The Jade, Protector Of The Wests
Kristof West by Isabelle Hoogeveen.
It was 1986, at twenty three years old, she got elected as Miss World in London. As a woman from Trinidad and Tobago, this was momentous for the small isle. She was the second woman from our nation to receive recognition at an international beauty pageant following the iconic Janelle “Penny” Commissiong. My mom, Giselle Laronde, has always been very modest, so participating was something she could not have done without the encouragement of our family and friends. Let alone how surprised she was when she actually won the competition. With this new title, she got the opportunity to travel around the world and visit all these other beautiful destinations. But besides her beauty, she’s also got the brains. She used her prize money to attend the Goldsmiths College University of London, where she got her degree in Sociology and Communication. For the filming parts of the pageant show she went to Macau and Hong Kong and these trips always had some humanitarian purpose. When I was young she used to tell me these stories and show me pictures of these places that I’d never seen before. Stories about different cultures and people are what inspired me most. The day I turned 17, I decided it was my time to see a bit of the world and I wanted to go to Hongkong just like her. Li Po Chun United World College to finish my baccalaureate, and got accepted. I’ve always desired to travel to Asia since another commonality that makes me my mother’s son, is the love we share for karate and thus the Asian culture. Before I went, she told me to close my eyes and hold out my hands. The warmness of my palms got shocked by a cold, stone-like feeling. It was a beautiful jade pendant that she bought during her visit to Hong Kong. While I was in Hongkong, every time I missed home I noticed my hands were searching for my neck, longing to feel the presence of the gemstone. Holding it reminded me of the possibilities in this world and it kept me connected to the journey that was completed before I was even born. What’s so beautiful about the pendant is that it tarnishes on the person wearing it. A combination of sweat, tears and perfume make the colours less bright. Maybe when I have kids of my own, I will pass the pendant down, just like my mom did, and hopefully it can remind them of the safety that our family bond carries.
Story by Bo Soepboer for Beyond Garment Magazine
