Wilmington City Council honors Jacqueline Means, crowned Ms. Caribbean US 2025

Wilmington City Council formally recognized Jacqueline Victoria Means, recently crowned Ms. Caribbean US 2025, for her outstanding achievements (Photo courtesy of Yesenia Taveras)

WILMINGTON— During its regular meeting on April 3, the Wilmington City Council formally recognized Jacqueline Victoria Means, recently crowned Ms. Caribbean US 2025, for her outstanding achievements in education and community service. 

The resolution, jointly sponsored by 4th District Councilmember Michelle Harlee and At-Large Councilmember James Spadola, celebrated Means’ accomplishments both on and off the pageant stage.

Means, a standout scholar with a double major in Management Information Systems and Marketing and a minor in Neuroscience, competed in the Miss Caribbean US pageant on its 25th anniversary. Not only did she take home the crown, but she also won first place in every competition category and was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants.

RELATED STORY: Wilmington Councilwoman Bracy appointed to National Advocacy Committee, named State Director for Women Elected Officials Group

“I’ve had the privilege of seeing Jacqueline at so many events, and she brings the same energy, warmth and charisma that you see,” said Council Member Spadola. “She has accomplishments that far exceed her age.”

At just 12 years old, Means became concerned about the lack of opportunities for girls of color in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), particularly in inner-city neighborhoods. This concern led her to found the Girls Empowerment STEM Initiative, a nonprofit focused on introducing young girls to the world of science through hands-on experiments and interactive workshops.

“I am all about empowering young inner city girls, but especially girls of color like myself, to embrace the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,”  Means said. “ In fact, only 29% of the STEM workforce is female, and an even lesser percentage are those that are minorities.” 

To date, her program has impacted more than 6,500 girls and featured inspiring appearances by influential women, including Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. Means has also garnered national attention for her efforts, with appearances on The Steve Harvey Show, The Today Show, Access Hollywood, The View, and more.

The City Council’s resolution commended her not only for her recent pageant win but also for her dedication to community upliftment and educational equity.

Claudia Estrada

Claudia is a Philadelphia-based journalist and reporter passionate about storytelling that informs and engages the community. Claudia, a proud Temple University graduate, has built a career covering impactful stories and creating compelling content across digital and print media platforms. With a strong background in writing, editing, and research, Claudia has worked on various topics, from local news to in-depth features, always striving to deliver meaningful and accurate reporting.