Melanie Haynes, Miss Delaware Essence, captures national title

Melanie Haynes, Miss Delaware Essence 2011, captured the title of Miss North American Essence 2011 on June 25 in Kansas City, Mo.

Haynes is originally from Philadelphia, Pa., and has been a Delaware resident for the last 16 years. She attended Delaware State University, where she studied fashion merchandising textiles design. Haynes is currently a behavioral science major at Wilmington University aspiring to become child advocate and child/family counselor. She also plans to attain post master's certification in child and family community counseling and mental health counseling.

In addition to Haynes’s involvement with fashion and now pageantry, she is actively involved with her community and considers giving back to be as important as breathing. Haynes has served as a volunteer for the Special Olympics in Dover, is a member of DSU Fashion Merchandising Club and Women’s Senate, and is a student mentor. Haynes is also involved with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Cancer Society, The Sister’s Network (a cancer network for women of color), Think Pink Cancer Outreach program and Poverty Delaware.

In 2003, she started a nonprofit organization called The Dreams Drive, which helps disadvantaged families have a better life. Haynes would love to become more active in the lives of young females, helping teach life skills for the modern woman. Haynes is also working on a clothing line after several positive reviews from her mentees and peers.

Haynes’s platform will be focused on osteosarcoma, a form of soft tissue and bone cancer that at this time has no cure. Haynes went with this cause after the loss of her mother Oct. 7, 2010, only three days before the Miss Delaware Essence Pageant. “I plan to raise awareness of this disease to the entire world with hope of helping find a cure,” she said.

Haynes is also a member of The Order of The Eastern Star, International Association of Turtles, The National Council for Negro Women, The Younger Women’s Task Force and Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network. Haynes looks forward to adding to her list of achievements and one day meeting President Barack Obama and his family; her motto is “Every day that the Lord gives us can be used to make someone’s life better.”

For more information about the Miss Essence Pageant, go to www.essencepageant.com.