Tatenda Josephina Rameau crowned Miss Universe Haiti 2026

Tatenda Josephina Rameau was crowned Miss Universe Haiti 2026 on Saturday night at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex in Miami, earning the right to represent Haiti at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this November.

The competition, which is normally staged in Haiti, was held in South Florida this year, drawing on the region’s large Haitian diaspora community. Rameau will compete at the 75th Miss Universe pageant on November 24 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, succeeding Melissa Sapini, who represented Haiti at Miss Universe 2025.

An actor, writer, producer and journalism graduate student at Georgetown University, Rameau brings an unusual résumé to the Miss Universe stage. She holds a degree from Wellesley College and previously worked as a speechwriter for Fortune 500 companies before pursuing acting, producing and journalism. Born in the United States and raised across three continents, she has made Washington, D.C., her adopted home.

In her acceptance message posted to Instagram, Rameau said the crown was “an honor” and the sash “a responsibility,” pledging to use her reign to strengthen ties between Haiti and its global diaspora. She thanked her family, including her mother, Rose, for their support.

The Miss Haiti Organization, in its own announcement, described her as carrying “Haiti’s stories, culture, and voice” into the new Miss Universe cycle, framing her win as the start of “a new era” for the national pageant.

Rameau now begins preparations for the November 24 pageant in Puerto Rico, with her team signaling plans to work closely with sponsors ahead of the competition.