umbrella? The European Union Women Inventors and Innovators Network recently gave her a special award in recognition for her “Innovative and Exceptional Creativity”. And “creative” is an understated adjective to describe the designer’s work. Himane’s Ayity Tote bags, for example, are made from recycled disaster tarp tent. Her Femi consists of material from discarded old man’s shirts.

The uniqueness of her designs began to garner the attention of everyone from the editorial staff of Oprah magazine, to CNN, and NBC New York. At one point, even Rio de Janeiro’s TV Brasil came calling. For Edouard Charlot—who has been adhering to a self-directed program of Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse, Reduce, Upcycle from the first time she made her first designs—all this attention must have been pleasing.

But long before the whole green trend, long before sustainable design became a phrase du jour, and eco-consciousness became popular among the masses, Eduoard Charlot was a little girl on the island of Haiti, dreaming and creating from discarded scraps. What’s more a considerable percentage of Himane’s profits go towards helping teens in Haiti. Shall we discuss her work and her journey together?

Q&A

EdouardYou created your first piece when you were 13?
Yes, I did. It was after our regular seamstress did not give me the actual design I chose. Upset and all, I told my mother that from now on I will be making my own clothes and will never go to a seamstress.

So you attended Verona Alta Costura School of Fashion, a design institute in Haiti.
Since I did not have any training prior and felt that it was the career I wanted to get into, I forced my dad to get me into going to Verona which was a new international school of design in Haiti. But it was after many years of making clothes for friends, wedding gowns for people and all. I wanted to learn more to be a professional and get all the training pertaining to fashion.

Himane is quite an interesting name for a fashion line. Is the story behind its origin equally interesting?
Himane was my mother’s first name. In 1998, when I was looking for a name to register my business out of a joke my mom suggested that I used her name. Since she was my best friend, my mother, my companion, my confident and the person who always pushed me to move forward, it was an honor to chose to use her beautiful name and also I wanted something original and dear to my heart. After she suddenly passed away in 2006, I vowed to never change the name.

How do you manage the pressures of life as a designer with other responsibilities?
It is hard in this day of age. But what keeps me going is my focus on helping others creating a better place in the environment by recycling what they use to see as trash.

You were doing eco-conscious designs long before it caught the mainstream.
Honestly, I have been recycling since I was 13, practically 30 something years ago. Remember, my first dress and the way I taught myself how to sew was by recycling an old shirt from my dad and turn it into a dress. I also had an export business many years ago when I was still leaving in Haiti, at that time I was collecting old glass bottles—wine and others—to paint them, old drums was turning into beautiful piece of arts and so forth. So it was no surprise when I started making bags and clothes in 2002 from recycled umbrellas.

People see the glitz, the glamour, the fancy threads. Are there rough moments in the life of a designer?
Rough moments are not even the right word [laughter]. That’s the problem on this business. It is not green everyday, it is not glamorous all the time. It is a tough business, very challenging and a business that can be very draining. So, yes, it is a tough business to be in and I wish other designers can come up and say more because all that glamour, the glitz and the fancy thread can be just a façade.

Can clothes make a woman beautiful, and can they make a man debonair?
For me a woman, a person is always beautiful because it is all depends [on] the state of mind of that human being. Clothes can, yes, make you feel beautiful, but it is all depends on your state of mind and unfortunately I don’t think that clothes can make a man debonair. It can maybe make him feel that way.

Is the fashion world as cut-throat as it has been portrayed at times?
Yes and much more than that unfortunately.

The life of a successful designer has many rewards. Do you have a special moment in your career thus far, where you said to yourself, “Catherine girl, you have arrived.”
No, not yet. Since my focus is a little more different that others, I don’t think I will be able to say that so soon. But I am very happy to what I had achieved so far.

Do you happen to have a favorite piece in your collection?
I love them all, because they are all created out of love. But I love my compact travel bags the most—Erisna and Corai.

What’s the best thing about being Haitian?
All and everything that make me, my beautiful country and culture. I am in love with this place because it has so much to offer if we can take time to really see it.

