Vincentian in Runway Star Quarterfinals Appeals for Daily Votes
By Admin. Updated 7:14 p.m., Thursday, August 20, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
LaFleur Huggins, from Enhams, St. Vincent is urging Vincentians at home and across the diaspora to rally behind her after securing a place in the quarterfinals of the international Next Runway Star competition.
Huggins, who left St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the age of 16 and has lived in the United States for more than 35 years, said she remains deeply connected to her homeland and returns at least once every year, often with her family.
A former student of Marriaqua Secondary School, now St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua, Huggins said she is determined to represent not only St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but also women who have traditionally been overlooked in the fashion industry.
“I entered the Next Runway Star competition to challenge traditional standards of beauty and show that women do not have to fit a particular age, size, complexion or background to be confident, beautiful, visible and successful,” she said.
A Muslim woman who chooses to dress modestly, Huggins said she also hopes to demonstrate that women can remain true to their faith while pursuing their ambitions with confidence.
She describes her campaign as being about far more than personal success.
“This journey is bigger than me,” Huggins said. “I am representing Vincentian women, Caribbean women, Muslim women who choose to cover, mothers, grandmothers, educators, mature women, plus-size women, and every woman who has ever been told that she is too old, too dark-skinned, too heavy, or not beautiful enough to stand out.”
Beyond the competition, Huggins has built a career in education and community service. She is a mother of four, grandmother, educator, author, doctoral candidate and community advocate. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with a specialisation in Higher Education Administration.
She also serves as Co-Founder and Executive Director of Game 4 P.E.A.C.E., a non-profit organisation that supports individuals and communities affected by trauma, violence, addiction and incarceration through youth development, education and outreach programmes in both the United States and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Huggins said the encouragement she has received from Vincentians, relatives and supporters around the world has already helped her progress through the Top 20, Top 15, Top 10,
Top 5 and Group Finals stages of the competition.
She is now competing in the quarterfinal round, which runs from August 19 to August 28. To reach the semifinals, she must finish first in her group. If successful, she will compete in the semifinals from August 29 to September 3 before advancing, if successful again, to the finals scheduled for September 4 to September 9.
According to Huggins, voting resets at the beginning of each stage, making continued support essential.
She noted that every eligible supporter can cast one free vote each day. While supporters may also purchase additional votes, she stressed that doing so is entirely optional. Proceeds from purchased votes support Rise, an organisation that assists survivors of sexual assault.
“The most important thing is for supporters to return every day to cast their free vote and share the voting link with their families, friends, organisations and social media communities,” she said.
Huggins is encouraging Vincentians across the islands and throughout the diaspora to unite behind her campaign in the hope of bringing international recognition to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Supporters can vote once each day by visiting: https://nextrunwaystar.com/2026/lafleur-huggins.
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