Hermanie Pierre’s head must feel weighed down from tiara burnout. Consider the pageants she’s won: Miss Saline County USA, Miss Northeast Arkansas, and Miss Haiti International 2012. She certainly is the typification of beauty and brains, because in addition to her beauty pageant honors, Pierre works as an engineer. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the Arkansas resident came to the United States at the age of 14 to reunite with her parents. “It was a bittersweet transition that left me with excruciating feelings of nostalgia,” she recalls. “Nonetheless, I remained convinced that I would eventually adapt and thrive.” Part of that determination was inspired by her late uncle Castille, an examplary man whom she credits with helping her develop a dog-like determination to succeed. Her parents also played a role, inculcating into her that education was an indispensable part of life through endless lectures.

When Pierre sets aside her engineer hard hat and boots, she volunteers with countless organizations and takes part in philanthropic activities. You name it, she’s part of it: the Nashville Habitat for Humanity, Sophomore Mentorship Program, Peer Counsel Mentor, NSBE Arkansas Alumni Extension Chaplin; Advisor and Public Relations Director, A Little Piece of Heaven Foundation, Haitian Organization for Health Services; Advocate for Go Red for Women, Young Adult Mentorship, May Town Scholar, College of Engineering ASCE President, Organization for Developing Leadership, Salsa Toastmasters. If this non-exhaustive list didn’t send you in a state of vertigo, then you must have a strong immune system. Ms. Pierre has stamina, thank you very much.

Despite her accomplishments, her goal is to reach even bigger, while inspiring others to reach her heights or higher. A self-described woman of integrity and character, holding the title of Miss Haiti International USA is more than getting notoriety and recognition to Pierre. She hopes to play a big part in the making of a better Haiti.

So you moved from Haiti to the USA when you were 14. You joined your parents in Tennessee, correct?
Moving from Haiti to the States was a life changing experience on many fronts. The transition was difficult. I often was homesick despite the prospect of a better. I have encountered a plethora of challenges that set hurdles to my adaptation such as language barrier and culture shock. I remember enrolling in courses to later discover I merely understood what the professor was saying. Nonetheless, I manage to grasp the contents, earn A’s and graduate with high honors regardless. According to the dictionary definition of the word victim, I do not meet the requirements. Adverse actions from others do not trick, injure nor destroy me. They are rites of passage that strengthen my character and prepare me for the next level of life’s conundrums. The challenges I encountered as I navigated the then new American culture and language could not set hurdles to my determination to excel throughout high school. I graduated with high honors. My performance earned me a full scholarship to Tennessee State University where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. There is a personal story behind my affinity for engineering. I was inspired by my late uncle, Arnold Castille. Uncle Castille was a self-taught construction foreman with a passion for good deeds. Helping disenfranchised children and their families with food and tuition became one of his favorite hobbies. When I turned eight, I told Uncle Castille about my desire to emulate his character in my adult life. His somewhat familiar and humble reaction moves me til this day: “You have an opportunity I was not dealt with. If you stay in school, you will be better than me, and you will surpass my accomplishments.” Rest in Peace Uncle Castille!

Your resume is rather impressive. You were crowned Miss Saline County USA, Miss Northeast Arkansas and with the Miss Arkansas pageant, you placed third.
Although the level of emotion involved therein was not too significant, my three crowns prepared me for Miss International. Representing a country is a highly sentimental endeavor, and I assume some athletes and other beauty queens that preceded me can attest to that. When I heard about the opportunity through a friend, and was advised by judges to vie for the title, I was not too conscientious of what my decision really entailed, but I am now glad I listened to the judges and my inner voice.

What’s life like as a beauty queen?
My personal life has been substantially altered by my status as Miss Haiti International 2012. I must admit that I through the same routines. However, my load of responsibility has considerably increased in proportion with Miss Haiti’s duties and responsibilities.

What’s the best thing about being Miss Haiti International USA?
Inspiring others and becoming an ad-hoc ambassador for my country put me on a pedestal, at least from my perspective. These two adventures coincide narrowly with the platform I have been promoting with a deep passion—A Better Tomorrow for Today’s Children: Building a New Generation.

