Black History Month: The First Black Woman With a Miss Universe Title

Janelle "Penny" Commissiong was the first black woman to hold the Miss Universe title. It was on July 16, 1977 that Janelle Penny Commissiong brought pride and joy to her home country Trinidad & Tobago after she won Miss Universe which was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Read more about her history, what exaclty happend that day and the reactions to her victory after the jump:

Commissiong was crowned the first black woman to be awarded the title. But the Miss Universe title was the only one she would walk away with at that competition – Commissiong was elected Miss Photogenic at that same competition.She had three stamps of different denominations made in honour of her accomplishments. On her return to Trinidad & Tobago , Commisiong was bestowed the Trinity Award for the promotion of the image of Trinidad & Tobago.

In 1953 Janelle "Penny" Commissiong, the daughter of Venezuelan mother and Trinidadian father, came into the world in Port of Spain, Trinidad Tobago, a country very famous for its music and athletes as Ato Bolton and Hasely Crawford. In the 1960s she moved with her family to the United States.

In New York City, she studied fashion designer at the Fashion Institute of Technology. But she returned to Port of Spain in 1976, year where Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Margaret Elizabeth McFarlane, won the Miss Congeniality Title. Next year, Janelle Commissiong had been selected to represent the Island at the 1977 Miss Universe Competition in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

During the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant Miss TT was very popular, but was not favorite for the title. Miss Austria, Eva Maria Duringer, was a big favorite until last second.She looks like Farrah Fawcett, an actress best known for her role on Tv’s Charly Angel’s in the 1970s.Other favorites were Miss Colombia, Aura Maria Mojica, an exotic girl from Cali; and Miss Nicaragua, Beatriz Lacayo Obregon, a spectacular Latin Barbie from Managua. But none favorite did not speak English very well.

Miss Trinidad-Tobago was elected Miss Photogenic 4 days before the final. She was the second black woman to win the award in the Miss Universe History. On July 16th, in the National Theater of Santo Domingo, Janelle Commissiong was awesome in the semifinal and final. It was a very good day for her. Miss Austria did not show the same talent compared to Miss TT. Minutes later Janelle Commissiong was crowded Miss Universe.

Miss Trinidad and Tobago attracted international attention in 1977 because she was crowded as the first black in the chronology of Miss Universe. At the end of the transmission, via satellite, the Trinidadian celebrated the triumph of Janelle Commissiong. Port of Spain was a carnival. Every newspaper had the same story. The New York Times said that "Miss Universe 1977 was a black bombshell". Certainly, the world did not have a black Miss Universe until 1977.

There were 12 judges: Oscar de La Renta (Dominican designer), Dionne Warwick (American singer), Gordon Parks (American photographer), Roberto Cavalli (designer from Italy), Marisol Malaret (formerly Miss Universe), Wihelmina (designer from the Netherlands) and other personalities. When Janelle was crowded as Miss Universe, Dionne Warwick said "I felt as If I had won".

Janelle posing with Michael Jackson

After her reign, she had an interview with Joaquin Balaguer, President of the Dominican Republic (a fan of Miss Universe Pageant) in the National Palace. Like Miss Universe, she visited many nations around the world: from Iceland, Argentina, Hong Kong, Peru, Puerto Rico to the United States.

In 1978 Janelle went to Chile, where she was a special judge at the "Miss Beaches of South American". During her reign, she had been an advocate for black’s rights and the world peace. She wants to meet with Idi Amin Dada, one of the worst dictators of the 20th Century.
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. She married Brian Bowen, founder of Bowen Marine, who died in an accident in November 1989. After his death, she married businessman Alwin Chow.

Now almost 60, she's still haltingly beautiful. But from today's vantage point she's a little cynical about the importance people assign to physical beauty, calling it a "powerful distraction". She's in the process of writing a book about her life. Unsurprisingly, it isn't going to be just about her fleeting beauty queen stint and its enduring ripples. She recalls her overnight baby-sitting jobs in New York as a teen, her juggling college and work, the hard-won lessons and successes she's had in the business world.