Raquel Pelissier did not take home the Miss Universe crown Sunday night. Instead she walked away with much more - conquering her fears while proudly representing her Haitian roots.
“It’s been 42 years since Haiti qualified in miss universe and I wanted the world to see that Haiti really matters,” Pelissier told NBC 6’s Erika Glover.
Pelissier was born and raised in Port-au-Prince. The 25-year-old survived the 2010 earthquake that destroyed her community. Overcoming life's obstacles only makes this competitor stronger.
“Usually in the news they put the bad side of Haiti. So I just wanted to flip the coin and show them what we really are about,” she said.
Miss Haiti is ready for whatever adventures come her way. Most importantly, she says is using her platform to spread a message of solidarity despite what might be going on in the world around us.
"I am so for promoting a message of unity, tolerance and respect around the world,” said Pelissier. “Because we are all human beings and we all need each other and that's really important to go in the right direction right now.”
Pelissier says her dreams are now a reality. With this, comes a commitment, she says, to show South Florida and the rest of the country just how strong, resilient, and passionate Haitians are - while sharing a message with future generations.
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“Go after your dreams. Don't listen to people telling you that you are not enough.”
