Janelle Commissiong
Janelle "Penny" Commissiong, T.C. is a Trinidadian politician, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 1977.
Early life and education
Janelle Commissiong was born on 15 June 1953 in Port of Spain, to Lucy Maria Joseph and Ruel Commissiong. Commissiong's mother was Venezuelan and her father was Trinidadian. Commissiong has one older sister, Gail.In 1958, Commissiong's parents moved to Venezuela and later migrated to New York City. During this time Commissiong and her sister remained in Trinidad and lived with their aunts. Commissiong studied at Bishop Anstey High School. In 1966, Commissiong to migrated New York City, and was educated at Erasmus Hall High School.
Commissiong studied fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology. In 1976, Commissiong returned to Trinidad.
Career
Commissiong was selected to represent the country 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. 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. After winning the title, she was most commonly known as 'Penny' because she was small as a penny.
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.
In popular culture
In honour of Commissiong's Miss Universe 1977 winner, Three postage stamps were commissioned of Commissiong by the Trinidad and Tobago Postal Service.In 2017, Queen Street in Port of Spain was renamed to Queen Janelle Commissiong Street in tribute of Commissiong's 1977 Miss Universe win.