Lisa Elizabeth Drouillard won Miss Teen New York USA in 2011 and has since built a career as a motivational speaker, model, and Criminal Justice student at John Jay College.
In this interview, she discusses how she transformed pageant participation into a platform for youth empowerment, what beauty really means to her, and how young women can develop unshakeable confidence—not years later, but now.
Growing Up Haitian-American in New York
You were raised in New York with Haitian roots. What was that experience like?
I am the only girl and the youngest of four children, so growing up I was very sheltered. I learned to speak and understand Kreyòl from my grandmother, who is bilingual. My household was—and still is—a lot of fun, but also very disciplined. There’s a clear understanding of when it’s time to play and when it’s time to be serious and respectful.
The main challenge was restrictions on social activities. I couldn’t attend friends’ birthday parties without a chaperone, and slumber parties were absolutely off-limits. That was the trade-off of growing up in a traditional Haitian-American household.
Redefining Beauty: It Starts With Self-Acceptance
How do you define beauty?
Beauty is simply being content with yourself. If you’re comfortable wearing your hair back, short, kinky, or straight, you wear it that way. Once you’re comfortable in your own skin, your true beauty radiates wherever you go.
Is this how you saw beauty in high school, or did you learn this over time?
This is definitely something I’ve come to learn. My look has continuously changed, and I’m seeing things about myself that I once disliked become perfected as I mature both physically and mentally. Self-acceptance isn’t an endpoint—it’s an evolving process.
On Pageants and Feminism: Addressing the Criticism
Beauty pageants have been critiqued as sexist. How do you respond to that?
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I respect that perspective. What people sometimes don’t see is that pageants bring together diverse women with varied goals. Yes, winning the crown is the primary objective, but contestants also compete to get fit, overcome stage fright, or accomplish something others said they couldn’t.
It’s far more than parading women on stage in swimsuits or gowns. The real value lies in the lessons learned and the hard work that goes into competing. It may look easy from the outside, but it absolutely is not.
Do you consider yourself a feminist?
Yes, I do. Having experienced and observed so much in this industry and throughout my life, I firmly believe women can do anything we set our minds to and should never be exempt from opportunity. I’m in favor of equality in every sense of the word.
However, I believe that once women can come together and collaborate rather than compete over who has the better job or better hair texture, we’ll earn more respect and access to greater opportunities. That shift—from competing against each other to uplifting each other—is crucial.
The Moment You Won: From Contestant to Title Holder
Take us back to the night your name was announced as Miss Teen New York USA. What was going through your mind?
In that moment, all I could think about was that the winner gets to represent New York at nationals and compete for Miss Teen USA in the Bahamas. When I heard my name called, knowing I would be the New York representative—that was the best moment of my life by far.
Building Confidence: The Foundation Everything Else Rests On
What advice do you have for developing genuine confidence in yourself, your appearance, and your self-image?
We have to love ourselves first. If you don’t love what you see in the mirror, that becomes a serious problem. It causes major insecurities, makes you desperate for compliments, and puts you at risk of being targeted or taken advantage of by others.
I know it’s not easy because we all have at least one thing we wish we could change about ourselves. But true confidence starts with loving the person you are right now and leaving no room for anyone to tell you otherwise. That’s the foundation.
Some say we don’t realize how beautiful we were until we look back at old photos years later. Do you agree?
I understand the sentiment, but I don’t completely agree. We’re always a work in progress, continuously changing as humans. My childhood self looks nothing like who I am today.
Beauty isn’t static—it evolves with us. The point isn’t to wait years to appreciate yourself; it’s to appreciate who you are becoming right now.
Public Speaking: Turning Title Into Impact
You conduct motivational speaking engagements at schools. Do you ever experience stage fright?
All the time! My heart races because I don’t want to be boring, I don’t want to forget to thank the people who invited me, and most importantly, I don’t want to forget what I’m there to speak about. The mind wanders when you’re in the hot seat.
What’s most rewarding about speaking with youth?
When I first started speaking during my reign as a teen, it was difficult showing young people that I’m just like them. They’d look at me like I was some princess pretending to care.
The most rewarding moment came when I could leave a speaking engagement knowing I’d made a real positive impact and they understood me as Lisa, not Miss Teen New York.
I still conduct speaking engagements at schools in Brooklyn and New York City, and it’s gotten much easier over time. Now young people come up to me wanting pictures and asking questions they were too afraid to ask out loud before. That connection is everything.