A lot of girls out there are struggling with issues of self-esteem. What advice do you have for them?
Self-confidence is the quintessential trait I believe every girl, or every human being for that matter, should be endowed with. Great many people around the world are reaching fame and thriving despite physical, mental or emotional limitations. They find it within themselves to overcome criticism, sometime with self-deprecation, and circumvent obstacles that would otherwise stifle their propensity for initiatives and dreams. The road to Miss International 2012 has not been rosy, and the difficulties are perpetuating as I write. My own kind, the better part of the time, seems to be willing to disown me for reasons that are outside of my sphere of comprehension, but I arm myself with every ounce of confidence within reach and keep on driving on because the sky is my limit.

You must have a lot of big plans once your Miss Haiti International reign is over.
My altruism is my guide. I serve selflessly and take great pride in accompanying others toward success. One of my short term priority after giving up my reign is to continue partnering with local and global organization to contribute to an equitable distribution of education, medical and nutritional supports not only to kids in Haiti but also to those in other parts of the globe. I am currently working on setting up a scholarship fund, the Hermanie Scholarship Fund, to help disenfranchised students in Haiti afford college tuition.

How would you define beauty?
The most common and accepted definition of beauty is equated with exterior physical appearance. That’s just one element of the concept. It is also about philanthropic and altruistic undertakings. We are doomed to evolve as communities in mutual bonds. Political, economic, social, religious and cultural matters must be addressed with a holistic approach in order to tackling detrimental ramifications from all directions because injustice will eventually spill over and bring chicken back home to roost. I can’t single-handedly slow down nor eliminate the process but I believe It is very beautiful to collectively help, give back, love, and care for each other-the only we can outflank the odds. .

Since graduating in 2010 from Tennessee State University, you have worked for the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, as one of their youngest engineers. What is the secret of your professional success?
I am intrinsically connected to my profession. Choosing engineering as a career was no accident. That’s why I feel content and resolved, every morning and sometimes in the middle of the night, on my way to work. This state of mind nourishes my ambitious being and directs it to upward mobility. It takes intelligence to make it up the ladder. Organizational politics is a thorny territory. Neither knowledge nor outstanding performance alone is sufficient for securing opportunity for organizational advancement. A mélange of both is the secret.

After being part of three pageants, do you anticipate participating at others?
I love challenges and adventures. I would love to partake in more competitions and make a difference but I have reached the ceiling within the system. Meanwhile I intends, to the utmost of my ability, to represent Haiti in the Miss International system and do my best to put Haiti on top of the list.

Now with your career as an engineer, and between pageantry, and the volunteer work you do, how do you avoid burnout?
I do burn out! I get knocked down but I get up again. I just tried to improve on time management and organizational skills. I am young and filled with energy. I want to have a personal and professional foundation built and finish the house while I can.

One of the things that stand out about you is the love you constantly express for Haiti.
My plan is to continue raising awareness for my platform A Better Tomorrow for Today’s Children: Building A New Generation through my life experience. I want young people to emulate my educational choices. I partner with local and global organizations such as Little Piece of Heaven Foundation (LPHF) and Haitian organizations Health Services (HOHS) to promote those choices. Haiti will be a better place with better access to education. It is my goal to utilize my resources, contacts and experience in Haiti’s best interests. I hope to be able to play my part and help make Haiti a better place to visit and live– one where people are valued and accepted for who they are. My life has been filled with privileges, joy and love. I have learned that it is what you make of it.

Our ancestors fought hard for this country. Miss Haiti can do it as well with the support of officials from Haiti. I would be humbled to be acknowledged, in a timely fashion, by my native government. My team and I have made many unsuccessful attempts to reach out those officials. My goal is to be an ambassador to promote and share the positive image of Haiti with the world. I have learned that the world’s perception of Haiti stems from the image that other nations display. It is now the time for us to become proactive in defining how we want to be seen across the world. I want to publicly acknowledge the terrific campaign led by our tourism department in projecting a more positive image of Haiti, thus attracting more visitors and capital to the country.

