Sunday, August 16, 2009
And another day in history for Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad and Tobago had become the first black winner in the 26-year history of the pageant. The accomplishments and 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) inspired Janelle. She hailed her victory as "a step in the right direction" toward changing attutudes towards blacks. "I hope it opens people's eyes - black and white." Janelle also remarked that she would like to reform Uganda's murderous dictator, Idi Amin, saying she would like to ask him "why he does the things that he does."
1st runner-up Eva Maria Duringer AUSTRIA
2nd runner-up Sandra Bell SCOTLAND
3rd runner-up Aura Maria Mojica
COLOMBIA
4th runner-up Marie-Luise Gassen
GERMANY
SEMI-FINALISTS
Maritza Elizabet Jurado ARGENTINA
Blanca Aurora Sardinas DOMINICAN REP.
Ineke Berends HOLLAND
Beatriz Obregon Lacayo NICARAGUA
Luz Maria Polegre Hernandez SPAIN
Kimberly Louise Tomes USA
Cristal del Mar Montanez VENEZUELA
