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Caribbean
Beauties Abound |
When Liane Angus emerged runner up in the 2001 Miss USA Pageant she reaffirmed the fact that Caribbean beauties have been holding their own in the international for quite some time now.
Recall that the 1998 Miss Universe was Trindad & Tobago's Wendy Fitzwilliam, then twenty five years old. Wendy was the latest in a line of Caribbeans who have regularly walked the winner's strut at international beauty pageants.
It all began when Venezuelan beauty, Carmen Susana Duijm Zubillaga, took the top spot at the 1955 Miss World. Sure one could argue that Venezuela is not a Caribbean nation. But not only are many Caribbeans living in Venezuela, that nation also sits as a neighbor to the the Caribbean Basin, has observer status in CARICOM and is a member of the Association of Caribbean States.
Since then 12 Caribbeans have gone on to cop the Miss World title. And since 1970 eight Caribbeans have walked away with the Miss Universe crown, the last being Wendy Fitzwilliam. That does not include the 1991 winner, Mexico's Lapita Jones. But, for those who do not know, the name Jones should be a giveaway. On a late night television talk show in New York City, Ms. Jones declared that her paternal grandfather was from Jamaica. So her heritage was part Caribbean!
Miss World Caribbean Winners
| Year 1955 1963 1970 1973 1975 1976 1979 1981 1982 1984 1986 1993 1995 |
Country Venezuela Jamaica Grenada Jamaica Puerto Rico Jamaica Bermuda Venezuela Dominican Republic Venezeula Trinidad & Tobago Jamaica Venezuela |
Winner Carmen Susana Duijm Zubillaga Carole Joan Crawford Jennifer Hosten Patsy Yuen Wilnelia Merced Cindy Breakspeare Gina Swainson Pilin Leon Mariasela Alvarez Astrid Herrera Giselle Laronde Lisa Hannah Jacquelin Aguilera |
But the story does not end there. Guyanese, Shakira Baksh was the second runner-up in the 1967 Miss World. She went on to become the wife of British actor, Michael Caine and, subsequently a highly successful businesswoman in her own right. In 1984, when the then reigning Miss America was forced to give up her title, the runner-up, Suzete Charles of New Jersey, took over the crown and sash, thereby becoming the first black to fully hold the title. Ms. Charles' mother was of Barbadian ancestry. In 1991 the Miss America title was won by Marjorie Vincent of Illinois. Ms. Vincent's parents had emigrated from Haiti. And in 1995, Trinidadian, Michele Khan was the runner-up at the Miss World contest in Sun City, South Africa.
Miss Universe Caribbean Winners
| Year 1970 1977 1979 1981 1985 1986 1993 1998 |
Country Puerto Rico Trinidad & Tobago Venezuela Venezuela Puerto Rico Venezuela Puerto Rico Trinidad & Tobago |
Winner Marisol Malaret Janelle Commissiong Maritz Sayalero Irene Saez Deborah Carthy-Deu Barbara Palacios Teyde Dayanara Torres Wendy Fitzwilliams |
Perhaps, however, the global coming out of Caribbean beauty was best exemplified in the 1998 Miss Universe. In addition to title holder, Wendy Fitzwilliam, the first runner-up, Venezuelan, Veruska Ramirez and the second runner-up, Puerto Rican, Joyce Giraud, are both Caribbeans - a clean sweep, if you will.
Now if only Caribbean beauties can go on to get their fair share of supermodel and Hollywood screen idol appearances. Well, maybe that day will come too. Afterall the way has already been paved by Vanessa Williams and Naomi Campbell on the one hand and the likes of Sidney Poitier, Madge Sinclair, CCH Pounder, Sullivan Walker, Lynn Whitfield, Jimmy Smits and Jennifer Lopez on the other.
Liane Angus, the latest Caribbean beauty to hit the spotlight, is a first generation American born of Guyanese parents. She started in pageants by winning the Miss Guyana Massachusetts, Virginia and DC crown in 1998 and then winning the Miss Guyana Queen of Queens. In the 2001 Miss America she r
epresented
Washington DC.With a degree in exercise physiology under her belt, Liane is currently studying to be a chiropractor. She says the runner up spot "means a lot because to get to this point I had to work very hard".
Liane credits her success to her parents. "My parents have been basically my backbone".
And she speaks about the influence of God in her life. "I am a very religious person. God figures very significantly in all I have achieved."
But she also expresses gratitude to Oma Persaud and Channel 67 (Guyana) who sponsored her for the Queen of Queens pageant, attorney, Mary Robertson and Caribbean Freight.
Since the Miss America pageant, she had had a few offers of modeling but she's "waiting to see what would come".
Liane is a very creative person who plays the flute and the piano. She is also very active in the Caribbean community in DC where her father is a doctor and her mother works with the World Bank.
"One of the hardest thing for me was to get sponsorship to compete in the Miss USA...from the West Indian community," said Liane. But the World Bank has been of tremendous assistance according to both Liane and her mother.
So as she contemplates her future what kind of man would figure in Liane's life? Well her ideal man must "have a strong relationship with God, be highly intelligent, have a sense of humor, a good career and a good relationship with family".