Sailing from Spain, on a mission for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Nicolàs de Ovando arrived in Hispaniola on April 15, 1502 with a fleet of 30 ships. This was the largest that had set sail for the new world up to that point, he was accompanied by 2,500 men and then assumed the command of the island…
–
En provenance d’Espagne, en mission pour le roi Ferdinand et la reine Isabelle, Nicolàs de Ovando est arrivé à Hispaniola le 15 avril 1502 avec une flotte de 30 navires. C’était la flotte la plus importante en mission pour le nouveau monde dans cette période. Il était accompagné de 2 500 hommes et assuma ensuite le commandement de l’île…
–
Soti nan Espay nan yon misyon pou wa Ferdinand ak Rèn Isabella, Nicolàs de Ovando te rive nan Ispanyola, 15 avril 1502 ak yon flòt de 30 bato. Sa se te pi gwo flòt ki te pran lanmè pou nouvo mond la nan tan sa yo, li te akonpaye pa 2,500 moun lè sa a, yon ti tan après sa li te pran kòmandman zile a…
.
.
.
.
#haiti #hayti #istwa1804 #istwa #1804 #1492 #1502 #anacaona #queenanacaona #reine #queen #spain #kingofspain #queenofspain #isabelle #ferdinand
–
Source: Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American Biography,Vol.4; p.612

Darline Exume is no ordinary medical student. In her fifth year of medical school, she’s a professional model.

She’s the founder of the We Care Haiti Foundation, a non-profit that provides free medical mobile services, medication, and school supplies to residents of Haiti’s rural and remote areas.

She’s a former Miss Progress Haiti, and won the Miss Haiti United Continents title two years ago. Currently, she’s the reigning Miss Grand Haiti International.

Kreyolicious: When you were younger, was there ever an aspect of your physical self that you felt self-conscious about? How did you get over it?
Ever since I was little…and as far as my adult years, there was always an aspect of my physical self that I felt self-conscious about. It always made me feel uncomfortable and uneasy with myself. And when someone would stare at me, I’d always be ready to turn away…or give a quick explanation to explain away the object of all the staring…without being asked. The physical aspect of myself that I’m referring to is my hair. Ever since I was little, I had something called alopecia…it’s a disease that keeps your hair from growing in a particular spot. It could be at the front side of the head, in the center…or at the sides of your head. Mine was on both sides of my head. Because of that, I could never get the hair styles I really wanted. I had to comb my hair in a way that covered the bald spots. Despite a lot of different treatments, I could never find a solution. As I grew older, I learned that I had to keep this little problem from having too much power over my self-confidence. I started to think about what hair style I could put on that would teach me how to love, accept, and live with it. But even in contemplating this, I still lacked the courage to make the change…to shave my head bald. I met with my modeling agent Matti Domingue and she helped me a lot in making this decision. She brought me to a hairstylist and I cut off all my hair. Now, I felt more confident in myself, more secure and comfortable. These days, I don’t think of alopecia as something that bothers me.

Above: Beauty in a poet’s blouse. [Photo Credit: Hugue-Robert Marsan]

Kreyolicious: That’s a very inspiring story…How did you get into modeling?
I started modeling in 2010. I didn’t have any experience. A friend of mine made me register for this beauty contest and I placed second. After that, I received so much encouragement from friends and strangers alike—their saying that I had the talent to become a model. I started to discover it myself. I started taking pictures and posting them on social media. Photographer and designers started to contact me. I started to network with people, and eventually I started entering all these different national and international pageants…including Miss Grand Haiti. I started to follow a lot of popular local and international models just to get a sense of how things were. So, that’s how I started.

Kreyolicious: Do you work out?
Yes, I work out. I do it by sessions. By that I mean…I could work out for three months…stop for three months…then start all over again.

In Port-au-Prince at a modeling event. [Photo Credit: Roroli Light]

Kreyolicious: What’s the most inspiring book you’ve ever read? What made it so inspiring?
The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player , a book by John C. Maxwell, which talks about all the qualities a person needs to succeed in life. Some of the qualities are: the ability to adapt, collaborate, communicate, be engaged, prepare, enthusiasm, discipline…among other things. This book is a really great resource for anybody. If you’re dealing with people in any form, you need those qualities. Whichever type of team you’re building…marriage, leadership, sports, work…in any team-building context…whether performance, capacity…behavior…Whether person-to-person or society as a whole…To me, everyone should read this book.

Above: Miss Haiti Earth shows off another dimension of herself. [Photo Credit: Mc Alexander S. Ciceron]

Kreyolicious: Have you ever been really incompetent at something that you are now very good at?
[Laughter] Yes. Everyone has a a weakness at something. What’s important is that you acknowledge the weakness, and take steps to correct it. My weakness was that when I’d be on the runway, and I’d be making my turns…I was really bad at it. As time went by, I learned from other people. Now, I don’t have that problem anymore. I’m glad I was able to see that it was a problem, and that I was able to fix it.

