Could publishing a magazine for Haitians living in the United States—with mass appeal to other Caribbeans in the middle of a much-publicized decline of print—be a success? Esther Lafontant thought so.

The former model and fashion industry employee put her mind to work, formulating a publication she named Amour Creole. With an ever-growing subscriber base, as well as an online version, the magazine which recently celebrated its first year, has had cover stories featuring a host of luminaries: singer Dawn Richard, actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, celebrity chef Manoushka Guerrier, and teen heartthrobs Olivier Duret and Jason Derulo. The efforts of Lafontant and her staff have paid off; this year Amour Creole joined other major magazines on the racks of national newsstands as one of the content-heavy publications targeting black and Caribbean readers. It’s been quite a journey for Lafontant, a single mother who immigrated to the United States and is now based out of Boston.

Q&A

At which point did you get the concept for Amour Creole?
I always wanted to do something that would uplift the Haitian community in the U.S. and show the beauty of my people and culture. I had the idea for a magazine for a long time – I felt like it was the best medium to display the beauty of my people and culture.

There’s this impression that it’s doomsday for the magazine and print industry in general.
Yes, the last couple of years have been very difficult for print because of the other media outlets. The numbers for print seem to be rising again and there is still an impressive demand for print. People like to curl up with a magazine, feel the pages. Experts say print will be around for a long time. Amour Creole is such a new niche, our target market loves the direction of Amour Creole. There’s clearly a big need for it in our community.

What do you feel sets apart Amour Creole from other Caribbean lifestyle and entertainment publications?
Amour Creole covers a range of topics. We are very diverse in our writing. We don’t focus on just one aspect like most other magazines. We cover so much: beauty, fashion, entertainment, culture, etc. I think our in-depth, well researched features are a huge part of capturing readers attention. And we cater to a bigger audience. We are not just a women or men’s magazine. We are the people’s magazine.

Any aspect of your background that made starting and operating Amour Creole a little smoother?
Not necessarily. I modeled for a while and was always part of the fashion industry, but nothing related to publishing.

The arrival of the internet killed a lot of other mediums. What do you think will kill it?
I maintain the position – every avenue has an end. Where? No one knows.

As the Founder of Amour Creole, and its publisher, what is a typical day like for you?
Very stressful. Even though Amour Creole is quarterly it feels like a weekly publication. Our editorial schedule is very tight and we have to get to the next issue before we even close the current one! There are days that my staff and I are in the office until 1 or 2 AM. I am just so grateful that I work with a group of amazing people.

You probably have some counsel for someone delving into the publishing world.
Know what you are getting into. Educate yourself as much as you can – go to as many publishing conferences, trade shows and network events that you can. Publishing is a very hard business to get into especially if it’s print publication because they are so many regulations. If you are not prepared, you will fail. When someone sees a finished product, they just see the glamour of it, not the work that goes into putting it together.

What’s in the plans for Amour Creole?
The plan for Amour Creole is to become a household name in the Haitian/Caribbean community. I want it to be a name that all Haitians everywhere can be proud of and that will last for many generations.

For information on how to subscribe, go here.

Meet Miss West Indies International Esther Lande! A student at Florida Atlantic University, Esther hopes to become a medical doctor. There’s no reason to believe that she won’t achieve a goal. To begin, she’s very service-driven. She loves to volunteer to assist others, and has been volunteering since she was nine years old. Even now, she says she’s convinced that she can improve our society through volunteerism. In fact, she’s an ambassador for the volunteering organization Dosomething.Org. As she prepares to compete at the Miss International pageant in Jacksonville late this summer, she took the time to give me some us a glimpse into her life as a pageant princess.

Kreyolicious: What made you enter the Miss West Indies International pageant?
The International system is based on platform. It encourages young women to fight for something in our community. I entered it because I believe in my platform and being Miss West Indies International helps me to reach more people.

Kreyolicious: When do you feel the prettiest?
I feel pretty every second in my life. I am grateful that God grants me life every day and with God by my side I feel beautiful each second. But I must say I feel prettiest when I am volunteering in my community. Giving back to my community shows my true inside beauty.

Kreyolicious: What would you say to someone who wants to enter a pageant, but has the jitters about it?
It is not only about gorgeous gown and glam; it takes hard work to be a pageant queen. If you truly want to enter in the pageantry world, you must be willing to be dedicated to your cause. There are things that you will need to give up to succeed into your new journey. Don’t forget have fun in the process, stay confidant and give it your all. I advise anyone to enter a pageant that forces you to fight for a cause.

Kreyolicious: What are the most inspiring and character-building books you’ve ever read, and would you mind sharing the titles with us?
I would say Oprah by Katherine Krohn because this book describes the struggles of her life and how she overcomes it. That really inspires me that even in my darkest day I still can overcome anything I undertake. I also love Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You’re Going Through by Iyanla Vanzant. This book helped me to go on with my life even after I had gone through a lot and to be at peace with all that had happened.

Kreyolicious: Who’s the most inspiring person in your life?
The most inspiring person of my life is Toussaint Louverture because he has led us to our revolution. He was truly a courageous and intelligent man. I learned from him that it doesn’t matter if people think you can make it, if you believe it in it and are bold enough to take the first step then you will mostly likely succeed.

Kreyolicious: Have you been to Haiti?
Yes! I was born in Haiti and raised there until I moved to Chicago, Illinois. I recently went back in Haiti. I organized a toy distribution for the kids of Bizoton 51, Carrefour where I grew up back in December last year.

Kreyolicious: What advice do you have for those out there who are having a hard time being happy for others when they experience some form of success?
We should be happy when others succeed. It takes hard work and dedication to succeed. Be happy for whoever succeeds because it shows they have been working hard toward their goals. Your time will soon come if you stay focused on your goals. Don’t give up. We all have our own time to shine.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT ESTHER’S INSTAGRAM PAGE