Leah je sa samo 16 godina ostvarila izuzetan uspeh i ispisala istoriju kao prva predstavnica Kube koja je osvojila prestižnu titulu Miss Teen Earth 2025. Njena priča nije samo priča o lepoti i glamuru, već o snazi, upornosti i jasnoj misiji da svojim glasom inspiriše mlade širom sveta. Kao model, aktivistkinja i zagovornica borbe protiv vršnjačkog nasilja i zaštite životne sredine, Leah predstavlja novu generaciju lidera koji koriste svoju platformu za stvaranje pozitivnih promena. U intervjuu za Harper’s BAZAAR govori o svom putu do krune, ličnim izazovima, vrednostima koje je oblikuju i planovima za budućnost.
Leah, sa samo 16 godina, ušli ste u istoriju kao prva predstavnica Kube koja je osvojila titulu Miss Teen Earth. Možete li da podelite svoj najnezaboravniji trenutak sa takmičenja u Indiji — šta Vam je dalo snagu i samopouzdanje da osvojite ovu impresivnu pobedu?
Moj najnezaboravniji trenutak sa takmičenja u Indiji bio je privatni trenutak koji sam imala sa svojim direktorom samo nekoliko minuta pre izlaska na scenu. Sećam se da me je držao za ruke i da smo zajedno radili vežbe disanja. To mi je dalo snagu i samopouzdanje da ostvarim pobedu u Indiji, jer sam znala da imam mnogo ljudi koji me podržavaju. Želela sam da svoju krunu posvetim ljudima koji su me vodili do mesta gde sam danas. U ovom slučaju, to je bio moj direktor.
Predstavljate novu generaciju mladih lidera koji koriste svoje platforme da inspirišu druge. Kako balansirate svoje uloge kao nosilac titule, model i omladinski aktivista, i šta Vas motiviše da uspešno usklađujete sve te obaveze?
Balansiram svoje uloge tako što ih jednostavno spajam! Bavim se modelingom kao Miss Teen Earth i istovremeno koristim svoju titulu da podignem glas kada zagovaram savremenu omladinu. Na primer, često sam učestvovala kao model na humanitarnim događajima kao Miss Teen Earth. Najviše volim to što mogu da spojim sve svoje strasti i stvorim nešto lepo iz toga!
Vaša platforma fokusira se na osnaživanje mladih, borbu protiv vršnjačkog nasilja i odgovornost prema životnoj sredini. Koji od ovih ciljeva Vam je najbliži srcu i zašto ste odlučili da ih stavite u fokus svog javnog rada?
Borba protiv vršnjačkog nasilja i podizanje svesti o zaštiti životne sredine su mi lično najbliži srcu. Protiv nasilja jer sam i sama prošla kroz konstantno vršnjačko nasilje tokom osnovne škole i polovinom srednje škole. Težim ka tome da škole i društvena okruženja imaju nultu toleranciju na nasilje i da deca mojih godina razumeju posledice takvog ponašanja. Zaštita životne sredine mi je važna jer volim našu planetu i sve što ona pruža još od detinjstva. Zagađenje, klimatske promene i mnogi drugi faktori svakodnevno uništavaju našu planetu, a mnogi ljudi još uvek nisu svesni ozbiljnih posledica modernizacije. Želim da podstaknem druge da štite našu prelepu planetu kao što to ja činim. Upravo zbog tih ličnih iskustava, ove teme su mi izuzetno važne. Koristim svoju platformu da podižem svest o vršnjačkom nasilju i ekološkim problemima. Inspirišem devojčice i dečake poput mene da slede moj primer i budu bolji — da prestanu sa nasiljem, da se ophode prema drugima onako kako žele da se drugi ophode prema njima, da brinu o planeti i stvaraju bezbednije okruženje. Mi smo budućnost naše Zemlje, pa zašto je ne bismo učinili što boljom?
Odrastanje u Majamiju nakon rođenja na Kubi verovatno je oblikovalo Vašu perspektivu na jedinstven način. Kako Vaše kulturno poreklo utiče na Vaš pristup liderstvu i poruku koju šaljete mladima širom sveta?
Posmatrajući svoje roditelje imigrante kako su od čišćenja toaleta u piceriji postali izuzetno uspešni preduzetnici, naučila sam da uspeh zahteva vreme i da ništa ne dolazi bez žrtve. Zato želim da inspirišem druge da se ne plaše budućnosti. Ciljajte visoko, sanjajte veliko, radite naporno i iskoristite život na najbolji način, jer živimo samo jednom i treba da ga cenimo u potpunosti.
