Ariana Milagro Lafond returns home with a message of hope | PHOTOS

CAP-HAÏTIEN — House of Challenge champion, Ariana Milagro Lafond, called for peace in Haiti during her homecoming speech at the salon of Cap-Haïtien’s Town Hall on April 18. The 19-year-old won the international youth empowerment competition in Lomé, Togo on April 11 and wants to use the award as a tool to help cease fire in Haiti.

“Haiti deserves to be free,” Lafond said in front of a packed room of about 100 attendees. “We deserve to see another Haiti. The world has to see another Haiti. My voice needs to reach far, I’m asking for peace in Haiti.”

The Jacmel native traveled to Haiti with House of Challenge’s two organizers: Kuekam ‘Bovann’ Borel, a Cameroonian singer, and Kpomaho ‘Jojo le Comédien’ Nondroas, a Beninese comedian. They confirmed that the ninth edition of House of Challenge will take place in Haiti in 2027, which is another reason why the country must be safe.

“The entire world needs to see your joy,” Borel said as he stood in front of hundreds of Ariana fans at Place d’Armes. “The entire world needs to see that there’s life in Haiti. The entire world needs to see that there are some very, very, very beautiful women in Haiti.”

From Africa to Haiti

In the 2026 edition of the competition, social media influencers from 12 African countries and Haiti competed in house games, some involving cups and ping pong balls and others matching colors. The participants also presented projects that aimed to help their countries develop and assist its residents under the theme of “From Africa to the World.” The competition kicked off on March 20 and ended on April 11.

Lafond plans to tackle two issues in Haiti in her project: child nutrition and youth unemployment. After winning the competition, Lafond was awarded $50,000, which will partially be used for her project, a car and a trip to China.

Lafond started to gain popularity in 2025 mainly across Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. As of April 2026, Lafond has collected about 15 million followers on TikTok and more than 800,000 on Instagram.

When Lafond arrived in Cap-Haïtien on April 18, she first spoke at the town hall in front of an audience made up of high school seniors and adults. Mayor Angie Bell handed Lanfond the key to the city and she received accolades from different groups and paintings of her. 

Borel and Nandroas received the key to the city Cap-Haïtien and paintings of Lafond as well. 

After the ceremony at the town hall, Lafond and her entourage walked across the street to Place d’Armes where hundreds of fans waited for her to celebrate. Lafond reiterated her call for peace and danced alongside the two House of Challenge organizers to the House of Challenge song and rara music.

Relive some of the best actions from Lafond’s homecoming in this series of images.

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