Leila Pierre-Jean

Leila Pierre-Jean
City/State: Lawrenceville, GA
Country: United States
Instagram: leila.pierrejean
Where are my parents From: Gonaïves and Okap
Why should I be on Haiti’s Open Magazine
Hi, my name is Leila and I’m 20 years old. I’m Haitian-American, born and raised in the U.S., but I’ve always seen myself as fully Haitian—because that’s what runs through my veins. My culture, my roots, my pride… it all comes from Haiti.
Right now, Haiti is going through a really hard time, and I know it can be easy for people to distance themselves from it or stay quiet. But honestly, I think this is the time we should be louder than ever. This isn’t the moment to be afraid to rep where we’re from—it’s the moment to embrace it fully, to show love for our country, and to represent Haiti with pride, strength, and unity.
I want to be on the cover of Haiti Open Magazine to show that no matter where we live, we’re still Haitian through and through. I want other young people like me to feel proud of who they are and where they come from. Haiti is beautiful, powerful, and resilient—and I want to be part of sharing that with the world.
We were the first Black nation to fight for and win o