What inspires most of your work?
Nature, people.

You moved to Haiti from New York in the mid 1990s. How was that experience?
I guess I did it in the right time and the right frame of mind.

You are obviously very attached to Haiti. Do you envision starting a fashion school there eventually? Or starting some initiative, perhaps a designer’s contest to help launch the careers of up-and-comers?
Yes, I am very much so. My roots are planted here, my family, my friends are here and there is nothing like home. My plan is to have a sustainable school for the youth where they will come and learn about sustainability, the environment, recycling and become an entrepreneur and a voice for their community.

While we’re on this subject, do you have any lessons that you’d like to share with those who are thinking about a career in fashion?
It is a great field, but you need to have a strong backbone and please try not to get into it for the fame and money. It will eat you alive. Have a focus, a plan and stick to it.

Interview: Natalia Stines, Conversation with a Model

K St. Fort — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 01:14:21 +0000

Natalia Stines is 5’9, and that’s before she slides her well-moisturized feet in a pair of stylish, high-heeled pumps. Her long, pretty face is accentuated with a pointy chin, expressive eyebrows, and a pretty smile. Born in Pétionville in 1989 (she actually has a twin brother, Stéphane), Stines is the daughter of the late film director, screenwriter and actor Raphaël Stefan Stines and the actress Jennifer Aladin Stines.

In her senior year in college, Natalia (she is known as Stefi among family members and childhood friends) is working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics and Nutrition.

Juggling college and modeling isn’t exactly child’s play, but Stefi is more than determined. She wouldn’t have gotten so far, had she not had some serious gumption. The charismatic model ushered us into her world, if only for a moment.

Q & A

Tell us about yourself. Your childhood.
There’s so much about my childhood that was amazing, that it’s hard to describe it. But my favorite was touring on a big bus with all the big actors at that time with my mom and dad. Going from city to city in Haiti doing shows and staying at beautiful hotels. I remember most being at the beach all the time and how beautiful it was. I really loved Haiti and in 1998, when I was nine, my brother and I were sent to America to live with our grandparents in Miami, Florida. I remember how sad I was but at the same time excited for newer opportunities. Being in America was a struggle for me. I didn’t fit in and I got made fun of and bullied for being nerdy and so skinny. I remember crying a lot, but I was always able to think to myself: “It won’t be like this forever.” When I was in America, we went to New York and Boston for some shows as well as here in Miami. The shows were all comedy like the Tyler Perry-type shows. My father wrote the plays and since my mother was one of the actresses, I got to ride along on their tour bus to different areas where they booked a show but I can’t remember how often. I did go to school so I think it was maybe the summer I got to go with them.

At which point did you start modeling?
I was always a tomboy. Since middle school up until my junior year in high school I played basketball so I’ve never really been “girlie” until my senior year when I was messaged on Facebook by a small agency in Clearwater asking me to meet up with them. When I started modeling around the age of 17, that’s when my confidence as a woman started to come out. I’ve never felt confident about my body until I walked into a casting room and suddenly, I’m no longer the thinnest girl in the room. I used to think it was a curse not being able to put on a pound no matter how much I ate but when it came to modeling, it was a blessing.

How do you define beauty?
I honestly don’t think there is a definition for beauty. For what one finds to be ugly, another will find to be beautiful. But to me beauty radiates from the inside. It’s the look a person has in their eyes, the way that they carry themselves, the way that they treat another human being and the sincerity that comes from their heart. On the outside, you can be the most beautiful person but without any of those I’ve describe, my image of you easily becomes distorted. I may not be the most beautiful girl, but I do believe I am a beautiful person.

Many are under the impression that models are the most secure people in the world, but often that is not the case. In your journey as a woman, has it been easy to love yourself?
It most certainly has not been easy to love myself and I’m not sure I’m quite there yet, but I am working on it. And it’s especially hard when society and everyone else around you is telling you that you need to change.