Above: Modeling a piece from the collection of Haitian designer David Andre. [Photo Credit: Mc Alexander S C Photography]

Kreyolicious: Where do you see yourself five years from today?
Five years from today, I’d love to feel be able to see the results of all the work I’m accomplishing now…in my life and the life of others. I’d like the privilege of not having to introduce myself because all the work I did and my accomplishments will have already introduced me and established me, and spoken for me. I’d like to have a kid before I’m thirty. I really love kids.

Above: Wearing a creation by designer Louca Bell. Photo Credit: Jumenus Coreus/Dezobri for Chokarella.

DARLINE EXUME ON INSTAGRAM | VISIT HER NON-PROFIT

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE STRAIGHT OUTTA HAITI ENTRIES…in which—in which I interview a figure who’s based in Haiti and doing great things.

Hermanie Pierre is not the type of former beauty queen to sit there and be complacent. The one-time Miss Haiti International penned a self-help business book shortly after her reign ended. And she isn’t stopping there. SXE Fitness and SXE Hair are her entries into the fitness and beauty business realms Follow along as we talk about these ventures.

K. St. Fort: You’re a beauty queen, an engineer, an author, motivational speaker and now entrepreneur. What made you undertake SXE Fitness?

I love being in the gym. The hardest thing about going to the gym is when you can’t find anything to wear. Being at the gym means you want to feel great, look sexy, and be fabulous. If you are trying to feel like that, you must have the gear to help you mentally. The problem I had [was this:] I could not find great workout gym wear that was sexy and comfortable. Once I wore my SXE Fitness clothes I noticed I stayed at the gym longer and felt so sexy that no one in the gym looked better than me. [Laughter] The outfit gave me a boost of confidence.

K. St. Fort: I noticed that the line’s pieces are very stylish. I’m sure that’s not just a coincidence. Do you think that having great workout gear can motivate someone to be more active fitness-wise?

OMG I saw people at the gym wearing baggy clothes! If you watched them closely, they were not as motivated. SXE Fitness clothes are made with 100% supplex material. Supplex material is lightweight, flexible and dry fit. It won’t wrinkle, shrink or fade. Excellent quality. The most amazing thing about our entire line is that it’s available in “One size fits Most” fitting sizes from 0 to 10. It doesn’t matter if you are size 0 or 10. These clothes will fit–and it also give you a butt lift…no surgery, a natural lift.

Most people don’t know that 80% of working out is what you eat and feel. If you feel sexy the chance is you will eat less junk food because you don’t want to mess up that body. Well SXE Fitness helps you mentally with that. Every time you wear your clothes and you feel so sexy, chances are you will not mess up that body. Ten percent is cardio. Ten percent is actual gym work. Well those 20% combination again wearing gym wear like SXE Fitness brand. It will help you mentally stay in the gym longer and motivate you to keep going and reach your fitness goals.

K. St. Fort: Do you have a workout regimen?

My regimen is very predictable and simple. I go to the gym between 3 to 5 times a week. The main reason I go to the gym is to tone and not lose weight. I also have a partner at the gym. Some days we do legs and arms. Forty-eight hours later, we come back together and do the same workout. One day is dedicated to abs and another to cardio.

K. St. Fort: What goes into running your clothing line?

Wow! running SXE Fitness clothing is an around the clock job. Why? Because I am always thinking of what is next, what girls/women will love, what will help them. I also have an amazing team behind me helping me. Our goal is to make sure women feel sexy and confident. What’s best about SXE Fitness we make sure other people have jobs from sewing to packing. While we are branding our line, we are also creating job and give back to the community.

K. St. Fort: Girl, what’s next for you?

The Sky’s the Limit! God blessed me tremendously and I am very grateful for that. I am working on the men’s gym wear line, as well as a plus size line. I keep getting the same questions what about men? What about plus size? Just like I told them. Rome was not built in one day. [Laughter] But I am very happy with the turn out, the feedback and testimonials. I have a lot of happy celebrity clients. My focus now is on the men’s and plus-size lines. Also, a month ago I announced my hair line SXE Hair. I carry all types : Peruvian, Malaysian, Brazilian and Cambodian-straight, body waves, curly, kinky…you name it!

