Giselle Laronde

Giselle Laronde

Beauty pageant titleholder
Born	Giselle Jeanne-Marie Laronde 24 October 1963 Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Other names	Giselle Laronde-West Giselle Laronde
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Measurements	86-64-89 (34-25-35)[1]
Hair color	Black
Eye color	Brown[2]
Title(s)	Miss Trinidad & Tobago World 1986 Miss World 1986
Major competition(s)	Miss Trinidad & Tobago World 1986 (Winner) Miss World 1986 (Winner) (Miss World Americas)

Giselle Jeanne-Marie Laronde-West (born October 24, 1963) is a Trinidadian model and beauty queen who won the Miss World 1986 contest, representing Trinidad and Tobago. Walking away with the title Miss World 1986, Giselle Laronde West became the first woman from Trinidad and Tobago to be victorious in the Miss World pageant, at the age of just 23 years. She became the second woman from that nation to win an international beauty pageant, after Janelle Commissiong Miss Universe 1977. The pageant was held in London, UK. 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 all over Trinidad but spent most of her life in San Fernando where she moved 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 was Giselle 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 think 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 Goldsmith's College, University of London^[4] where she completed a degree in Sociology and Communication. Laronde-West was awarded the Chaconia Medal and had a BWIA plane named after her. She is married to Heathcliff West and has two sons,the elder Kye West and kristof who previously attended Fatima College. She continues to live in her homeland of Trinidad & Tobago where she is the Corporate Communications Manager with Angostura Ltd.

References

1. "New Miss World is Caribbean Island Beauty". The Schenectady Gazette. Schenectady, New York. Associated Press. November 14, 1986. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
2. "Trinidadian wins Miss World crown". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. November 14, 1986. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
3. "Miss World History". missworld.com. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
4. http://www.jamaquemagazine.com/featured/28-portraits-of-beauty/68-giselle-laronde