Miss World 1970 winner Jennifer Hosten will be welcomed to The Hub in Toronto on Saturday, October 31 for “An Evening with Jennifer Hosten.”
Hosten, the first Black woman to win Miss World, will share her remarkable life journey at the event.
The evening will feature an intimate fireside conversation hosted by CTV’s Andria Case, followed by a screening of “Misbehaviour” the film inspired by the controversial 1970 pageant. Hosten will also sign copies of her book.
It was 1970. Black Power was in the air. Across the Caribbean and around the world, Black people were finding a new language for pride, anger, and self-determination.
And right then, a young woman from Grenada took the world stage , becoming the first Black woman ever to win Miss World.
For many across the Caribbean, her victory was deeply personal. In Trinidad, the Mighty Sparrow captured the mood in his iconic calypso:
“Oh how we love cousin Jennifer, And we are all very proud, Charm and mannerisms, poise and magnetism, Stepping in style with that lovely smile.”
That feeling reached far beyond Grenada. Jennifer was family. It was profoundly moving to see West Indian swagger, self-confidence and beauty affirmed in her composure and elegance – celebrated before the entire world.
It was not a simple night. On November 20, 1970, women’s liberation protesters disrupted the live broadcast from London’s Royal Albert Hall. Hosten’s win also drew allegations of favouritism because Grenada’s Premier, Sir Eric Gairy, was on the judging panel claims organizers denied by making ballot cards public.
Race, power and competing ideas about women’s worth surrounded her coronation.
The protesters saw a cattle market; many in the Caribbean saw a Caribbean woman crowned before the world. Hosten stood at the centre of both stories. But what remains most clearly for many is the joy and pride her win inspired.
Years later, Hosten made her home in Canada, and her life beyond the crown has been equally remarkable.
Before Miss World, she trained with the BBC in the 1960s and worked as a broadcaster for its Caribbean Service. She later served as a flight attendant with British West Indian Airways (BWIA) – at the time a jewel of Caribbean identity whose stewardesses were seen as superstars and global ambassadors.
She moved to Canada and in 1978 became Grenada’s High Commissioner to Canada, entering diplomacy. She later became a Canadian citizen and worked in international development and trade with Canada and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.
At 60, she chose another path of service, pursuing higher education and training as a psychotherapist – supporting others to navigate the complicated inner lives we all carry.
The Toronto event promises a rare opportunity to celebrate not just the historic moment of 1970, but the full, thoughtful and inspiring life that followed.