All are grade 8A-the best hair quality you can find. I believe everyone should look gorgeous in however they define their beauty. My goal is to make sure they have what they need. I also provide beauty on the budget-a-lay-away program where you can buy whatever you want hair or gym wear with a $50 deposit and pick up your items when you pay your final payment. Your items are guaranteed to be available.

All photos courtesy of subject.

Would you like to get yourself some SXE Fitness Gear? Of course you would!To all Kreyolicious readers please use code “LPH10” for extra discount and free priority shipping.

SXE FITNESS ON TWITTER | SXE FITNESS ON FACEBOOK | SXE FITNESS WEBSITE

Welcome to the newest installment of the Haiti History 101 sub-series 100 Haitian Women of History, alias 100 Historical Haitian Women…alias 100 Women of Haitian History, presented by your girl Kreyolicious! Today’s episode features…Beauty queen Claudinette Fouchard.

Watch the video below to learn more about her!

Let me know your thoughts on this video on novelist Marie Vieux Chauvet. And if there’s a woman of Haitian History you’d like to see covered, let me know!

CLICK HERE to check out previous episodes! And be sure to check out other episodes to come.

Ahem, while you’re at it, CLICK HERE to watch other videos on KREYOLICIOUS TV.

Every blogger wants to be Karen Civil. Why wouldn’t they want to be her? She is an influential new media princess and the head honcho of her own digital media marketing agency, Always Civil Enterprise, and the creator of Living Civil bracelets. And her empire doesn’t stop there. She launched her own clothing company Civil Clothing, already touted as one of the best urban wear brands on the market; and she founded a lifestyle property, Living Civil. Oh, and Karen Civil TV, in which she shares exclusive video interviews—with such rappers as Big Sean, Tyga, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa—should also be mentioned. No wonder so many look up to her. They may want her success, but it’s doubtful that they want to put in all the hard work that catapulted her to the highly coveted station where she holds court. Hard work…now that’s something that is in embedded in Ms. Civil—the way hemoglobin lines up blood.

Her hectic work days days consist of one meeting after another, trips to industry events, planning photo shoots, fielding phone calls and emails from industry folks and rappers vying for her attention. She also manages the editorial staff at KarenCivil.com. Based in Los Angeles, the civil-living entrepreneur can minimize the existence and importance of a rapper by ignoring him (or her) on her website Karencivil.com, or make him (or her) an overnight sensation by merely mentioning him or her on the website. Indeed, Karen Civil is that powerful.

In the late 2000s, most of the popular urban blogs had already been established. It seemed unlikely that there was place for new blood. But either Karen Civil was not dissuaded by this, or thought she could bring something different to the blogging game. Where there’s will, there’s a civil way. She had interned with some of the biggest radio and music brands in New York, and had made more than a handful of connections with talent and shot-callers in the music world. When rapper Lil Wayne went to serve a jail term, Civil teamed up with web designer Karla Moy to create a website to help the star keep in touch with fans.

Civil had assisted Wayne in keeping his brand intact. Now, the Brooklyn-born, Elizabeth, New Jersey-raised gal wanted very much to bring her own venture to life. She knew one of the primary principles of starting a business: start with what you already know and have a passion for. She knew she loved music, especially hip-hop…and she had some contacts. She didn’t want to be a digital sharecropper, as Nicholas Carr would call it…you know one of those types who help big brands build content, but don’t benefit in the long run. No, Karen Civil wanted to build her own brand. There were several highly-trafficked hip-hop blogs, but none were helmed by a female. She turned on the ignition on KarenCivil.com and has been driving on the success highway ever since, landing on Black Enterprise’s Top Blogger list, and being whisked by Dr. Dre to head the social media of his headphone brand. When big conferences want an expert on their panels, Karen Civil is one of the first names that pop into their heads.

Hanging out with Lil Wayne.

K. St. Fort: What are your memories of growing up Haitian?

I guess it would start in Brooklyn when I’d go to family parties and get-togethers. I have a very big family and getting the chance to spend time with them and see my cousins are some of the best memories I have. We had traditional foods and Haitian music playing when we would all come together.

K. St. Fort: Musical memories…?

At family parties, my cousins and uncles were always playing T-Vice’s music.

K. St. Fort: An internship was instrumental in getting you to where you are. When one gets an internship, what is the best way to stand out?

You basically let your grind speak for itself. You have to put in that extra work to show how dedicated up are… You have to stay longer and don’t become a crop watcher, so to speak. Let your grind and ambition show.

