That was the headline in newspapers around the world on July 17, 1977. And indeed it was true, for Janelle Penny Commissiong of Trinidad and Tobago had become the first black winner in the 26-year history of the pageant.

On the night of Saturday, July 16, 1977, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the memories of Evelyn Miot (Miss Haiti 1962 and first black woman to make the semifinals); Anne-Marie Braafheid (Miss Curaçao and 1st runner-up in 1968); and Gerthie David (Miss Haiti and 1st runner-up in 1975) seemed to inspire Janelle.

During each phase of the competition, she moved closer and closer to doing what no woman of color had done before...to claim the title of the most beautiful woman in the Universe.

"I felt like a ray of sunshine was around me" is how Janelle described the feeling that night.

When Janelle was announced as the new Miss Universe, Trinidad and Tobago went wild. It was another Carnaval in the streets, and Trinidadian television aired repeats of the pageant for days.

The 24 year-old Caribbean beauty, daughter of a Trinidadian father and a Venezuelan mother declared that she "believed her election would contribute to erasing racial barriers." Proud of her victory, she noted, "Beauty belongs to all people; it has no racial or geographic boundaries."

As our more astute students know, on the way to winning the title of Miss Universe, Janelle became only the second Miss Universe to win the Miss Photogenic Award as well.

We here at Beauty School could not agree more with Janelle's statement. Because of her ground-breaking achievement, her timeless beauty, her calm and sagacious demeanor, and for women of color all over the world, we are pleased to induct Janelle Penny Commissiong-Chow into the Beauty School Pantheon.

Today, Janelle runs the largest boat-building company in the Caribbean and maintains a low profile. However, she is still revered and adored in her twin-island nation, and in Beauty School's heart as well.

Pictures speak louder than words...and so in honor of our island icon and the indelible impression she left on all of us who were watching the pageant that night back in 1977, we present a photographic essay on Miss Universe 1977. We look forward to seeing her at the 1999 Miss Universe Pageant on May 26th from her native sunshine republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Commemorating our Island Icon