Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad and Tobago for Miss Universe 1977

Janelle Penny Commissiong (born June 15, 1953) is a Trinidadian politician, model and beauty queen.
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 title, she went on to be crowned Miss Universe 1977 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
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.
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.

[@cynthiaedwards954]

First woman of color to become Ms. Universe. You have made us proud Penny.♥️♥️🇹🇹🇹🇹

[@BlakeBarbieDoll]

Yes, she did.

[@michellelawrence4187]

🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹 trini to the bone first black miss universe and first miss universe from Thinidad 🙆

[@valentinaesposito2937]

She’s very pretty and natural with a little bit make up, very intelligent and elegant, absolutely stunning

[@rondaniel8958]

What a beautiful stunning black beauty style and class

[@anthonywest4173]

JANELLE PENNY COMMISSIONG IS STILL A FLAWLESS BEAUTY.

[@raquelcuello5683]

Oh my god. I remembered watching this as a child. She is beautiful 🇩🇴

[@quietstorm8169]

me 2

[@waihungwaihungcheungcheung1255]

Me 3

[@mgdaliarodriguez6096]

This lady is really a beautiful black women in Miss Universe.

[@guestaccount4278]

Yes, she is.

[@waihungwaihungcheungcheung1255]

Agreed

[@cuthbertjolly4859]

What a beautiful woman!

[@definitedoll]

By the way I watched this in glorious black and white in 1977 and my mother and I were rooting for her from the get-go I've never seen such a more beautiful girl and she's got dimples for days you could dive into them they're so deep just a gorgeous woman...

[@dbrown9495]

Smart charming and elegantly strong!!

[@karinabacon920]

BELLÍSSIMA MISS UNIVERSO!!!!

[@BlakeBarbieDoll]

She was the prettiest one in the bunch.

[@annalevkin5757]

She’s stunning!

[@PHlophe]

03:39 austria girl raised her hands thinking she bagged the whole thing. Chile, this has got to hurt, real bad . Ooooh Lord.

[@johnbannick6796]

A True Black Beauty

[@ktgv9334]

Realmente hermosa, no entiendo porque la gente se sorprende con miss universo 2019 si ya había pasado, ya se ha coronado una mujer de raza negra con el cabello corto, acá esta la prueba y mucho más hermosa que la Sudáfricana...

[@javiermartell6456]

bella.imponente y con clase.

[@kaisoisla]

That face! Wow!!😍

[@definitedoll]

You didn't see anybody walking off the stage when this girl won...

[@itsjemmabond]

What is wrong with that host? Trinnies DO speak English!

[@romnicklazatin3679]

Americans think they are the only ones who speak perfect English. Funny

[@veronicakashaka3299]

@@romnicklazatin3679 not sure if Americans speak perfect English, Live here 40 years, I wouldn't say it's perfect English

[@dannysarangga476]

@@romnicklazatin3679 of of

[@amandar176]

Meanwhile he keeps mispronouncing her name right 🙄

[@omaveira1979]

Well we have seen many Trinidadians who do not speak English. Right now on 90 day finance’ there is a biracial woman who embarrasses her Country so much by being on every technology outlet she can placed her fingers on and they is a National disgrace to the people of Trinidadians with her sing along accent, sometimes you just can’t ascertained what she is saying, but Miss Universe outshines them love. I can remembered the day clearly when she won I think it was in the eighties my husband and I cheered for her so much. I still and always wish her all the health, strength and happiness in the world today and she still looks as though she can win again with her everlasting beauty. Those were the beautiful day of elegance, simplicity and beauty. In today world they have to show and dresses so inconspicuous.

[@ghostinyou588]

So pretty

[@harolddottin10]

Janelle Commissionng Is Pictured In The Video Sonny Charles & The Checkmates Black Pearl. What a proud moment ,for the people of Trinidad & Tobago.

[@SopranoSistah]

Happy TEARS….still all these years later!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😢😊😢😊😢😊 As an elementary school girl this was almost unbelievable for me to see at the time. My gorgeous young mother was dancing around the living room.💃🏽💯🙌🏾☝🏾🎼🎵🎶

[@nicee90]

Not Austria thinking she won 😂 🇹🇹 🇹🇹 🇹🇹

[@Gerard945]

Beautiful face.

[@malcolmpalmer569]

History was made on this night!

[@merlynramkissoon76]

She is so beautiful

[@seanwilson5516]

No black woman had ever won it, so Miss Austria thought the crown was automatically hers at 3:39. Sorry, you gotta be quicker than that...😂😂

[@listraedwards3940]

One of the most beautiful miss universe ❤❤❤

[@beyourself2444]

All of Trinidad and Tobago's Ms. Universes are black and from Diego Martin. Yes, we're the cutest

[@karelphillips3483]

That costume she used was a costume from children's carnival in that same year, can't remember the name, but I have the picture.

[@seunajayinigerian1279]

Please, what country did she mention at 3:02?

[@magentateacarlton7740]

Did you see her lean in and I guess try and kiss her at 3:23 and she moved away like uhh no lol

[@annalevkin5757]

Yes, it seems confusing like she tried to kiss miss Austria but that one was a little distracted & tried to kiss her back too lol

[@shanniaashton4982]

I think the host liked her 😏

[@dilciaseecharan2146]

Let's not forget that penny's mother is from venezuela

[@rahulvinalnarayan9743]

Austria thought she won lol.

[@SammyInSYD]

Lol austria thought she won 😂

[@judyperrybennett]

The man mentioned miss first runner up, so why miss Austria put up her bouquet Congratulations to miss Trinidad and Tobago

[@akhkasmuri1970]

The realy prety women

[@phoenix5388]

"Ms. Trinidad Tobago and she speaks perfect English" Are you kidding me? What did he think she spoke coming from Trinidad and Tobago? Steups

[@DeeDee-fc4jl]

And you speak perfect English wtf.... Sir it's Trinidad and Tobago smh....disrespectful.... Yasss Penny 🇹🇹 🇹🇹 🇹🇹 🇹🇹

[@adminypantip5390]

Which country did she want to travel to the most??? I can't hear !

[@tahirghoerahoe8246]

The far east(Asia)

[@marcuscobiealexander]

Fb brought me here nappy gt

[@merlynramkissoon76]

Did'nt the Host heard her speaking English???

[@ironiedusort]

"They speak English in New York..." So is he implying that what she's speaking is NOT English?? He said it in such a weird tone of voice. There's different forms of English not just American English😑Pffft

[@lisaphillips9991]

Miss janq

[@jhaelobrien7735]

More beautiful than wendy

[@mcmc1103]

Wendy is beautiful.

[@daintyann1795]

Exactly more than Wendy , she’s very cute

[@seunajayinigerian1279]

She kind of looks like Skai Jackson.

[@lynneleeluckdowsing6654]

Relief!!! Bay instead of baaaaaaaaaa.