K. St. Fort: In the mid-2000s, you gave props to artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, long before the mainstream knew them. Or rather acknowledged them. Why did you try that approach, when maybe other bloggers weren’t really trying to touch anyone that hadn’t already gotten mainstream validation?

That’s what I built my site—for the purpose to showcase music that I like—not what necessarily has a large following yet.

K. St. Fort: You breathe music. Heck, it’s dripping from your nostrils. But who are your favorite artists. And no girl, this isn’t a trap question.

I mean it’s a variation of music that I listen to…everything and everyone. It’s hard to pick just a few, but I do love Andy Suzuki, Pink, some old school artists, and many many more.

K. St. Fort: What do your parents think about your career in the music world? Are they like, “Se sa Karen, se sa!”

They are proud that I am pursuing my dreams. I came from a family of hard-workers who all have good yet regular professions, so they are glad that my career in music is actually working for me.

K. St. Fort: Were you ever tempted to go the celebrity bashing direction with your blog?

No, because I have been that kid that was picked on. I never want to be that person.

K. St. Fort: So while you’re heading KarenCivil.com, you get tapped to be Social Media Director for Beats by Dre. How did they ever pull you away, chile?

They didn’t pull me away from anything. I am just doing more than one thing. It lets me be creative and I get the best of both worlds.

K. St. Fort: Studying the history of your brand, it surely grew quite fast. And it grew at a time when most thought that music blogs, urban blogs had hit their apogee. What do you attribute that to?

I’ve been doing it for a few years now. I have tried to be consistent, but I still don’t feel like it is where it needs to be. I try to give you a vision of the artist with interviews and new music exclusives.

K. St. Fort: How important do you think image is to a blogger?

I can’t speak for the next blogger, but for myself I take care of my body and mind. I try to get out more often and love to stay in shape. I can’t just throw on sweats if I want to. I have always cared about my appearance, but now I especially take extra care of my personal image.

K. St. Fort: You tend to emphasize a vision board a lot. Out of all the dreams and goals that you had on your board, that you have since accomplished, which one proved to be the most astounding—even to you, who believed so ardently that you would accomplish it?

I think making the Ebony Power 100 list last year with amazing women like Oprah was incredible to me because I wasn’t expecting it at all. I definitely can’t just pin-point one thing, but every day something new is happening for me and I am being acknowledged by my peers which is accomplishing.

Interviewing Wiz Khalifa for Karen Civil TV.

K. St. Fort: You made a statement once about the U.S. music industry: “Everybody got a Haitian on the team. It’s the standard.”

I mean our work ethic is like no other! We are all hard-workers, just think about Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliot had Mona Scott. [Rapper] 50 had Sha Money XL and so on.

K. St. Fort: Do you feel some sort of partisanship with others of Haitian descent in the music industry?

Of course, I love Sha Money XL, and have so much respect for Mona Scott. We all have that bond and it feels like we are family.

K. St. Fort: What Haitian artists and bands do you like?

Rap-wise I like Jeezy and [konpa-wise] T-Vice. Usher—whenever he decides to admit his roots.

K. St. Fort: In web world, there is sometimes slander, and it’s spread like nothing else in the world. How do you handle rumors and online slandering?

I mean—I am human and it does affect me, but I have amazing friends who remind me that certain people don’t matter and you can’t take anything personally.

K. St. Fort: Do you have plans to work with Haitian artists in a genre like konpa?

No, not that I know of—yet.

K. St. Fort: The music industry is known for being fast, and for being artificial. Some might even use the word “plastic” to describe it. How do you keep yourself civil and real?

It comes with any business, and you’re going to have to face the phonies. I come from a well-rounded family—which is why I have remained grounded.

K. St. Fort: Speaking of which…Can you spot a user from a mile away? Or is face contact required?

It takes time to spot a user because they tend to blend in.

K. St. Fort: Out of all the honors you’ve gotten, industry-related or not, which one means the most to you?

My mom’s blessing is what means most to me.

K. St. Fort: You have Civil Clothing and Civil bracelets. At which point did you realize it would be a good idea to expand your brand?

I think there comes a point in every business person’s career when you need to create those tangible items that set you apart.

With rapper Drake. Karen Civil was among one of the first bloggers to give her stamp of approval to Drake before he blew up in the mainstream.

