Janelle Commissiong
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| Janelle Commissiong Beauty pageant titleholder |
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| Birth name: | Janelle Commissiong |
| Birth location: | Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago |
| Eye color: | Brown |
| Hair color: | Brown |
| Ethnicity: | Predominantly African Heritage |
| Title(s): | Miss Trinidad & Tobago 1977 Miss Universe 1977 |
Janelle "Penny" Commissiong-Bowen-Chow (born 1953 in Port of Spain) is the first person from Trinidad and Tobago to win Miss Universe and the first woman of predominantly African descent to win the pageant.
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, 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.
She married Brian Bowen, founder of Bowen Marine, who died in an accident in November of 1989. After his death she married businessman Alwin Chow.
Commissiong was awarded the Trinity Cross, her country's highest honour, in 1977. Three postage stamps were also issued in her honour.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Janelle Commissiong at bestoftrinidad.com
- The Penny that didn't drop - biography at nalis.gov.tt
| Preceded by Rina Messinger |
Miss Universe 1977 |
Succeeded by Margaret Gardiner |
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