Last month, we hosted the Style Coach™ of the Year Awards to honour the trailblazers and visionaries within the global Style Coaching™ community — individuals whose work uplifts, transforms, and inspires. Organised by the Style Coaching Institute® to mark our 20th anniversary, the 2025 awards recognised Certified Style Coaches™ making a remarkable impact around the world. This year, one woman’s story captured hearts and headlines alike: Iris Duhamel, founder of LaMoumous in Haiti, was named International Style Coach™ of the Year 2025 — and the celebration hasn’t stopped since.

In a world where fashion often focuses solely on aesthetics, Iris stands out as a beacon of transformative style. Her journey is a shining example of how style, when guided by purpose, can become a powerful tool for empowerment, healing, and personal freedom.

A Journey Rooted in Empowerment

Based in Pétion-Ville, Haiti, Iris Duhamel is the visionary behind LaMoumous, a brand that seamlessly intertwines fashion, feminism, and personal growth. Her approach to Style Coaching™ goes beyond appearance — it’s about uncovering self-worth, reshaping narratives, and supporting clients to fully embody who they are and who they’re becoming.

With a rich background in corporate marketing, sales, PR, and leadership, Iris brings strategic insight into every one-on-one session. She helps professional women build cohesive personal brands and empowers entrepreneurs to align their image with their goals and values. It’s not just about looking good — it’s about showing up confidently, unapologetically, and with intention. “Being able to integrate my background in leadership has made all the difference,” Iris shared. “I’m able to offer more than just style — I bring strategic insight that empowers my clients to show up fully and confidently.”

Making Waves in the Community

What truly sets Iris apart is her commitment to service. Despite the many challenges her country faces, she has built a thriving full-time Style Coaching™ practice — and used it as a force for good. Over the past four years, she has been an active partner of Groupe de Support Contre le Cancer du Sein (GSCC), offering free makeovers, professional photoshoots, and coaching for breast cancer survivors in Haiti — many of whom must seek care abroad due to limited treatment options at home. “There is nothing more heartbreaking than losing a patient simply because we couldn’t raise enough funds for life-saving treatment,” she said. “Winning this award brings visibility to a cause that urgently needs support.”

Beyond her work with GSCC, Iris mentors young people preparing to enter the workforce, providing free training on professional dress codes and job-readiness. As a public speaker, she uses her voice to encourage confidence, ambition, and bold self-expression. Her YouTube series, Élégance et Moi, explores the deep connection between personal style and self-esteem, resonating with audiences across Haiti and the diaspora.

A Recognition Beyond Borders

The announcement of Iris’s award sparked an outpouring of pride across Haiti. Prominent national media outlets spotlighted her achievement, celebrating her as a symbol of strength, elegance, and Haitian excellence:

• Le Nouvelliste, Haiti’s oldest and most respected newspaper, wrote:
  “Iris Duhamel rafle le prix” – Iris Duhamel sweeps the prize.
• Chokarella, the country’s leading digital platform, shared:
  “Une Haïtienne distinguée par le Style Coaching Institute au Royaume-Uni” – A Haitian woman honoured by the Style Coaching Institute® in the UK.
• Belide Magazine featured her in a celebratory video:
  “Iris Duhamel sacrée Style Coach de l’année 2025 – International.”

Instagram feeds lit up with congratulations, as popular accounts including @savoirdhaiti, @ticketmaghaiti, and @tito.ht amplified the news. The atmosphere was one of collective joy — a nation celebrating one of its own.

Words from the Founders

During the virtual awards ceremony, founders Tracey and Kate Redmond shared their admiration and appreciation for Iris: “Iris stood out for her unwavering commitment and generosity in uplifting others in her community, becoming not only an inspirational Style Coach™ but also a beacon of hope in the face of so many challenges.” They added: “The finalists in this international category have shown us what it truly means to combine style with substance — and to use the clothes we wear as a powerful force for both inner and outer transformation.”

A Message of Gratitude and Hope

In her own words, Iris described the award as a timely and deeply meaningful affirmation: “This award couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather over the past couple of months, and this recognition lifted my spirits and gave me a renewed sense of energy and purpose. It reminded me that even in moments of doubt or fatigue, we can still be making a difference.” She later wrote in a blog post titled “A Win for Us All”: “This is a celebration of confidence awakened, of meaningful conversations, and of deep transformation — inside and out. It’s a confirmation that style, when guided with purpose, becomes a tool for self-love, empowerment, and healing.”

A Call to Future Style Coaches™

If you’ve ever dreamed of using fashion as a force for good… if you long to build a meaningful business that blends creativity with compassion… if you’re ready to walk a path of personal growth while helping others do the same — let Iris’s story be your inspiration.

Becoming a Certified Style Coach™ isn’t just about launching a new career. It’s about choosing to lead with heart. To uplift others. To blend psychology, coaching, colour, and wardrobe into one transformational toolkit. And to join a global community that believes confidence can change lives.

Looking Ahead

As Iris continues to grow LaMoumous, her mission remains the same: to make style a gateway to self-acceptance, empowerment, and joy. She is helping to redefine beauty on her own terms — not as something imposed from the outside, but as something expressed boldly from within.

To discover more about Iris Duhamel’s work, visit lamoumous.com or follow her on Instagram at @lamoumous.

To begin your own journey towards becoming a Certified Style Coach™, visit stylecoachinginstitute.com. You might just discover that your greatest transformation begins the moment you decide to help someone else shine.