HONOLULU (KHON2) — In a moment that captured both personal triumph and state pride, Mr. Paris Vapaille-Watson made history this summer when he was crowned Mr. U.S. United 2024.
His victory at the national pageant in Atlanta, Georgia in July marked a significant milestone for Hawaiʻi, as Mr. Vapaille-Watson became the first contestant from the Aloha State to win the prestigious title in the competition’s 21-year history.
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“It’s still surreal,” Mr. Vapaille-Watson said, reflecting on the night he was crowned. “When they put the crown on my head and said, ‘Hawaii is the winner,’ I didn’t believe it. I thought maybe they had made a mistake. But when my mom screamed, ‘That’s my son!’ — that’s when it hit me. I had done something my mother dreamed of, something that had been passed down through generations in my family.”
For many, pageantry is often associated with glamorous gowns, polished poses and glittering crowns; but Mr. Vapaille-Watson’s journey to the stage was marked by passion, perseverance and a deep sense of purpose.
He spoke to KHON2.com openly about the profound influence his mother had on his involvement in pageants as he described how she had dreamed of competing herself but was discouraged by high school counselors in the 1970s.
Despite that setback, she never lost her love for pageantry; and it was through her that Paris was first introduced to the world of crowns and competition.
“I remember watching Miss America as a child with my mom,” he shared. “It was a tradition for us. And when Vanessa Williams won in 1983, it was huge. I thought, ‘Why don’t we have a Mister America? Why don’t men have the same opportunities?’”
This sense of disparity led him to search for a platform where men could also compete like women and youth.
After years of dreaming, he found the U.S. United Organization — a nonprofit organization that embraces men, women and children from diverse backgrounds and offers a space for individuals to showcase their talents while promoting causes like breast cancer awareness and self-confidence.
When Mr. Vapaille-Watson reached out to the organization, he became the first delegate from Hawaiʻi in U.S. United’s 21-year history.
His passion and determination led him through a year-long campaign which included traveling to Atlanta with his family. His campaign slogan was clear: “Hurricane Paris is here, and I’m walking home with the crown.”
And walk away with the crown he did.
Breaking stereotypes and pushing boundaries
For many, the concept of pageantry — particularly for men — still carries a weight of stereotypes. Men in pageants are often expected to fit into a narrowly defined image of masculinity: strong, muscular and perfect.
But Mr. Vapaille-Watson has made it his mission to challenge and break those stereotypes and to create a platform to promote body positivity and end toxic masculinity.
“As a man, pageantry can sometimes be about being this sex symbol,” Mr. Vapaille-Watson explained. “There’s this pressure to have a perfect body, a perfect torso, perfect muscles. But I wanted to break that. I wanted to show young boys and men that you don’t have to look a certain way to achieve your dreams.”
This commitment to redefining what it means to be a man in the pageant world became a core part of his platform.
During his reign as Mr. Hawaiʻi, he launched the “Raising Kids” movement, which aims to combat toxic masculinity and raise awareness about the mental health struggles men face, including body dysmorphia and eating disorders.
He wants boys and young men to understand that it’s okay to be vulnerable, that they don’t have to conform to societal expectations of masculinity.
“I’ve had young girls come up to me and say, ‘Excuse me, you’re Mr. Hawaii? I didn’t know there was a king.’ That really touched me,” he said. “Because for so long, pageantry was seen as a space for women. But now, little girls can see themselves in me. I’m showing them that they can be queens. And young boys can see themselves in me too—they can realize that they don’t have to fit into a mold to be successful.”
A cultural triumph
Mr. Vapaille-Watson’s victory was not just a personal win; it was a cultural achievement for Hawaiʻi. The pageant’s national spotlight allowed him to represent the islands in a way that had never been done before.
His journey to the stage was a collaborative effort, and he credits much of his success to the support of the local Hawaiian community.
“My state costume was a labor of love,” he said, referring to the traditional Hawaiian attire he wore for the competition. “I had to get permission from the kupuna (elders) to wear the mahi oli and the hula. Their guidance and support helped me carry the spirit of Hawaii with me to Georgia. When we won state costume, it was a testament to the culture and to the people of Hawaii who helped me along the way.”
For Mr. Vapaille-Watson, his win was not only about bringing the crown home to Hawaii; it was about honoring the diverse cultures and communities that supported him.
He acknowledged the efforts of the African American community in Hawaiʻi, as well as the Native Hawaiian community, both of which rallied behind him during his journey.
“The NAACP of Hawaii, the Hawaii Deltas, the Omegas, the Alphas, these are the people who helped me,” he said. “And the Native Hawaiians who helped me with my state costume, they were the ones who taught me how to properly wear the feathers and lay down the hula work. That’s a piece of Hawaii that I carried with me on that stage.”
Looking to the future
As Mr. Vapaille-Watson settles into his year as Mr. U.S. United 2024, he has big plans for the future.
He is already working with the U.S. United Organization to bring the first-ever Mr. and Miss Hawaiʻi U.S. United pageant to the islands in January 2024.
It’s a milestone that will provide future contestants with an opportunity to follow in his footsteps and bring the island spirit to the national stage.
“I’m excited to help bring Hawaii into the pageantry world,” he said. “It’s a way for our youth to have access to opportunities, to grow their confidence, and to represent the islands with pride.”
In addition to his work with U.S. United, Mr. Vapaille-Watson is also focused on his entrepreneurial efforts. He founded ‘Aina Natural Hair Care. It’s a brand dedicated to providing natural, effective hair products for men and women with type 3 and type 4 hair.
His desire to create a product that works for people of all ethnicities, but especially those of color, stems from his own struggles growing up with hair products that didn’t work for him.
“I wanted to create something that worked for me,” he explained. “Something that worked for my type 3, type 4 hair. I know a lot of men and women who struggle with hair products, so I wanted to provide something that works across the board, whether you’re African American, Native Hawaiian, or from any other background.”
His story is one of resilience, inspiration and an unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers.
From his mother’s broken dreams of a pageant life to his childhood memories of watching pageants with his mother and to becoming the first Mr. U.S. United from Hawaiʻi, Mr. Vapaille-Watson has always understood the power of representation and the impact it can have on future generations.
“I want to be a role model for young people — boys and girls — who don’t see themselves represented in mainstream media or in pageantry,” he said. “When you don’t see yourself, it can be hard to dream big. But if I can do it, they can too.”
When asked what he hopes people will take away from his victory, Mr. Vapaille-Watson was clear.
“I want people to understand that this victory isn’t just for me. It’s for Hawaii. It’s for every young boy and girl who’s ever dreamed of something bigger. It’s for my mom, who couldn’t chase her dream. And it’s for the people who believed in me along the way.”
Mr. Paris Vapaille-Watson, reigning Mr. U.S. United
Indeed, his historic win was more than just a crown on his head; it was a symbol of opportunity, culture and the power of never giving up on a dream.
“Mahalo to everyone who supported me. This victory is for all of us,” he said. “Hawaii, we did it.”
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Congratulations, Paris! We are excited to see what you do with this great honor.
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