K. St. Fort: Did you have any qualms about having your name as your brand? And putting your face in front of your brand?

No.

K. St. Fort: When was the last time you went to Haiti?

About two-and-a-half years ago, when my aunt graduated from college.

Karen Civil and rapper Nippsey Hussle.

K. St. Fort: It’s no doubt mentally taxing to be at the head of all these brands. How do you make sure you take care of yourself?

I meditate daily. I love to stay in shape and I am into yoga and my daily workouts. Som I make sure I am mentally, spiritually, and physically alive.

K. St. Fort: It would seem to most that the next big step for you would be for you to head a record label division or something along that line.

You never know what the future holds.

K. St. Fort: What’s next for the Civil Brand?

I will continue to look for new ways to grow. I am working on my book that is coming out next year and planning the annual Live Civil Brunch.

Karen Civil kicking it with Rick Ross at an industry event.

Be sure to visit Karen Civil’s flagship site by CLICKING HERE.

This has been another segment of Yap Mennen/They Ballin’—in which overachieving boys and girls of Haitian origin and their accomplishments are highlighted.

Clearly, Boston-raised funny girl Charla Lauriston is an expert at multi-tasking. While her lips are cracking jokes, her hands are busy typing an outline for a show, and her mind’s pondering on her plans for the next day. This is how one has to operate to keep up with the swift pace of a life that includes frequent gigs at some of the nation’s most popular comedy venues, a hand at creating a successful web series (“Clench and Release”), and writing for several others, including Tina Fey’s hit series “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”.

K. St. Fort: So, what were you doing right before this interview?
Checking my email.

K. St. Fort: Did you feel pretty growing up?
I’m dark skinned and this is America, so no.

K. St. Fort: Hmmm. ​Some people who end up being comedians were either super-shy in high school, or were very, very extroverted. Which category did you fall in?
I was insanely shy until senior year when I started coming out of my shell.

K. St. Fort: You been to Haiti lately, girl?
I’ve never been back to Haiti since I left when I was four. It’s hard not to stay connected when my whole family is Haitian. I grew up going to Haitian churches, hanging out with my cousins. I still speak fluent creole. I promise I’m still super Haitian.

K. St. Fort: Tee hee…Lucille Ball, a comedian who lived in the 20th Century once said, “One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.” Comedy is not all laughter, of course. How do you stay positive during trying times?
I’m very introverted. I take some time to myself for a while then after I’ve had enough of that, I start reaching out to family and close friends. My family and friends are super supportive and always willing to listen and comfort me.

Above: Comedian Charla Lauriston at an OK Cupid show at Housing Works in Soho. Photo by Jing-Jing Hu

K. St. Fort: You attended Emmanuel College. Knowing all you know now, would you have skipped college and gotten right into comedy following high school?
Absolutely not. College made me who I am. It opened my eyes to the world, I learned how to be analytical, to question, I read things that changed my life. I made friends from other cultures and walks of life. I absolutely wouldn’t be who I am without college. I think the greatest inequality in America is the lack of equal access to higher education. I took on a lot of student loan debt to go to college which is the worst, so if I did it again, I just wouldn’t have gotten into so much debt. But either way, college was amazing.

K. St. Fort: Girl, I read that you had a job as a senator’s assistant, and decided to do comedy full-time. Girl, what did your parents say when they found out?
My mom was actually really supportive. My parents are super Haitian and conservative, but sometimes I think they’re secretly hippies. My mom knows me and knows that I hated every day job I ever had. She also knows I’m stubborn and strong willed and generally can’t be at a job that I hate. She told me her only fear was that I would struggle which I thought was such a beautiful mom thing to say. And I of course did struggle, but it was worth it.

K. St. Fort: You worked with the legendary comedienne Tina Fey—as a writer for the first-season of the show “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”. What are some of the most important lessons you learned during that period?
I felt really unworthy when I was there. I felt like I didn’t deserve such a great job with such great people, that I didn’t belong there, and that showed. I looked like a deer in headlights the whole time. I think that’s a dire mistake particularly for any woman of color when she goes into a job that’s intimidating. I learned that I gotta always fake it ’til I make it. If there’s something I don’t know now, I ask or I study it so I can be armed with knowledge. I remember they would use terms in the writers’ room or make references I didn’t know, and instead of asking or finding out, I’d just wallow in my ignorance because I thought lowly of myself. Always think highly of yourself. Not in an arrogant know-it-all way, but know that if you get to a certain level of success, it doesn’t matter if you deserve it or not. Seize the opportunity. Make sure to learn and soak up an much as you can. Don’t judge yourself for what you don’t know. Don’t get down on yourself. Remember that you’re the dopest b___ on the planet. They hired you for who you are, so be gloriously, unabashedly yourself.