You’ve been modeling for a while now. What do think some aspiring models new to the scene ought to know about the industry?
Honestly, I will say from my experience to always be confident—but not arrogant. Have a great, friendly personality. And this is most important, do not let rejection and criticisms bring you down, but learn from those experience. Whether it’s from the other models, directors or clients, learn from them and see how you can improve as a model. Was I just not the right girl or is it something I need to work on? Work on it and come back next time with more confidence.

What do you like most about yourself?
What I love most about myself is nothing and no one ever defeats me. The only thing that can bring me down and has power over me is me. And God—of course. So what this means is: if I want something, I’m the only person standing in my way. I’m a very determined girl and I admire that about myself.

What do you hope to accomplish over the course of your modeling career?
I hope for one thing to be able to leave Miami because Miami is a very limited market, but I love runway and I hope to simply be successful and walking the top runways in the world.

What’s the best thing about being Haitian?
The best thing about being Haitian. This might seem strange, but I have to say, the language. Creole is such an expressive language. There are times when I am trying to explain something, but I can only find the words in Creole. Or when outsiders hear my family and I having a conversation, they always assume we are arguing, but I tell them we are actually having fun talking to each other. When you speak Creole, there is so much expression that accompany those words; that’s why l love Haitian theater so much and why I will never leave a show without crying my eyes out from laughing so hard.

Is there an art to putting an outfit together?

There most certainly is an art to putting an outfit together, but unfortunately I lack that artistic talent. I am just a tank-top-and-jeans kind of girl. But if I do have to dress up, then I will put on a show.

Is the modeling world a dog-eat-dog world? Or is that just hearsay?
It is and if you don’t have a strong backbone then you will most likely go insane.

Would you call yourself a feminist?
Unfortunately, I cannot answer this question without going into another topic and next thing you know, I’ve written a book and caused some controversy. So it’s best that I plead the fifth on that one.

Since you’ve been modeling, what has been your favorite and best assignments?
I love runway and whenever I get a chance to be on a runway with music playing and a stellar designer outfit on, I am happy. But for me, my favorite assignments are when a client doesn’t expect much from you and you surprise them. I got booked [on] a job once based off some of my images and when I showed up to the shoot, the client said, “Oh, but you’re black. I didn’t want a black girl but we’ll have to make it work.” Well, I rocked that shoot and the client was more pleased than they had originally envisioned when they first booked me.
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KREYOLICIOUS YOURS…NATALIA

Instructions to my future husband…have soul, compassion, make me laugh and be beautiful.

You know I’m mad when…words don’t come out of my mouth.

Three things I certainly can’t do without…food, my bed, my car.

The last book I read was my Biochemistry book and now I understand how our bodies work.

When I sing in the shower, it usually is…”I Wanna dance with somebody” by Whitney Houston

I’m the one people usually come to when…they need a good listener, not advice.

If I knew today was my last, I’d…drive through a poor neighborhood and donate all of my precious belongings. Then since my dream of being a singer will never come true because I can’t sing, I’d find a karaoke bar and embarrass myself.

The three words that most definitely describe me…strong, sassy and sweet!

When I was in high school…I was a nerdy tomboy who blossom into sexy young lady, but still nerdy.

My idea of a perfect day…I am alone most of the time so my perfect day is going home to spend the day with my family even if they drive me crazy.

A Conversation With Seasoned Writer And Journalist Danielle Pointdujour

K St. Fort — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 03:54:19 +0000

One of the hottest and most prolific wordsmiths on the lifestyle, travel and entertainment journalism scene, Danielle Pointdujour writes for some of print and digital media’s biggest outlets. While most future journalists had their start in the high school newspaper, Pointdujour’s abilities as a scribe started to get notice while she was still in elementary school. She wrote her very first book when she was a fourth grader and launched it to her classmates on her birthday.

A bookworm growing up, Pointdujour was taken by many novels, but in particular Toni Morrison’s classic The Bluest Eye. She can still recall how she was moved by the classic novel. She credits The Bluest Eye for being one of the books that helped her carve her own writing style and develop an eye for good writing. “Every page of that book made me feel something and helped me connect with the characters,” she observes. “I could see every scene in my mind. Even today when read books, if I can’t feel something or visualize the moment, I can’t finish it. It needs to grab me. When I’m not writing on a specific topic, I like to write in the same format. I want you to feel my words and relate.”

