The first thing that impresses you when you’re interviewing the crowned Miss West Coast USA Natalie Iman Duvalsaint is how articulate she is. Being expressive is something that’s expected of a pageant queen, but Duvalsaint—the daughter of Haitian parents—is startlingly candid as she discusses everything from pageants, to culture to natural hair…

Kreyolicious: Tell me about yourself.

I never really know how to answer this question because I’m just all over the place! I am a beauty queen, but have a love for burritos, all things 49ers and music festivals. I’m currently working as an Administrative Assistant at Yahoo Inc. and am loving it. Being 22 years old and working at one of the biggest tech companies is a blessing—to say the least. I’m a daughter, a sister and an auntie to the coolest 13 year-old boy I know. I love the color pink and anything that shines when the light hits it. My family and faith are the two most important things in my life and that is one thing about me that will never change. If I’m not competing you can find me at home watching “True Blood”, going out to San Francisco with my girlfriends or eating at the nearest Chipotle. But the most important thing about me is that I’m Haitian-American. I love everything from our food to our language and I think being a Haitian beauty queen makes me truly unique.

Kreyolicious: Were you pretty popular when you were in high school?

To be honest, I don’t think I was popular—but in my mind I was. My high school was pretty cliquey, so I think we all thought we were popular with in our little groups. I played tennis all four years—which was considered the nerdy sport—but I didn’t care…I loved it. Not to mention our coach used to bring us Popeye’s and Dim Sum for us to devour after our matches!

Kreyolicious: How’d you hear about the pageant?

Once you do your first pageant, you’re hooked! I competed in 2012 for Miss Anaheim Regional—and although I didn’t win—it was the best decision I could have ever made. It opened me up to the world of pageantry and got me in contact with a lot of pageant directors throughout California. I came across Beezie Chapman’s pageant when my girlfriend mentioned to me that there was a competition going on here in Northern California. Most pageants in the USA system are in Los Angeles so when I heard about Miss West Coast USA, I jumped at the opportunity to register and compete.

Kreyolicious: Did you think you had a shot at carrying off the crown and all?

When I went to the orientation I have to admit I was a little bit intimidated. I wasn’t competing as frequently as I wanted to, so I just had the mindset of competing for experience. During the whole competition, I was so nervous and I thought I actually did a terrible job! The day of the pageant, my pageant sister Gabi told me, “At the end of the day, the judges choose the winner—not the other girls competing. So, there is no reason to be intimidated by them”. That advice has stuck with me since that day.

Kreyolicious: What went through your mind when the pageant hosts came and put that sash around you, and put the tiara on your head?

I wanted to cry and scream at the same time! I had been competing for two years—coming so close to the crown but always coming up short. I prayed to God to give me a sign, to let me know if I was doing the right thing and he answered my prayer that night! When we stayed on stage for winners’ pictures, I could not believe the sash was around my body and the crown was on my head! All I could think about was going to McDonalds and treating myself to an endless amount of fries.

Kreyolicious: Is there a song that you feel epitomizes you as a person?

This is probably the most cliché answer but my song is “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera. Growing up, I felt like an ugly duckling. It was hard growing up in a predominantly Caucasian town when you’re a young Haitian girl trying to figure it all out. I felt different from the food I ate, to how my mom did my hair to the way that I looked. I was 10 years old entering middle school when I heard this song in the back of my mom’s Camry and thought this song was written about me. It’s just one of those songs you listen too to remind yourself how great you are.

Kreyolicious: Has it changed meaning for you over time?

It never gets old! It was released fourteen years ago and it’s still a positive uplifting song that I think all young girls should here. Thanks Christina.

Kreyolicious: I had read this quote earlier today by this model Laetitia Casta. “Real beauty is to be true to oneself. That’s what makes me feel good.” What’s your definition of beauty and what does being beautiful mean to you?

Being a girl these days is simply just hard. We are judged daily by what we wear, what we like, the shape of our body down to the color we choose to wear on our nails. I think a beautiful woman is someone that can take all that and choose to be themselves no matter what the “norm” is at the time. I envy that in a person and I just think someone like that is so strong and classy. My definition of beauty is just loving and accepting yourself.

Kreyolicious: What would you say to a girl who wants to enter a pageant, whether Miss West Coast USA or any other pageant?

I would tell them to do it! Competing is so much fun and once your done with one, you will want to keep going. You don’t need to look like a Victoria’s Secret model in order to compete and win, I mean, look at me! There’s a stereotype that pageant girls are catty and/or backstabbing but it’s completely the opposite! I have made so many lifelong friends competing through out the years and have met some truly remarkable people. When you compete I promise you, you wont regret it

Kreyolicious: Does the opinion of other people matter to you? I’ve spoken with people who are at either extremes. You…

I wish I could say people opinions don’t matter to me but I would be lying. I do my best to not let others influence me but it gets hard when the opinion is coming from someone respect and care about.