Do you tailor your speeches to different audiences?
Yes, and here’s what makes my approach different: my speeches are never written or rehearsed. When someone invites me to speak, I ask two things: What is your audience demographic, and what is your organization’s mission statement?
With those two pieces of information, I arrive ready to speak naturally. After my first few words, I feel how receptive the audience is, and from there I know which direction to take the conversation. That authenticity is what resonates with people.
From Loss to Victory: Learning Resilience Through Pageantry
You started modeling and competing in pageants at age 14. What was that early experience like?
My parents enrolled me at the Barbizon School of Modeling in Manhattan when I was 14. After the third week, I realized I wanted something different, so I left. When I started competing in pageants, I lost three times across different systems before winning Miss Teen New York USA—which was my first attempt at the Teen USA system.
How did you handle those losses?
I cried. A lot goes into each competition—mentally, physically, and emotionally. Losing was painful.
I would vent to my family, who were biased in my favor, and that helped me process the disappointment. But those earlier losses taught me invaluable lessons that ultimately helped me win Miss Teen New York USA.
Advice for Young Women: Act on Your Curiosity
If a young woman is thinking about entering a beauty pageant, what would you tell her?
If beauty pageants are even a thought, give it a try. If you have to question yourself about something, there’s a curiosity there. The only way to know if it’s for you is to actually do it. I’m not saying go out and try everything you’re curious about, but be logical and make the decision that’s best for you.
For girls who lack confidence right now—not looking back years from now—what advice do you have?
We will always doubt ourselves; that’s part of being human. But it’s crucial to surround yourself with people who love you and want to see you succeed. A healthy surrounding creates a healthy mindset. That foundation of support is what allows you to grow into your confidence instead of waiting to see it in old photos.
Current Path: Criminal Justice, Acting, and Modeling
You’re studying Criminal Justice at John Jay College. How is that going?
It’s going great. I love it, and I’m in my final year. I’ll be finished soon.
What are your plans after graduation?
I have the acting bug now. My plans are to pursue acting, continue modeling, and hopefully land major ad campaigns. Magazines are fun, but it’s time to take it to billboards and the big screen. I’m ready for that next chapter.
What Makes This Interview Different
- Unscripted perspective: Drouillard speaks candidly about pageant criticism, feminism, and stage fright rather than offering polished soundbites.
- Actionable advice: Rather than generic motivation, she shares specific strategies—how she tailors speeches, why she lost early pageants, and how she built confidence incrementally.
- Haitian-American cultural context: Her background and connection to Haitian culture, language, and family values are woven throughout, offering authentic representation.
- Real-world resilience: She doesn’t hide her losses, stage fright, or the emotional toll of competition; she contextualizes them as part of growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lisa Elizabeth Drouillard’s background?
Drouillard is a Haitian-American from New York who won Miss Teen New York USA in 2011. She grew up speaking Kreyòl, comes from a disciplined household, and is currently studying Criminal Justice at John Jay College while pursuing speaking engagements and modeling.
What does Drouillard say about beauty pageants and feminism?
She acknowledges pageant criticism but argues they offer contestants personal growth beyond appearance, including confidence-building and goal achievement. She identifies as a feminist and believes women should uplift each other rather than compete internally.
What is Drouillard’s main advice on building confidence?
She emphasizes self-love as the foundation. She advises young people to develop confidence now rather than look back regretfully, and to surround themselves with supportive people who create a healthy mindset.
Does Drouillard experience stage fright when speaking?
Yes. She says her heart races during speeches because she doesn’t want to be boring, forget to thank hosts, or lose track of her message. However, she uses the first few words to gauge audience receptivity and adjust her delivery naturally.
How does Drouillard prepare her speeches?
Her speeches are never written or rehearsed. She asks organizers about their audience demographic and mission statement, then speaks authentically and adapt in real-time based on audience energy.
What are Drouillard’s future career plans?
After completing her Criminal Justice degree, she plans to pursue acting, continue modeling, and pursue major advertising campaigns on billboards and film.
Editorial Note
This profile is based on a direct interview with Lisa Elizabeth Drouillard. Biographical details, including her pageant history, education, and speaking work, are reported by Drouillard herself. Her perspectives on beauty, confidence, feminism, and pageantry are her own views.
No independent verification of educational enrollment or speaking engagement frequency was conducted. Readers with additional context or corrections are invited to reach out to Kreyolicious.net.
Last Updated on January 15, 2026 by kreyolicious