Podstičete mlade da „pretvore izazove u snagu i svrhu“. Možete li da podelite lični izazov sa kojim ste se suočili i kako ste ga pretvorili u priliku za rast? Koji savet biste dali drugima koji prolaze kroz teške periode?
Jedan od ličnih izazova bio je usklađivanje školskih obaveza sa titulom i odgovornostima koje ona nosi. Često sam bila pod velikim stresom zbog domaćih zadataka i dodatnih obaveza van škole. Vremenom sam shvatila da je važno da se sa ovakvim izazovima susretnem rano, kako bih naučila da se prilagođavam promenama i upravljam sa više obaveza odjednom u budućnosti. Život često donosi nepredvidive situacije i morate pronaći način da ih prevaziđete — ovakva „praksa“ je veoma važna!
Kao Miss Teen Earth 2025, pojavljivali ste se na međunarodnim platformama i crvenim tepisima. Kako je to iskustvo oblikovalo Vaše razumevanje korišćenja popularnosti za društveno dobro? Da li osećate odgovornost da budete uzor svojim vršnjacima?
Iskustva koja sam stekla tokom ove godine naučila su me koliko je važno koristiti popularnost i vidljivost za širenje svesti. Mnogi ljudi koriste popularnost za zaradu ili promociju proizvoda, ali ne shvataju koliko ona može imati snažan društveni uticaj. Širenje svesti ne bi trebalo da bude „teško“ ili „naporno“, već nešto što radite bez obzira na sve. Ne treba trošiti popularnost na materijalne stvari — treba je koristiti za stvaranje pozitivnih kampanja koje edukuju i motivišu ljude da učine našu planetu boljim mestom. Smatram da je moja dužnost da inspirišem vršnjake da budu bolji, donose bolje odluke, ophode se prema drugima sa poštovanjem, više recikliraju i doprinose prirodi.
Vaša poruka se zasniva na otpornosti, veri u sebe i snazi neograničenih snova. Kako održavate pozitivan način razmišljanja i veru u sebe, posebno kada se suočavate sa kritikama ili sumnjom? Imate li lične mantre ili navike koje Vam pomažu da ostanete prizemni?
Moj ključni trik je da nikada ne čitam negativne komentare, da ne slušam negativne kritike i da nikada ne govorim loše o drugima ili o onome što rade. Te tri stvari su mi pomogle da ostanem fokusirana na svoje ciljeve i lični razvoj.
Gledajući unapred, koji su Vaši najveći ciljevi u karijeri u medijima, modelingu i društvenom angažmanu? Kako planirate da nastavite da inspirišete mlade širom sveta i doprinosite pozitivnim promenama u narednim godinama?
Planiram da učestvujem na izboru za Miss Universe Cuba kako bih nastavila svoju borbu za zaštitu životne sredine i protiv vršnjačkog nasilja. Učešće na ovom takmičenju dodatno će podržati moju karijeru u modelingu. Dugoročno, planiram da postanem advokat — neko ko govori u ime onih koji nemaju glas, ko brani nezaštićene i ko svakodnevno deluje sa jasnom svrhom.
English here:
Leah, at just 16 years old, you made history by becoming the first Cuban representative to win the Miss Teen Earth crown. Can you share your most memorable moment from the competition in India — what gave you the strength and confidence to secure this impressive victory?
My most memorable moment from the competition in India was the private moment I had with my director just minutes before going on stage. I remember that he held my hands and we did breathing exercises together. This gave me the strength and confidence to secure the victory in India because I knew that I had so many people supporting me. I wanted to dedicate my crown to the people to guided me to get to where I am. In this case, it was my director.
You represent a new generation of young leaders using their platforms to inspire others. How do you balance your roles as a teen titleholder, model, and youth advocate, and what motivates you to keep juggling these responsibilities?
I balance my roles by simply combining them! I model as a Miss Teen Earth and I also use my title to raise my voice for when I advocate for the modern youth generation. For example, many times I have modeled for a fundraiser as Miss Teen Earth. My favorite thing is knowing I can combine all passions and make something beautiful out of it!
