Judy Dummett - housewife: `I knew Miss Russia would have won. She was simple and her answers were well thought out. I also liked Miss China, but what surprised me was Miss USA wasn't there in the top ten. From the inception, I knew Mia would not have placed. I didn't like her costume, the headpiece wasn't right. But I'm not discrediting her, Mia is beautiful. We benefited from her representation. It was good exposure and in the future, we will have a chance. I think the judges misjudged our country, they were just looking at the situation and not our representative. I think one day we will be there'

Renita Thomas - student: `Miss Russia should not have won, she didn't look the best. But of course, the pageant isn't about looks. It's about intelligence. I believe Mia should have placed, she was so beautiful. It was amazing to see Miss China was placed in the final ten and Mia was not included. We can make it in the top ten, because Guyana has intelligence and beauty. Mia did us proud, but if Juanita [Collins, a runner up in the Miss Guyana contest] had gone she might have brought back something for us.'

David Cheddie - apprentice at GUYSUCO: `I thought they should have given China the crown. Her answers were the most realistic, the most spontaneous. It seemed to come from the heart. I think Mia tried her best, but her trainers could have done a better job. From the inception I thought she wasn't ready. She needed a lot more preparation: physically and in her speech. In the future we will make it in the top ten, be-cause Guyana has a lot of beautiful women. I think we have the most beautiful women in the world.'

Nicola Ramsey - waitress: `I don't think those who made it to the top ten deserved it. There were more beautiful girls, Miss USA, even Miss Guyana didn't even place in the top ten. The only beautiful girl in the top ten was Miss Venezuela. Russia deserved to win, but Miss Venezuela could have gotten the crown if she didn't falter on the last question.'

Dale Forde - housewife: 'Miss Venezuela should have won. I know she didn't respond well to the last question but there should have been a better question. I was also surprised that Mia wasn't in the top ten. She should have at least been placed in the top ten, she was pretty. Guyana has a lot of beautiful people, we can make it in the top ten. The organisers of the local pageant should do more to attract the right girls, because there are people in Guyana who could compete and win at the level of Miss Universe.'

Andre Adams - student/ audit clerk: `I thought the pageant was interesting and well done. The only thing I didn't expect was China making it to the final ten. She didn't have the looks to make it to the top ten. There was no surprise in the Queen, I expected her to win since the beginning. She looked like someone with character; She had a beautiful body and she was confident: The ideal woman of the 21st century. I believe Mia, should have been in the top ten. When you consider it from a `looks' point of view, she is beautiful. But they should start training girls much earlier for a pageant like that. When you look at Venezuela and other countries, those girls have been training since they were very young. There should be a school for training here. We have the girls, but a school would serve to help them understand what it takes and how important it is being there for us. It could put our country on the world map.'

Aisha Bacchus - student: `Miss Russia deserved the crown. But I'm sorry Miss Guyana was not in the final ten. She should have placed. But it's hard to please the judges. She did a good job of representing us, compared with when Morvinia was our delegate in 1998. She did the most important thing: she represented our country. There are a lot of beautiful and very intelligent girls who can represent our country and I am positive that we can place in the top ten and possibly win that competition.'