The Houston Caribbean Queen Pageant was founded by Kelly St. Rose and Shamah Lloyd; young Caribbean women from the island of Dominica. Being raised in an immigrant household initially bred a sense of alienation from their American peers, which eventually blossomed into a sense of appreciation of their culture and heritage. This journey of self-growth spurred their desire to help other young ladies of immigrant descent learn to appreciate the distinct benefits of their upbringing.

The Houston Caribbean Queen Pageant provides a network for young women with a shared cultural background and seeks to reassure them that what makes them different is exactly what makes them special. Our program revolves around multiple workshops which tackle issues that plague many foreign born/raised women. After completion of the program participants are more confident and equipped with the tools to boldly navigate their lives.

In its short three-year history, the program mentored 36 young women, aged 5-35, and offered over $7000 in scholarships. This year we will feature the Miss (ages 17-23) and Queen (ages 24-35) divisions in hopes of continuing the legacy of empowering young women in the Caribbean and Latin American diaspora.