Marneet Lewis

I am incredibly grateful to be your newly crowned Young American Ms International 26/27. Thank you to my international director, volunteers, and fellow contestants for an unforgettable experience. I step into this role with humility and excitement, ready to continue my volunteer and donor efforts.

Your story, your voice, your essence—that’s where true beauty lives. -Author unknown-

As I bid farewell to an unforgettable year as Ms. American Nation 2025-2026, I am filled with gratitude for the memories, growth, and inspiration that have shaped my reign.

Throughout the year, I deliberately stepped into key roles that allowed me to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds, fostering meaningful interactions and impactful relationships with underserved, marginalized, and vulnerable populations.

Some highlights of my reign include serving as a distinguished judge for the historic Cardinal City Pageant in San Bernardino, California, where we celebrated the crowning of the first-ever autistic delegate, a testament to the power of inclusivity. I thank Jaime Rios for the opportunity to have been a judge.

Additionally, I had the honor of volunteering for Juneteenth Oregon's inaugural Black History Month Hometown Hero Awards Gala, which honored 100 years of recognizing the profound impact of Black history in America and awarded esteemed NBA All-Star and Portland Trail Blazers legend Damian Lillard, along with six exceptional individuals. I was humbled to meet and be pictured with Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon.

I am grateful to Keeli Littleleaf for granting me the privilege of strutting down the runway for the second time at the Northwest/West Coast Indigenous Fashion Show as a VIP model, where I represented the Creek Nation.

The show featured visionary designers showcasing their extraordinary talents on the catwalk, and I am thankful to the talented Indigenous designers who entrusted me with showcasing their collections.

As Ms. American Nation 2025-2026, I am proud to continue my partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon & SW Washington as a devoted community volunteer and supporter. I donated cookies to the staff and volunteers at Ronald McDonald House, and their smiles of gratitude were testament enough.

I am excited to announce that I continued my Brand Ambassador partnerships with three companies owned and operated by women of color: Nina Fresa Cosmetics, Afro Amazônia Wear Clothing, and N8iV Beauty. I also became a Brand Ambassador for Lady Secrets, a family-owned business owned by people of color.

As my year draws to a close, I pray that I have represented my title with grace, pride, and integrity, inspiring others through my appearances, donations, volunteerism, and community service.

To the pageant organizers, I thank Mrs. Debbie, my National Director, for creating a pageant that focuses on self-belief, inner strength, and making a positive impact.

To Elizabeth Paine, I appreciate your kindness and support.

To Queen Mother, your spirit shines brightly, inspiring us all. To my sister Queens, I am grateful for our synergy and support. To the staff members and volunteers, your dedication is invaluable, and I thank you.

To my National successor, congratulations and welcome.

Thank you, God, for giving me this opportunity and guiding me throughout my journey.

Here's to signing off and deplaning one last time as your Ms. American Nation 2025-2026!

Humbly, Marneet Lewis.

The most beautiful things you can wear are your self-confidence and your self-love -Leticia Rae-

I'm overflowing with gratitude and deeply humbled to be crowned Young American Ms International 2026; thank you, God for trusting me with this extraordinary honor.

With heartfelt sincerity, I extend my deepest gratitude to Sabrina Cadriel, my inspiring international director, and her remarkable team for their tireless efforts, as well as to the distinguished judges who had the vision to recognize my potential.

Special appreciation goes to Stacey Lennon, my exceptional coach, whose unwavering belief and motivational leadership have been instrumental in my journey.

I'm richly blessed with lifelong friendships that have blossomed along this pageant path, friendships that will endure through the test of time.

I'm looking forward to a reign filled with continuing building community connections, volunteering, and donating to the most vulnerable of our population.

More updates and pictures to follow.

Young Miss International & Young American Miss International

Social Media Challenge:

Week 4: Tell us something you are excited for during Pageant week.

My title: I am enthusiastic to serve as Young American Miss International Ms. North America 2026.

One thing I'm absolutely thrilled about during pageant week is cultivating unbreakable bonds and forging lifelong connections with my fellow delegates, united in an extraordinary sisterhood that transcends time.

I'm honored to meet with such a talented group of individuals at the international pageant, inspired by a shared passion for driving positive change.

Young Miss International & Young American Miss International

Social Media Challenge:

Week 3: “Aspire to Inspire” tell us what inspires you or how you aspire to inspire others in your community.

My title: I am enthusiastic to serve as Young American Miss International Ms. North America 2026.

What sparks my passion is to make a difference in the lives of others by contributing as a financial donor, food donor and volunteer for the Oregon Food Bank, helping to alleviate food insecurity.

Community nonprofits depend heavily on dedicated volunteers to thrive, and while some may be able to contribute financially, others can give the gift of their time and labor, and every effort counts in supporting those most in need in our local communities.

Spark a profound impact by volunteering for Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief organization, fueling a massive network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries nationwide, and ignite a transformative passion that empowers communities.

Every moment counts, consider donating your time; even a few hours aids positive change.

Here is the link to volunteer:

https://www.feedingamerica.org/take-action/volunteer

Get ready for the empowering social media challenge posts that will uplift and inspire you in the coming weeks!

Social Media Challenge

Week 2: Something interesting about me, where I live, fun facts, and my title!

My title:

I am enthusiastic to serve as Young American Miss International Ms. North America 2026.

Something interesting about me and a fun fact:

I am profoundly thankful to my parents for their visionary guidance and devotion to my foundational education, which paved the way for my acceptance into the esteemed Japanese immersion program from kindergarten to eighth grade.

This rigorous program, comprising half-day English and half-day Japanese instruction from native speakers, was truly enriching. The highlight was undoubtedly our memorable fifth-grade excursion to Tokyo, Mitsuki, and Toyama.

The profound cultural immersion I experienced sparked an enduring passion for Hello Kitty, long before she became a sensation in the US, and has since fueled my pursuit as an avid collector.

My Hello Kitty collection, which initially began with plush toys, has blossomed into a diverse array of figurines, collectibles, and innovative items ranging from wrapping paper to exquisite jewelry.

The ingenious design of Hello Kitty, devoid of a mouth, empowers individuals to project their emotions onto her. As Sanrio so eloquently puts it, she embodies an ambassador of the world who speaks directly from the heart, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers.

This universal appeal is what makes her so endearing. It's impossible not to be captivated by her charm and timeless appeal, a testament to the transformative power of love and connection.

Where I live:

I reside in Portland, Oregon, also known as the “City of Roses”. Portland is known by this moniker thanks to the International Rose Test Garden, which has been growing over 500 different types of roses since 1917.

Stay tuned for the exciting social media challenge posts coming your way in the upcoming weeks!