Relate is definitely something readers tend to do when Pointdujour writes. She’s known for her introspective, analysis-filled articles on outlets like Egypt Said So, Clutch, Ebony and Jet. One of the most highly debated articles of the journalist’s career, was an article she wrote for Clutch entitled “Pots, Pans, and Non-Cooking Women”. The article went in on girls of this generation who aren’t active in the kitchen. With that article, Pointdujour didn’t assume the patriarchal society-minded tone of other articles on the subject. She didn’t castigate or ridicule young women for not being “wifey material”, but rather emphasized that cooking is a much-needed skill for survival.

Pointdujour has also written a series of “As Told To” confessionals for Ebony, in which interview subjects trusted her to tell their personal stories about everything from post-quarterlife virginity to paternity and marital secrets. The series is one of the most read and looked-forward=to columns for the publication’s digital arm, drawing plenty of commentary and discussion.

Time after time, Pointdujour shows her ability for knowing what will resonate with readers. Here’s the Howard University alumni, Brooklyn-born daughter of a Guyanese mom and Haitian father, discussing her journey as a scribe…

Did journalism chase you until you had no choice but to embrace it? Or was the attraction always mutual?

Nope, the attraction was always mutual. I love to write and I always seek opportunities to do so. From being on the year book staff, to writing for the school paper…I’m always trying to put pen to paper.

Do you think that in years to come the line between advertising and editorial will become grayer and grayer until finally it’s nonexistent ?
I don’t think the line between advertising and editorial will ever be non-existent, but like most things, it will evolve. The world of journalism isn’t the same as it was 20 years ago, or even 5 for that matter. It changes as the world changes. The line may be gray now, but that’s just because of change. Will the two areas have to find a way to co-exist, especially in this tech-heavy, instant information world we live in? Yes. But there will always be a line between the two—in my opinion.

As the American-born child of two Caribbean parents, were you told that journalism and being a writer wouldn’t be practical as careers? If so, how did you manage to convince your parents that you would be a success at it?

Fortunately no! Well, at least not by my parents. My father and mother always encouraged me to be whatever I wanted to be…as long as it didn’t land me in jail lol. They both encouraged my writing, as a matter of fact, my father probably has everything I’ve ever written, even the digital pieces. My grandparents, however, could care less about my writing. They enjoy it, they like to read it, but my grandmother on my Haitian side would’ve preferred me to be a nurse. And married…with kids. [Laughter]

As crazy as it sounds for a child from a Caribbean family to say, I’ve never really cared about or followed anything my family has wanted for my life. I usually tell them what I’m going to do, not ask for advice or permission. I live for me and do what feels right for me. My father never micro-managed my decisions; he raised me to be independent and to trust my own gut from a very early age. Unless it was something like behaving in school, doing my chores, had to do with life or death or combing my hair—I hated combing my hair—I was free to make my own choices. If I didn’t want to do it, I didn’t, and if I did…I did. Because I was taught to trust my gut, I’ve never made a choice that took me down a wrong path or shamed my family. If I fell, I knew how to get up before they ever noticed I was down. I may not be a millionaire doing the writing thing, but I love it and my family just supports and rolls with it. [Laughter]

Have you been to Haiti?

No, and my grandmother is somewhere praying for the correction of that tragedy in my life as we speak. The side-eye I get every time I go to Abu Dhabi or Thailand, but not Haiti, is unreal. She has a huge home in Haiti that she built piece by piece since I was a little girl and I’ve never been there. Actually, out of 9 grandchildren only one has been, but we’re working on taking a family trip there soon. I’ve seen so many beautiful pictures of Haiti; it’s definitely on my list!

That’s definitely something to look forward to….Do you think that the media has the power it had say earlier this century, or even in the last century?

