Specialties
Miss Immigrant USA is a civic, cultural, and leadership platform founded in 2018 by Magdalena Kulisz from Poland and Shahar Kenan from Israel.
The platform was created to celebrate and defend immigrant identity by transforming the immigrant experience into pride, dignity, leadership, and belonging.
What began as a pageant has grown into a national movement that highlights immigrant voices through cultural events, civic initiatives, leadership programs, public conversations, and the Wise Immigrant Podcast.
Miss Immigrant USA is apolitical and does not endorse candidates or political parties. Its mission is to educate, unite, and uplift people who identify as immigrants, while encouraging civic participation, community engagement, freedom of expression, and respect for every story.
Since 2018, Miss Immigrant USA has led hundreds of civic initiatives, empowered delegates across communities, received official recognition, and engaged with elected officials, consuls general, diplomats, and United Nations representatives.
At its heart, Miss Immigrant USA believes immigrant identity is not something to hide. It is a source of strength, contribution, culture, and democracy.
History
Established in 2018.
In 2019, the platform grew to 400+ applicants and hosted the National Immigrant Day Gala in New York City, broadcast by BronxNet TV and recognized by the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce.
During the pandemic, Miss Immigrant USA moved online with virtual pageants, workshops, and cultural events, keeping immigrant communities connected.
From 2022 to 2024, it expanded into a civic leadership and storytelling platform, participating in 300+ civic initiatives, empowering 60+ delegates, engaging with elected officials, consulates, diplomats, and United Nations representatives, and launching Mr. Immigrant USA to include men in the movement of love, dignity, and belonging.
Meet the Business Owner: Magdalena and Shahar K.
Magdalena and Shahar are the founders of Miss Immigrant USA, a civic identity and storytelling platform dedicated to immigrant voices, belonging, and the values of democracy.
Through media, interviews, public conversations, and the Wise Immigrant Podcast, they highlight stories of courage, service, leadership, and resilience. Their work is rooted in the belief that immigrant identity is not separate from American democracy — it is part of its strength.
Miss Immigrant USA creates space for people to share who they are, where they come from, what they have overcome, and how they contribute to their communities.
Magdalena and Shahar built this platform from lived experience, with a mission to educate, connect, and inspire people to protect dignity, belonging, and democratic participation for all.