Kreyolicious: What do you think of natural hair versus chemically processed hair?

I have my hair chemically processed but I envy all the ladies that have gone natural! I think natural hair is just beautiful and embodies our beautiful African American culture. For me, it’s just about whatever makes you feel good about yourself. Some girls like weaves, some like braids, some like natural and some like no hair at all. You can really rock any hairstyle. You just have to be confident.

Kreyolicious: How would you describe your personal style?

My style is pretty versatile. One minute I’m girly then the next minute I’m over the top. If I’m not in my typical maxi dress or rompers, I’m in leggings and a tank top. I love to be comfortable but presentable at the same time. I’m one of those girls whose style changes depending on the mood I’m in that day.

Kreyolicious: Are you close to your parents?

I am very close to my parents! Of course we have the typical arguments over what they think is appropriate versus what I think is appropriate but that’s natural you’re a first generation American. My mom and dad are my rocks and deserve a lifetime achievement award for raising me and still not loosing their minds.

Kreyolicious: Do you travel to Haiti, often girlie?

I wish! I went for the first time in 2010 after the earthquake to restore a church that had been ruined and assist in a feeding program for kids. I fell in love. There’s something about being surrounded by your own people. You just instantly feel like family. I went again in February of this year and my stay was magnificent. My uncle works for DINEPA and took us all around Petionville and told us his plans on making water more accessible to everyone. It’s almost heartbreaking to see all these gorgeous places in Haiti but when you watch on TV, they only show the poverty. Our island is beautiful and our people are so resilient. I think they need to show that more here in the United States.

Kreyolicious: Who would you say has been the most inspirational person in your life?

The most inspirational person in my life is my mother hands down. She has worked her whole life tirelessly to provide a life for my younger sister and I that most people in Haiti could inly dream of. She doesn’t depend on anybody but herself and it takes a very strong woman to live a life like that. She has come to America and built a life and family for herself despite all her previous hardships. She’s just a rock star and doesn’t even know it. I could give my mom ten million dollars tomorrow and it still wouldn’t be enough compensation for everything she has done for me. She is my angel, my protector and my true hero. I love her more than she will ever know.

Kreyolicious: Is staying fit a challenge for you?

Absolutely. Every Sunday we have family dinner and one thing I can always count on is having rice at the table. My dad’s diri ak pwa is no joke and I have a hard time staying away. If there is any bannan peze on the table too, my diet that day is pretty much over because I can’t resist that crispy deliciousness with the pikliz on top. I will say though, I think my body stays in shape because I see a trainer 5 days a week—so when Sunday comes around, I don’t feel guilty at all. Just talking about it has me craving some serious patè from my grandma right now.

Kreyolicious: Hah!…How do you stay connected to Haitian culture?

I stay connected through social media and family. There are not too many Haitian people here in California so when we find each other; it’s like finding a diamond in Sierra Leone. We cultivate relationships and connect through food and culture. I’m also part of a Facebook group called for Haitians in the West Coast where we all talk about whatever we feel like from music, to food to just funny Haitian jokes only we would understand! We all know that one guy, Jòrj.

Kreyolicious: A pageant queen’s life doesn’t end once she walks off the stage. What else are you planning on doing with it?

A pageant queen’s work never ends! Being a titleholder has given me so many opportunities to pursue things I never dreamed possible. First order of business is competing in Miss California USA 2015 in January. To be even presented with the opportunity to walk that stage as a titleholder has been a dream of mine since I started competing seven years ago. Ideally, I would like to be a nightly news anchor in hopes of bringing awareness to real world issues we all face, but are too afraid to talk about. Lastly, one day I hope I will get a title so prestigious that it will allow me access to resources I would need to build an American orphanage in Cap Haitian.

[Pageant photos of Natalie Duvalsaint: Sarah Hult Photography ]

Connect with Natalie Duvalsaint on Pinterest by CLICKING HERE.

Not winning the crown at a beauty pageant is not the end of the world. Natacha Sarthou is a prime example of that. In the spring of 2014, she placed as a second runner-up in the Mrs. Haiti International pageant. But the pageant organizers saw enough potential in Sarthou, and the very next day had her compete for the national title. A few months later, Sarthou competed with 64 women from all over the globe, Jacksonville, Florida and her head became the first to carry the Mrs. West Indies International crown.

A mother, and a wife (she and her husband have been married for a decade), Sarthou is active on the philanthropy circuit. She helps build houses in Haiti for families in need. She holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance from Florida International University.

