Janelle Commissiong

Janelle Penny Commissiong (born June 15, 1953) is a Trinidadian politician, model and beauty queen.

Janelle Commissiong
Janelle Commissiong-Chow as Deputy Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Development Company
Born	Janelle Penny Commissiong (1953-06-15) June 15, 1953 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Title	Miss Trinidad & Tobago 1977 Miss Universe 1977
Beauty pageant titleholder
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Brown
Major competition(s)	Miss Trinidad & Tobago 1977 (Winner) Miss Universe 1977 (Winner) (Miss Photogenic)

Biography

Commissiong migrated to the United States at the age of 13, and returned to Trinidad and Tobago ten years later. After winning the Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe title, she went on to be crowned Miss Universe 1977 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and in the process became the first black woman to win the prestigious pageant crown.

In New York City, she studied fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology, but returned to Port of Spain in 1976. The following year, Commissiong was selected to represent the Island at the 1977 Miss Universe competition in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

She was elected Miss Photogenic four days before the final, becoming the first black woman to win these awards in Miss Universe history. On July 16, in the National Theater of Santo Domingo, Commissiong was crowned Miss Universe, attracting international attention as the first black winner in the chronology of Miss Universe.

During her reign, she was an advocate for black rights and world peace. Commissiong was awarded the Trinity Cross, the country's highest award, in 1977. Three postage stamps were also issued in her honour.

Commissiong was named chair of the newly-formed Tourism Trinidad Destination Management Company in October 2017. From 2012 to 2015 she had served as vice-chair of its predecessor agency, the Tourism Development Company.[1]

She married Brian Bowen, founder of Bowen Marine, who died in an accident in November 1989. After his death, she married businessman Alwin Chow. She studied at Bishop Anstey High School.

See also

• Giselle LaRonde
• Wendy Fitzwilliam

References

1. "Penny Commissiong heads new tourism agency". looptt.com. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2018.

• Janelle Commissiong at bestoftrinidad.com
• The Penny that didn't drop - biography at nalis.gov.tt

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Rina Messinger	Miss Universe 1977	Succeeded by Margaret Gardiner