The Historic Day Janelle Penny Commissiong Became the First Black Woman to Win the Miss Universe Title

Shattering Glass Ceilings: A Remarkable Moment

On a momentous day in 1977, Janelle Penny Commissiong from Trinidad and Tobago etched her name in the annals of history by becoming the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Universe.

Commissiong’s victory at the Miss Universe pageant in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was not only a personal triumph but also a groundbreaking moment for representation and diversity.

“As the first Black Miss Universe, Commissiong attracted more than normal international attention. For the U.S. to Asian media especially, she was a particularly interesting topic,” noted historian Elwood Watson.

During her reign from 1977 to 1978, Commissiong used her platform as a vocal advocate for Black rights in nations where people of African ancestry were minorities, and she campaigned tirelessly for world peace.

A Pioneering Icon in Trinidad and Tobago

Commissiong’s achievement was celebrated with great pride in her home country of Trinidad and Tobago, where she was awarded the Trinity Cross, the nation’s highest honor, and had three postage stamps issued in her honor.

“For many, it was tragically ironic to see the first Miss Universe of African ancestry crowning a woman from a nation that was internationally known for its racial injustice toward Black people,” Watson remarked, referring to Commissiong’s successor, Margaret Gardiner of South Africa.

A Life of Continued Success and Influence

After her reign ended, Commissiong’s influence and success continued to flourish. She married twice, briefly headed her late husband’s pleasure boat manufacturing company, and adopted a daughter, Sasha.

“Like many famous people of Caribbean heritage, Janelle Commissiong is considered an icon in her native Trinidad and Tobago, where she continues to manage successful businesses,” Watson noted.

Commissiong’s historic achievement as the first Black Miss Universe has inspired generations of women, serving as a powerful reminder that barriers are meant to be broken and glass ceilings are meant to be shattered.