At an age when many young people are discovering their passions, Selene Ferdinand, of Elmont, was already turning hers into action.
She founded Meera Empowerment when she was just 7 years old, creating a nonprofit organization focused on helping young people build confidence, embrace their individuality and develop leadership skills through mentorship, service and community involvement.
Now, Selene, continues to expand her mission locally and internationally while preparing for major opportunities in the fashion world, including appearances at New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.
“She’s the youngest person in Elmont that manages an organization,” Selene’s mother, Savitre Ferdinand, said.
Through Meera Empowerment, Selene has combined her love of fashion with her passion for giving back. The organization’s annual fashion show fundraiser, held this summer at The Vault in Elmont, brought together models, designers, community members and supporters while highlighting youth empowerment and Caribbean culture.
Now 13, Selene said the fashion show allows young people to step outside their comfort zones and gain confidence.
“I feel like I’m able to do that a lot through Meera Empowerment, especially through our fashion show,” she said. “We’re able to combine fashion and that part of my life to service and my passion for giving back to others.”
Selene’s dedication to service has also been recognized through pageantry. At the Royal International Miss competition this year, she earned several honors, including Top Model International, International Spokesmodel and placement in the Top 16 internationally.
For the competition’s international wear category, she designed a look inspired by New York City’s iconic yellow taxis.
“I want to represent New York City, and of course we’re known for taxis,” the Elmont teen said.
Her success in pageantry has also helped expand the reach of Meera Empowerment’s message, allowing her to connect with other young people and inspire them through leadership and service.
This fall, Selene will continue combining fashion and advocacy as she participates in New York Fashion Week with designer Mark Dufang, and she will travel to participate in Paris Fashion Week with Royal International in September.
The Paris trip will include fashion events, fittings, photo opportunities near the Eiffel Tower and opportunities to connect with other participants.
“I’m really, really excited,” she said. “It’s going to be a really amazing experience getting to spend quality time with my queen sisters too.”
Beyond fashion, Selene remains focused on expanding Meera Empowerment’s charitable efforts. The organization recently donated $1,000 from Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages to support its programs and continues working on several outreach initiatives.
In addition, Selene and her team are preparing for a back-to-school giveaway that will provide school supplies to children in Elmont and other communities. The organization is also preparing donations for children internationally, including upcoming outreach in the Caribbean island of St. Martin.
“We were planning to put together book bags full with school supplies to sponsor a few children down there,” she said. “We’re going to kind of continue on the tradition of each year finding a new country to donate or to visit to give back.”
Last year, Meera Empowerment traveled to Guyana, where the organization donated school supplies to an orphanage. The nonprofit continues supporting children there while also expanding efforts to assist children in Haiti.
Savitre Ferdinand said the organization is currently working with Friends of Haiti to ship containers filled with clothing and school supplies to children in need.
“We still continue supporting Guyana,” she said. “Right now, we’re packing stuff to ship for the kids in Haiti. We’re shipping out containers with clothing and school supplies for the children in Haiti.”
She added that the organization hopes to continue growing its international outreach and provide more opportunities for children around the world.
“Education is the first thing, and you don’t want to neglect kids with education,” Savitre Ferdinand said.
Selene credits her early involvement in volunteering as a major influence behind her work. She said volunteering with her family and through pageantry helped her understand the importance of service and supporting others.
“I’ve always been volunteering since a young age,” Selene said. “I’ve been able to learn from the people around me and grow as a person through volunteer work.”
As Meera Empowerment continues to grow, she remains committed to inspiring the next generation of leaders while showing that age does not limit the ability to create change.
LaShawn Walker, the current master of ceremonies for Meera, praised Selene for her work and dedication to the community.
“Selene is a true role model,” Walker said. “Through the many initiatives she creates and supports, she ensures that both youth and adults feel united and empowered. I am incredibly proud of everything she does to uplift her community.”
“I feel like spreading our mission internationally has been one of the biggest things,” Selene said. “Being able to not only help kids in the U.S. and in my community but also being able to expand and help kids in other communities too.”