Media definitely still holds a lot of power! Especially since today media outlets are literally at the fingertips of the world. It has the power to broadcast breaking news at lightning speed and because of all the technology we have access to these days, I feel it is in the middle of an amazing transformation. The downside to the power and transformation however, is that media outlets are being less careful. The race to be the first to break on outlets like Twitter, has caused false info to be released and journalistic integrity to be compromised. Everyone with a keyboard thinks they are media these days. Also. because of things like reality television, false images are portrayed all over the globe and it’s hard to decipher what people and countries are really like. It’s a tough balance.

You write for a great many publications. You’re very versatile. One minute, a Danielle Pointdujour article on relationships appears on Vibe Vixen, and the next minute you’re writing about travel for TravelNoire, or about health and fitness for Frugivore or women’s issues for Clutch. How did you get to be such an all-around reporter and writer?

I think you have to be when you’re a writer. You can most certainly have a favorite subject, for example mine is travel, but you have to be flexible enough to go get and write the story no matter the topic. I’ve written about nude pantyhose for Coco + Crème – I can’t tell you the last time I wore pantyhose [Laughter] I’ve written about makeup – never worn it. But at the end of the day, whatever I’m writing isn’t about me and my preferences, it’s about the audience. So long as I believe in what I’m writing and who I’m writing it for, I can write pretty much anything.

What journalistic piece do you feel is your crown and glory in terms of what you had to put into it, and the satisfaction that it gave you, as a professional and woman of the pen?

Wow, that’s a tough one. My crown and glory piece would have to be a little article I wrote at Howard for our newspaper The Hilltop. I did an interview with publicist Marvet Britto. She was my idol! I had never interviewed anyone important before and I reached out to her honestly not expecting to hear back. She contacted me for the interview and I remember being so nervous! When the article was printed I sent her a copy, she loved it so much she offered me an internship with her company The Britto Agency. I was beyond excited; it felt like validation that I was on the right path because someone I admired respected my work. I remember while interning for her I wrote a bio for a client she had named Ralph Jacob, it was the first celebrity bio she let me write. Ralph called Marvet to tell her how much he loved it and she was so proud that she gave me $100 cash straight from her wallet. Best money I ever earned.

Wow…Do you think a college degree is still a big requirement for those who want to get into publishing and journalism?

Definitely. Unfortunately these days everyone and anyone with a keyboard and the ability to write a decent sentence thinks they are a writer and journalist. The reality is writing is a skill. You can’t just wake up one day and decide that you are now an ace in the field. You need to learn basic writing styles, editing, research and fact-checking skills, reporting, etc, and you need to have your most prized piece broken down to the marrow and drowned in a sea of red pen before you are even close to being a writer and journalist. And even then you’re not done honing your craft. Even the best people in the field are still learning, growing and perfecting their craft, because that’s what it is, a craft.

What’s next for you in your career? Or can I guess…a novel, becoming an editor, going for another degree…

Honestly, I have no idea! Currently I am the Content Editor for TravelNoire.com and a freelance writer for Ebony.com and JETMag.com. A few people have told me I should write a book based on experiences I’ve had during my travels, but I haven’t sat still long enough to even figure out where to begin. I’m really big on luxury travel and enjoy reviewing the amazing places I’m blessed to visit, so I’m hoping I can partner with tourism boards, hotels, resorts and restaurants in various countries very soon. Maybe the Haitian Tourism Board will give me a call!

Click Here to Read Danielle Pointdujour’s Work | Follow Danielle Pointdujour On Twitter |

A Conversation with Filmmaker Krista Saint-Dic

K St. Fort — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 01:03:20 +0000

By now, you have probably heard of filmmaker Krista Saint-Dic, and Paper Dreams, a docu-drama that she wrote and directed about the disillusionment of a success-hungry young woman (herself) who leaves Haiti for life in the United States. Young, impressionable, and eager for her version of the American Dream, the narrator’s illusions of becoming a world-renowned dancer arrive at a full-stop, hindered by the realities of immigrant life. We discussed Paper Dreams, one of her first projects to make an impact, as well as Joy Road, another theatrical project she was involved with.

