Miss Hawaii USA builds new life from inside out

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Just after 9 a.m. on a breezy Kane'ohe Monday, Juliet Lighter stood on her upstairs deck and exhaled.

Reigning Miss Hawaii USA Juliet Lighter, 25, might move with uncertainty, but she speaks with confidence. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Her 25 years show in the leopard-print place mats and pillows carefully placed in the upstairs living area, where she calls her haven. On the wall hangs a framed thought: "Always create your own dreams and live life to the fullest."

Lighter has done just that, battling personal demons to get exactly where she is right now: Happy and with a purpose.

"There are going to be sky windows here," she said, waving her lithe arm toward the ceiling of the recently remodeled Haiku Village home she shares with her father. The next phase of beautification will take place outside, with work to be done on the deck and garden area. "There's going to be a lot of change."

In keeping with her dad's strategy for remodeling their home, her personal philosophy is to work from the inside out.

And, just as there has already been a lot of change in the house, there's been a lot on her life. The living room walls tell the story. From school portraits to studio shots, from candy-colored smiles to pageant up-dos, Lighter has come a long way.

It's tough to tell when meeting her that the life of the reigning Miss Hawaii USA hasn't been perfect. Bright-eyed, with a contagious smile, she moves with uncertainty but speaks with confidence. She knows what she wants but she is, she says, a work in progress.

The idea of working from inside out changed her entire perspective about competing in the Miss Hawaii USA pageant in May. And it worked: Lighter walked away with nearly every award — interview, swimsuit, evening gown, photogenic and popularity — plus the crown.

"It's been a real spiritual journey for me," said Lighter, her eyes unmistakably eager to share her story. "That journey meant more to me than the crown."

Promoting awareness

	Juliet Lighter
•	Age: 25
•	Hometown: Kane'ohe
•	Family: An only child, Lighter was raised by her father, Riley
•	Position: Miss Hawaii USA 2001
•	Occupation: Hostess at the Colony Seafood & Steakhouse at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki
•	Nickname: Juju-Bee
•	Ethnic background: Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Cherokee Indian, Portuguese, Swiss, French
•	Quote: "People always tell me I'm a dreamer. But I'm going to be somebody. I'm going to do something with my life. I know God has plans for me."

"God has given me this position, blessed me with this opportunity," she said, "and I'm going to do something."

Though the organization doesn't require her to have a platform, she has designed one anyway. Motivated by her experiences in an abusive romantic relationship, she wants to do something to promote awareness of domestic violence.

Rattling off statistics and research indicators — there are more animal abuse shelters in the United States than shelters for battered women, she says — Lighter has empowered herself with knowledge. She wants others to know that, if she can survive, they can, too. And with a renewed sense of self, rooted in her strong religious faith, she sees this as just the beginning.

"If you learn to love yourself, that's the key," she said. "You can do anything."

Home-loving woman

Her home is her center, the place she relaxes, recharges, reflects.

"Comfort is coming home," she said, contentedly sitting on the floor.

And her father, who raised Lighter by himself, is her source of inspiration and unconditional support. (Her parents are divorced and her mother lives in California.)

"My dad is the most important person in my life," she said. "I can talk to him about everything, even if it's something that would disappoint him. He knows my favorite foods, what makes me smile, what makes me cry. He knows how my heart is, he knows who I am on the inside."

His words of wisdom are now her daily mantra.

"He always told me, 'No matter how much you're struggling, don't stop for anyone,'" she said. "'Don't ever give up.'"

Juliet Lighter walks the dogs. Fitness, including gym workouts, are part of her current schedule. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Being in a single family situation, there are some gaps that need to be filled," said Riley Lighter, a warranty manager at Dick Pacific Construction Co. Ltd. "And I think she's filled that with really putting 110 percent in everything she does. She's very focused on the goals she sets for herself."

He counts her infectious personality and determination as her strong points, traits that will help her meet any challenge: "All of my upbringing was to ... (allow) her to be independent and handle the world herself," he said. "'Cause Daddy can't always be there. So. "

Though a beauty pageant might seem by its very nature — the self-confidence required, and the time spent in the public eye, being critiqued — like an especially difficult one for someone who found her sense of self damaged and fragile after her relationship went sour, Lighter saw the experience as a learning one.

"I think being in that situation made me stronger," she said. "I learned the only person I need to worry about is me. The only person I have to impress is me."

She has fended off the petty criticism that often comes with being a beauty queen with this unwaveringly positive attitude. "It's not about beauty. You gotta have this," she said pointing to her head, "and this," pointing to her heart. "The beauty within is the most important thing."

Though winning isn't everything to her, she does want to represent Hawai'i well in the Miss USA competition in February in Gary, Ind. Perhaps place in the top 10.

"She's beautiful, inside and out," said Takeo, executive director of the committee-organized Miss Hawaii USA pageant. "Her true beauty comes from inside. That's the most important."

She'll never forget the look on her father's face when she won the title. All that work, she said, paid off in that moment.

"I finally know what I want to do," she said. "I'm so thankful for everything. I can finally say I'm proud of who I am, and that's what it's all about."