CALDWELLS, NJ — A 10-year-old girl from the Caldwells has earned the right to represent New Jersey in a national pageant, and she plans to use her newfound fame to do some good deeds.
Rani Juliette of North Caldwell was recently crowned as the 2026 National American Miss New Jersey state queen. She will go on to represent her the Garden State at the National American Miss national pageant in Florida during Thanksgiving week.
Juliette said she wants to use the victory to bring more attention to a community service project that she has dubbed "Letters of Love," which sends cards, drawings and jokes to children facing illness and other difficult circumstances.
Her goal? Collect 5,000 letters for kids in hospitals to remind them that they are loved, supported, and people are cheering them on.
The project grew out of Juliette's own personal experience. While recovering from a serious thumb injury, the encouragement and care she found from the community made a big impression – and now she wants to return the favor.
Outside her service work, Juliette enjoys travel soccer, dance, theater, clarinet and art. She has performed in lead roles as Snow White and Dorothy, and has walked the runway at New York Fashion Week. Her dream is to become a Disney Imagineer and create experiences that bring joy to others.
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