Juliet Lighter

Beautiful inside and out, Juliet

Lighter is committed to dedicating to educating young women about the importance of self-confidence, inclusive beauty and accountability.

A former Miss Hawaii (2002), Lighter continues as founder and director of Women Speaking Out, a nonprofit organization focusing on the awareness of abusive and violent relationships and the character developments every women should come to understand may be necessary for a healthy relationship.

“You really have to know who you are as a person and love yourself before you can be in a relationship and really love another,” says Lighter, who was featured on MidWeek‘s cover October 17, 2007.

“You have to know where you are going, set goals for yourself and have accountability and ownership of your life.”

Women Speaking Out is a progressive organization that incorporates and weaves areas of fashion, music, spoken word and art as a way to portray a positive message to young women. Initially started by Lighter’s own money, WSO is expanding into a valuable and exclusive organization with larger companies and talented community members supporting its mission.

Assisted by WSO president and celebrity makeup artist Mark Quirimit and photographer Harold Julian, WSO has teamed with highprofile fashion companies including Sephora, GUESS by Marciano and Fashionista’s Market in executing its events.

Currently Lighter is in Las Vegas for its national campaign’s photo shoot.

“We’ve taken some time off to get reorganized and just get the board members aligned, and we are going to be coming out with this campaign right before summer,” adds Lighter, who also works as talent manager for Bath & Body Works, which she helped open in Honolulu last year.

“I think that job has been one of the best positions I have ever held. It has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, first to open Hawaii’s first Bath & Body Works and being able to help set the vision and select the future leaders of the company as they expand,” she says.

Proceeds from WSO’s 2012 events will go toward educational material and resources that Lighter envisions distributing to public and private high schools statewide, as well as setting up a scholarship fund for young women.

“The nonprofit has made me the person I am today, and that is going to be a huge push for me this year as we gear up for all our events,” she says.

For more information on WSO, visit womenspeakingouthawaii.com.