Giselle Laronde
Giselle Laronde | |
---|---|
Brown[1] | |
Major competition(s) | Miss Trinidad and Tobago 1986 (Winner) Miss World 1986 (Winner) (Miss World Americas) |
Giselle Jeanne-Marie Laronde-West (born October 23, 1963) is a Trinidadian model, Stenographer and beauty queen who won Miss World 1986, representing Trinidad and Tobago. She became the second woman from that nation to win an international beauty pageant, after Janelle Commissiong Miss Universe 1977 and the only one to date, to win Miss World. The pageant was held in London, UK at the Royal Albert Hall. In that year, the US was represented by aspiring actress Halle Berry.[3]
Early life
Giselle was born in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. She grew up in several parts of Trinidad but spent most of her life in San Fernando where she moved to, with her family at the age of 10. One of four children, she attended St. Peter's school at Pointe-à-Pierre and St. Francois Girls High School. In her early 20s, while Giselle was working at a local credit union, many of her friends and family encouraged her to enter the Miss World contest because they said she looked the part and had the personality. Giselle believed herself to be good-looking, but did not believe herself to be exceptionally gorgeous. She also considered herself a "tom-boy"; "never glamorous, never ever a girly-girl or getting her nails and hair done..." Family therefore had to prod, they encourage her to attend the Miss World auditions held in the nation's capital, Port-of-Spain, which was the last day to be eligible for the contest. When she did win the Miss World title she was surprised, more like shocked, she was full of pride and excitement and had little fear of what winning would mean for her life. Laronde thought the most important factors that led her to winning were a combination of self-assurance, confidence, beauty, personality, intellect, grace, and presence. Giselle was told by one of the judges that she looked at ease on the stage and flowed when she walked.
After Miss World
After winning the Miss World title she used her prize money to attend the
References
- ^ "Trinidadian wins Miss World crown". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. November 14, 1986. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- The Schenectady Gazette. Schenectady, New York. Associated Press. November 14, 1986. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- ^ "Miss World History". missworld.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ "VCN".