Tell us about how you got the concept for Paper Dreams.
This project started off as dance performing/theater project originally at the end of Fall 2009. It was going to be a story dealing with social issues told through dance. But then the earthquake happened, and the project shifted into a film project instead. As we know, the social media played a great role in communication minutes following the earthquake and for months to come. I think it was from that point, people finally understood the purpose of Facebook and Twitter. We remember how devastating of an event that was for the World, especially for Haitians. That event in itself generated lots of feelings and lots of conversations from us. I started following heavily those conversations going around on FB; I’ve even gotten in a few arguments myself with Facebookers. So from these conversations, I was able to conduct a research from many different perspectives about the true thoughts that go through the mind of Haitians. I did go back home a month after the earthquake and surveyed those living back home as well. So, I gathered all of this info and married that to my life and my experiences. And that’s really how Paper Dreams started developing. At the end of the day I wanted it to be a story for immigrants but one that I can relate to, and hopefully for my people to do as well.

You went to film school? Is it a necessary path to directing?
No, I did not go to film school. I went to a four-year college. I was a dance major and a film minor.

What is your next project?
I’m currently shooting a new short called Light of the Forgotten. It’s the story of a Haitian woman who’s faced with a dilemma that forces her to either adapt the “liberty or death” motto that her fearless ancestors carried or to continue with the degenerated unmotivated mentality currently haunting the Haitian community. This journey helps her discover the key to saving Haiti. It will be ready hopefully by the spring.

When do you think you’ve found the perfect person for a role?
When you can take directions well and translate the required feelings through the lens of the camera.

Would you mind discussing Joy Road?
Joy Road is a gritty feature starring Wood Harris (“The Wire”, Remember The Titans), as Tony Smalls, a lawyer who is happily part of the new urban middle class in Detroit. While his sister Nia (NBushe Wright, Blade), a high school graduate, is not. But when Nia’s boyfriend, Big Boy (Christian “Trick Trick” Mathis) is arrested for murder, Tony is pulled back into the neighborhood he worked so hard to escape. Believing in the system and its minions would only work against Tony as he faces off against an old neighborhood nemesis, Flip (Jamie Hector, “The Wire”), who is all too clear about who he is and what he stands for. But who really controls the criminal justice system in Detroit? Are the gods Tony prays to who he thinks they are? And who really runs the streets? Joy Road was theatrically released for a period of five weeks in eight different cities.

And what is Krista’s message to those who want to direct, produce, or write movies?
I would tell anyone to go for it, because every story is different. Therefore, it’s essential to tell it because the world will not only benefit from it but the world also is yearning for it. One thing also, you find out while you’re making movies, you get the opportunity to learn about yourself.

At which point of your life did you decide that the movie business was going to be your life?
I’ve always been a performer, whether in dance, acting, theater, etc… I’ve been dabbling with the arts from the age of 3 or 4 years performing on stage. However, I decided that the movie business was going to be my life really at my last job in the very last months of being there. There was absolutely nothing motivating me anymore about the job to the point that I was anticipating getting fired. And when the day came, it was the biggest weight lifted off my shoulder. And that created time for me to do what I love.

You can watch Paper Dreams here.

A Conversation With Lulu Orange, Mrs. Haiti International

K St. Fort — Sat, 13 Apr 2019 10:36:31 +0000

Lulu Orange is the reigning Mrs. Haiti International, having been crowned by pageant organizer Hermanie Pierre at a ceremony this past Spring. A motivational speaker and radio show host, she exemplifies the vision of the Miss Haiti International mission.

I personally admire beauty queens, because I feel that you have to have a lot of gumption to enter a beauty contest. All the beauty queens whom I have interviewed for the site have always been bold. Lulu is no different.

Check out her responses to my questions about everything from her future, to friendship, to beauty, and her book-reading habits.

Above: The proud Mrs. Haiti International Lulu Orange with two NFL legends.

