36th Miss World - 1986

Giselle Laronde, was a 23-year-old credit union employee from South Trinidad, when she was propelled into the public eye as the newest Miss World in 1986. Although she had stayed much in the background during the preliminary rounds of the pageant, she wowed the judges in the finals. Her win wowed the proud people of her country too, so much so, that her face was featured on a series of national postage stamps produced in her honor.

In October, the majority of the contestants, the Thames TV Crew, dancers and Miss World staff, flew to Hong Kong. From there, the nearly 160 party took the hour-long jetfoil to Macau. Over seven days the contestants' introductions and swimwear segments were filmed to be shown during the opening sequence of the final.

During their time in Macau, a special show was staged for local TV - the contestants were judged by four Macau judges. These judges selected their final 15 and the results were sealed in envelopes and placed in a safe until the final. The marks from the four Macau judges were added to those of the nine London judges.

Miss World 1986 Charity Lunch exceeds £100,000

The 1986 Miss World luncheon was designed to equally benefit British Variety and International Lifeline, the American-founded project intended mainly to help sick and deprived children in developing countries. The charities benefited by over £100,000, raised through sponsorship, a raffle and auction. The latter was conducted in the inimitable style by Eric Morley, who, with his wife Julia, collaborated with Variety in presenting the occasion.

Before the luncheon a Sunshine Coach was presented by the Miss World Organisation to the Attlee Adventure Playground. It had been made over by Julia Morley, who in turn received a handsome plaque presented to her by David Jones, representing the Chief Barker. The coach was presented in tribute to Lord and Lady Bottomley, Trustees of the playground, to mark their considerable contribution.  

The luncheon itself attracted approximately 1,000 members and guests, and the Miss World contestants, in national costume, sat with the assembly at their individual tables.

Eric Morley had arranged a sponsorship with Sweetings, The Premier Nightclub of Bedford, who paid £25,000 for the privilege.

Eric Morley’s auction brought in £19,000, and a raffle raised another £9,000. Among the auctioned items were wigs brought by the contestants from their respective countries.

Chief Barker Harry Goodman paid eloquent tribute to the Morleys, thanking them for making the girls available for the luncheon. He praised their entrepreneurial prowess, and stated that over the years the Miss World luncheon had raised several million pounds for Variety’s sick and deprived children.

There is little doubt that the event is the most popular function organised by Variety. It is tastefully arranged and a prime fund-raiser.

In late 1986, a huge earthquake struck El Salvador and caused tremendous devastation. The huge Benjamin Bloom Hospital, which treats thousands of children, was reduced to rubble. This left the children, doctors and nurses to survive under a vast canvas tent in the rainy season with temperatures of 42 degrees celsius and no facilities.

Sister Gladys from the Hogar del Niños (Children’s Hospital) and all her team were trying to cope with 582 children. They had lost dormitories, water supplies and everything except their spirit.

Julia Morley used her capacity as an International Ambassador of Variety Clubs International, to ask their Charities Committee to underwrite the purchase of $25,000 worth of medicines.

Julia Morley phoned Miss World representatives for their support. This included Miss World 1986, Giselle Laronde, Pilin Leon, Miss World 1981, Mariasela Alvarez, Miss World 1982 and the Miss World 1986 contestants from the Isle of Man, Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Germany and Austria. They all travelled to San Salvador where they were all moved by what they saw at the hospital.

Using local fashion and clothes each girl had brought with her, a very successful show was put together. Most importantly, on that night, every seat was sold. Four weeks after the show, Benjamin Bloom had strong pre-fabricated buildings to house the children. At Hogar del Niños, Sister Glady’s new dormitories were completed and a new water tank installed with pipelines to service all areas. 

MISS WORLD - TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - Giselle Jeanne-Marie LARONDE

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