Persad-Bissessar and three other female world leaders were honoured Monday night at a function at Carnegie Hall, New York, hosted by Glamour, which was recently named Magazine of the Year.
They were each named as Women of the Year and hailed in video presentations, by former US President Bill Clinton and current Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.
Persad-Bissessar was credited for fighting poverty and crime and for her commitment to bringing more women into public office.
In a brief acceptance speech at the function at Carnegie Hall in New York, Persad-Bissessar urged people to visit Trinidad and Tobago and said the country is “a great destination for investment and for leisure.”
Speaking about the advancement of women, she stated: “We will all rise together.”
She said she was humbled and accepted the award on behalf of “unheralded women."
A media release Tuesday from Press Secretary Gavin Nicholas said Persad-Bissessar has also been placed "in the exalted company of Dr. Hawa Abdi, a 63-year-old woman who has been working with her two daughters, also doctors, to educate and lift women out of poverty in Somalia."
The released added, "The Trinidad and Tobago leader has been listed with fashion designer DonatellaVersace, and acclaimed American sportswomen Mia Hamm (football), Lindsey Vonn (skiing) and Lisa Leslie (basketball)."
The event attracted the participation of media mogul Oprah Winfrey, actresses Hillary Swank and Kate Hudson, television journalists Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer, singer Janet Jackson, media commentator Arianna Huffington and Chelsea Clinton, daughter of the ex-US President.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg also addressed the large audience.
Glamour’s editors noted that the number of female world leaders had moved from eight, in 1990 when the Women of the Year honour was introduced, to 19 at present.
Persad-Bissessar granted a number of interviews on the red carpet walk, talking with reporters from CNN, USA Today, AP, New York Daily News, People and In-Touch magazines, E-TV, MTV Extra TV and several others.
She spoke of her efforts to take people out of poverty, to diversify the economy, to increase tourism arrivals, create new opportunities and other initiatives of her administration.
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