K. St. Fort: You wrote, directed and produced your own series “Clench and Release”. What was it like on your most strenuous days?
The worst was when we shot at a coffee shop before they opened at 5am. I don’t do early well. Or late for that matter. I’m a 10am-8pm kind of person. Aside from the long days, I was so passionate about what I was doing, I hardly noticed how early it was or how late it was once I was doing it. Probably the most strenuous thing I did was I had to go pick up lights that I’d rented. I didn’t expect them to be insanely heavy but they were. I didn’t have a car and I was too broke to get a cab, so i dragged the lights onto the subway, rode up to Harlem, then called my roommate to help me carry the lights to our apartment. The struggle was real.

K. St. Fort: Is that something you’d like to do again?
Yes. I love creating my own thing.

K. St. Fort: A graduating high school senior comes up to you and asks you how she can break in to series comedy writing. What do you tell her?
I’d tell the person to start reading books on comedy writing, maybe take a sketch writing or TV writing class, start watching comedies she likes and try to break down the episodes, study your craft! Maybe take an improv class. Go to comedy shows—sketch, improv, and standup. Immerse yourself in it. Make it your life. And lastly, I’d tell her to stop asking for advice until she’s actually started getting involved. As a policy, I don’t give advice to people who have never actually tried doing anything because they don’t know what to ask for yet.

K. St. Fort: What are we to expect from you next?
That I’ll stay black.

CHARLA LAURISTON ON TWITTER| CHARLA LAURISTON ON FACEBOOK| CHARLA LAURISTON ON TUMBLR| CHARLA ON YOUTUBE

Anacaona was born in Yaguana (now Léogâne) the flourishing capital of Xaragua in 1474. –
 She and Yuisa (who was from Loiza which is now known as Puerto Rico) were the two only females Taino Caciques. She was a member of a family of chiefs including her brother Bohechío who was Chief of Xaragua. She was married to Caonabo who was chief of Maguana (in Dominican Rep.). He and her brother were among the top 5 caciques. Queen Anacaona was an adept ruler, warrior, and diplomat who at first had friendly relations with the Conquistadors. The relationship soured, they betrayed her and accused her husband of attacking a Spanish settlement in Northern Haiti then shipped him off to Spain (he died during the trip). Governor Nicola De Ovando felt threatened by Anacaona’s stance and as a result she died a gruesome death.
She has become one of the first Haitian heroes and is regarded as Haiti’s founder.
.
.
.
Anacaona te fèt nan Yaguana (kounye a Léogâne) kapital Xaragua nan 1474.
–
 Li menm ak Yuisa (ki moun ki te soti nan Loiza sa yo rele Puerto Rico jodi a) yo te de sèlman fanm ki te chèf Taino. Anacaona te manm nan yon fanmi chèf, frè li te réle Bohechío, li te Chèf Xaragua. Li te marye ak Caonabo ki te chèf nan Maguana (Repiblik Dominikèn jodi a.). Li menm ak frè li te nan mitan 5 premye kasik yo. Rèn la te yon chèf abil, yon sòlda vanyan, ak diplomat ki te gen bon relasyon ak konkeran Panyòl yo. Relasyon an te vinn gate, yo trayi li, yo akize mari li nan yon zafè atak yon koloni Panyòl nan Nò Ayiti. Pou tèt sa, yo déside aréte frè li pou yo voye’l ale Espay (li tou mouri nan vwayaj la). Gouvènè Nicola De Ovando te santi li menase devan Anacaona, kòm rezilta, li touye li yon fason vreman orib.
Li vin youn nan premye ewoyin ayisyen e li konsidere kòm fondatè peyi Ayiti.
–
Source/Soùs:Nouvelliste/Wiki
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#haiti #hayti #ayiti #anacaona #tainos #caribs #history #histoire #yaguana #leogane #xaragua #dominican #dr #spanish #colony #loiza #puertorico #caonabo #maguana #cacique #conquistador #betrayal #founder #queen #womeninhistory #women #black #latina #slave #african