Kreyolicious: What led you to enter the pageant this year, and not the previous one?
I met a beautiful woman by the name of Hermaine who I met in Las Vegas at a pageant event and was so happy to see that she was also Haitian. When she told me she was the director of the Mrs. Haiti International pageant system, the rest was history. So honored to represent Haiti at the International pageant and honor my Haitian family whom are from Cap-Haitian which I represented at this year’s Mrs. Haiti International pageant.

Kreyolicious: When do you feel the most beautiful?
I love make up and dressing up but when I don’t have make up or a pretty gown on and I hear a random person say to me “you are so beautiful.” That makes me feel good because they liked the natural me.

Kreyolicious: Are you a huge reader? Which books have contributed the most to your personal growth?
Yes, I read. Books that has helped shaped my life are those that are inspirational and spiritual. Books that I’ve read include The Secret, and The Purpose Driven Life. These books has helped me go through some difficult moments in my life and have inspired me as well as get in-tune with my spiritual self.

Kreyolicious: Have you ever been friends with someone who made you feel insecure about yourself?
Honesty is the best policy. As friends, we should be able to let each other know when there is an issue. This needs to be the foundation. In the past, if my friends did not comply to this, than I had to move on.

Kreyolicious: If you were giving the version of you from two years ago some advice, what would you say?
Don’t rush. Enjoy life. Take your time and smell the roses. Go to the beach more and just go for it. I’m learning to just love life and enjoy every moment.

Kreyolicious: How do you stay positive?
I stay positive by knowing my purpose and what God has intended me to be on this Earth. I love inspiring other young women to be successful individuals and instill in them you can be anything no matter your socioeconomic background.

Above: The pageant queen taking the time to strike a pose.

Kreyolicious: Have you been to Haiti lately?
I have not been lately, but am planning a trip next month to not only see the beauty the country has to offer but to push my platform of promoting our youth and mentoring them to become successful individuals. I am having a backpack drive to give to schools for children who are in need of school supplies.

Kreyolicious: What should we expect from you in two to five years?
In two to five years, I hope to expand my family and have a biological child of my own and continue being a loving mother to my stepchildren and Pomeranian. Career-wise I would like to be promoted and be on the corporate team that leads all rehab centers for the elderly as a Regional Operations Manager for the current company I work with. My passion is to continue to help the youth realize their full potential and continue to mentor and see them through their goals. I also see myself on TV programming that is entertaining, but also have a self-help platform. Hopefully, I can become the next Oprah!

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT LULU ORANGE’S PAGE ON FACEBOOK!

On April 3, 1986, more than 30,000 women took to the streets of Port-au-Prince i…

admin — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 04:01:19 +0000

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On April 3, 1986, more than 30,000 women took to the streets of Port-au-Prince in a peaceful protest organized by over 15 different groups. “It was a revolt against exclusion. The country was being remade and we didn’t want it to be remade without us”. (conversation with Myriam Merlet, Enfofanm, March 17, 1999). The April 3 anniversary is recalled each year and has been proposed as a national women’s day since 1996.
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Le 3 avril 1986, plus de 30 000 femmes sont descendues dans les rues de Port-au-Prince lors d’une manifestation pacifique organisée par plus d’une quinzaine de groupes différents. «C’était une révolte contre l’exclusion. Le pays était en train d’être refait et nous ne voulions pas le faire sans nous ». (conversation avec Myriam Merlet, Enfofanm, 17 mars 1999). L’anniversaire du 3 avril est rappelé chaque année et est proposé comme journée nationale de la femme depuis 1996.
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3 avril 1986, plis pase 30,000 fanm te pran lari nan Pòtoprens nan yon pwotestasyon pasifik òganize pa plis pase 15 gwoup diferan. “Se te yon revòlt kont eksklizyon. Peyi a te refè, faim yo pa t ‘vle li te refè san yo ”. (konvèsasyon avèk Myriam Merlet, Enfofanm, 17 Mas 1999). Anivèsè 3 avril la raple chak ane e li te pwopoze kòm yon jou nasyonal pou fanm ayisyèn depi 1996.
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