Your platform focuses on youth empowerment, anti-bullying advocacy, and environmental responsibility. Which of these causes is closest to your heart, and why did you choose to prioritise them in your public work?
Anti-bullying advocacy and environmental awareness are personally closest to my heart. Anti-bullying because I did go through constant bullying all my elementary and half of my middle schools years. I strive for more schools and social environments to have zero tolerance for bullying and for kids my age to understand the effects of bullying. Environmental awareness because I have loved our Earth and everything that comes with it ever since I was a little girl. Pollution, climate change, and many other factors are ruining our planet every day; yet, many people still do not know about the drastic effects of modernization. I want to make sure many others protect our beautiful motherland as much as I do. Because of these, personal experiences, I hold these extremely close to my heart. I chose to use my platform to help me raise awareness for bullying and environmental damage. I empower young girls and boys like me to follow in my footsteps and be better. Stop bullying, treat others the way you want to be treated, treat the planet nicely, and help create a safe environment. We are the future of our Earth, so why not make the best of it?
Growing up in Miami after being born in Cuba has likely shaped your perspective in unique ways. How do you think your cultural background influences your approach to leadership and your message to young people around the world?
After watching my immigrant parents go from scrubbing toilets at a pizza restaurant to being extremely successful entrepreneurs, I learned that success takes time and nothing will ever come without sacrifice. Therefore, I am eager to inspire others to not be scared of what the future holds. Aim high, dream big, work hard, and make the best of life because we only live once and we have to appreciate it all!
You encourage young people to «transform challenges into strength and purpose». Can you share a personal challenge you’ve faced and how you turned it into an opportunity for growth? What advice would you give to others going through tough times?
A personal challenge I have faced has been learning to juggle school with my title and the responsibilities I have as a title holder. I personally pound myself dealing with a lot of stress because of homework and also having to practice outside of school a lot. As time went by, I learned that it is necessary for me to have this struggle at an early age so that I can quickly adapt to change and handling multiple things at once in the future. Life often throws curveballs at you and you have to find ways to get through, practice like this is crucial!
As Miss Teen Earth 2025, you’ve appeared on international platforms and red carpets. How has this experience shaped your understanding of using fame and visibility for social good? Do you feel a responsibility to set an example for your peers?
As Miss Teen Earth 2025, the experiences of the multiple exposures I have had throughout this year have taught me that using fame and visibility to spread awareness is so important in a world where we do not see much of it. There are many people out there who use fame in order to make money or get PR mail. These people fail to realize that their fame could be used for so many impactful purposes. Spreading awareness shouldn’t be “too difficult” or “too time consuming”, it should be something that you do no matter what. Do not waste fame on materialistic outcomes, use fame to create a positive campaign where people are educated, aware, and motivated to make our planet a better place. I am sure it is my duty to inspire all of my peers to do better each time. To make better decisions, treat people better, recycle more, and give back to mother nature.
Your message centres on resilience, self-belief, and the power of dreaming without limits. How do you maintain a positive mindset and belief in yourself, especially when facing criticism or doubt? Do you have any personal mantras or practices that help you stay grounded?
My key trick is to never read any hate comments, never listen to any negative criticism, and never speak negatively about anyone or what they do. Those three things have helped me stay focused on my personal life and goals.
Looking ahead, what are your biggest goals in your career in media, modelling, and social impact? How do you envision continuing to inspire young audiences worldwide and create positive change in the next few years?
I plan to participate in Miss Universe Cuba in order to continue my advocacy for the environment and against bullying. Participating in this pageant also grants more support in my modeling career. Looking even further, I also plan to become a lawyer. This makes me someone who can speak for those who do not have a voice. Someone who can defend the defenseless. And someone who continues to step with purpose every day.
Tim:
Model: Leah Reyes Amores @leahmarose
Glavni producent: Prince Julio Cesar @princejuliocesar
Izvršni producent: Rafael Ingannamorte ringannamorte
Fotograf: Michel Melian @michelmelian_official
Stilista: Guillermo Leal @memomusicve
Šminka i frizura: @peterphungus
Producent: Valentina Gurova @valentinagurova
Medijska grupa: @pr_aliyans
Snimatelj: Gustavo Centeno @gartnyc
Lokacija: NYC (Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Baccarat Hotel)
Posebna zahvalnost:
Logistika: Helen Simon (@helensimon21)
Spa centar: Rosebella Med Spa (@rosebellamedspa)
