Mia's choice of gown not so hot
By Steve Ninvalle in Puerto Rico
Stabroek News
May 27, 2002
Miss Guyana Mia Rahaman had a rollercoaster evening at Friday's Miss Universe presentation show at the Roberto Clement Arena in San Juan. The 5' 10" Guyanese beauty looked curvaceous in her two-piece swimsuit but her choice of evening gown left a bitter taste in the mouths of locals who attended the show including her father.
Rahaman wore a flowing off white Cinderella-type gown with matching white cape during the evening wear segment which many believe could be the determining factor in whether she makes the historic leap into the final ten.
Regina Spencer, trainer, nutritionist and motivator was of the view that the gown was a poor choice.
"Going in to the evening gown competition I felt that we had a really good opportunity. Unfortunately Mia elected to wear her hair down which, I think, did not do her the justice for that segment. She had already had her hair in the same style for the other two segments. I think that the strength of her (facial) beauty would be her cheekbones and her eyes. These were hidden by the fact that she elected to wear her hair down. I don't know what the reason was and there is an awful amount of speculation as to why that took place," Spencer said.
"Because of the fact that Mia lost some more weight the dress did not fit as it should. The choice of colour was not the right one for that evening. It didn't show as well as some of the other gowns. It did not carry the depth for pageantry. It was a beautiful gown but not one that I would have selected for pageant night.
"Mia had an opportunity to model in a (black) dress done by Leroy Cary which I felt would have had more charisma and had more weight. She also wore a shawl... The gown was full flowing which did not do much for her stature. She should have had a hip-hugging, body-fitting type dress. She has the body to carry it.
Her hairstyle and gown didn't do her justice," Spencer added. "She was in control of her own destiny.
She elected to wear that gown. She made a decision that I'm not sure would work in her favour. I felt that she did really well in the opening sequence with her costume as well as being able to walk with confidence in a two-piece swimsuit. A lot of kudos should go to her for putting herself in shape for the swimsuit competition," Spencer said.
Nonchalantly, the 22-year-old Rahaman said that she is still confident of making the final 10.
"My interviews went really well. I was able to be myself. They saw that and I think that they liked it. One of the questions they asked me was what was the best part of my country. I had to tell them about the wonderful people. How hospitable they are."
According to Rahaman the dress she wore at the presentation show was body fitting when it was bought but then she lost weight.
"I felt more confident in my swimsuit than in my gown." The 75 delegates had their last interviews on Saturday and only have rehearsals before the big night on Wednesday.