Kreyolicious: When you were in high school, were you pretty popular?

Not at all! I was very quiet, into my studies, and had one or two close friends. It was never my desire or pursuit to become popular. My older sister was the popular one, and after she graduated the same high school, some of her friends who had not yet graduated, accepted me into their circle, so that gave me a little boost. Yet, still I was a quiet person and not a party one.

Kreyolicious: What do you think was the secret to popularity?

I have found that there were different types of groups. And each group was popular to themselves. I guess I was too quiet to really know who was popular in my high school, but I would guess the football players and the cheerleaders. The secret I guess was to be a cheerleader or a football player.

Kreyolicious: What are some of the things you’ve been up to since winning?

I have been doing exactly what I had been doing since 2009, when my platform was birthed—and [that was] raising awareness and funds to build homes for the most vulnerable throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. I am so grateful to all my supporters and donors who have contributed towards building our first house for an impoverished family in Haiti. We are still actively working towards building more homes. There are 1.6 billion people in the world who live in inadequate shelter. By that we mean, settlements which include houses made of mud and sticks, dilapidated huts, and tin shacks where there is no access to clean water and the lack of sanitation. Research indicates that every 17 seconds a child 5 years old and under dies due to these unsanitary living conditions. Through my platform work, we are relocating families from the slums to a new sanitary living environment, providing them with a permanent, concrete home with sanitation, while reducing infant mortality, breaking the cycles of sickness, death and poverty, raising the education level, increasing productivity and boosting the economy.

Kreyolicious: If you were to choose between having beauty or confidence, which would you go for? And you could only choose one!

Definitely it is confidence. I have always believed that there are no ugly people. I seriously and honestly mean that. God created us all, and every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Therefore, He makes all ‘good’. And, ugly is not a good thing. Having said that, I do believe that everyone is uniquely beautiful! I see beauty in every face. So, if we can all grasp the concept that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God, we do not need to compare ourselves with others. Comparing [oneself] to other people is detrimental to one’s confidence. You will always be your worst critic. Changing your paradigm of thinking, and working on becoming the best you, you can become, is the best and most positive path you can take. You will grow into a more beautiful, stronger and confident you. I am more of a behind-the-scene type of person, I don’t seek to be in the spotlight, but oh, how I have grown into a more confident “me” because I [left] my comfort zone to achieve greater things. My platform brought me to the pageant system. I participated solely to have greater influence in raising awareness to serve the poorest of the poor. In 1990, when I won Miami Orange Bowl Princess, my supervisor at work signed a paper promising to sponsor me $500 to participate in the Miss America Pageant. I never did. And now I found myself in pageantry, enjoyed it, learned a lot, and only because I am on a mission. So confidence is a great attribute that we must all develop and work on all the time if we want to achieve greater things. Now, confidence is not arrogance. When a person is confident, she is comfortable with herself, she finds no need to bring others down. Humility is a great sign of confidence. Pride is not.

Kreyolicious: What measures do you take to stay in shape?

Eating healthful and working out.

Kreyolicious: Is Haiti a place that you visit often?

We do not travel much except within the States. However, I am hoping this December to join Food for the Poor on their mission’s trip to Haiti, to meet the family we built the house for.

Kreyolicious: Young girls and women struggle to love themselves and their bodies. What tips have you learned from your own experience that can help them get on that road to self-love and confidence?

As I mentioned, the best advice is, “Do not compare yourself to others. Work at becoming a better and improved you. Compete with yourself.” Each time you accomplish a task or a personal goal and you get out of your comfort zone, you will be more confident. And lastly, but most importantly, you have got to know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. Yes you are beautiful. But true beauty is what is in your heart. Therefore, work on developing a good character. That is the essence of a person. Character, who you are, determines your legacy, not your looks.

Kreyolicious: Being Mrs. West Indies International is just the beginning. I was reading that you’re involved with a number of organizations. What else is next for you?

Humbly, I honestly do not know. Five years ago, I could not have told you that I would be in pageantry and as Mrs. West Indies International 2014,[be] promoting this cause which began very [humbly] between family and friends. One step at a time, I am strategically working to be a voice for a people who often are forgotten by the rest of the world. My heart’s desire is to raise a large amount of capital to build more homes, but I also know if I can raise greater awareness and inform and inspire others on the reality of this global slum housing crisis where people who are breathing yet have no life, then together we can impact their world. Through adequate housing we can change lives, one house at a time for one family at a time.

[Photos: Vlad the Tech ; final photo provided by subject]

To support Mrs. West Indies International in her charitable endeavors with Food for the Poor, CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to read about other Kreyolicious beauty queens.

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.

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