Background
Giselle was born in Portuguese-of-Spain, Trinidad.
Giselle was born in Portuguese-of-Spain, Trinidad.
One of four children, she attended Saint Peter"s school at Pointe-à-Pierre and Saint Francois Girls High School.
The pageant was held in London, United Kingdom. In that year, the United States was represented by aspiring actress Halle Berry. 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. Giselle believed herself to be good-looking, but did not believe herself to be exceptionally gorgeous.
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 winning the Mission World title she used her prize money to attend the Goldsmith"s College, University of London where she completed a degree in Sociology and Communication.
She continues to live in her homeland of Trinidad & Tobago where she is the Corporate Communications Manager with Angostura Limited.
Walking away with the title Mission World 1986, Giselle Laronde West became the first woman from Trinidad and Tobago to be victorious in the Mission 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 Mission Universe 1977. In her early 20s, while was Giselle working at a local cr union, many of her friends and family,encouraged her to enter the Mission World contest because they said she looked the part and had the personality. 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 Mission World auditions held in the nations capital, Portuguese-of-Spain which was the last day to be eligible for the contest. When she did win the Mission 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-West was awarded the Chaconia Medal and had a BWIA plane named after her.
