Among the most photographed and interviewed contestants Friday night, were Misses Dominican Republic, Brazil and Venezuela. Miss Brazil danced a samba and told the press that she was a soccer commentator for one year in her country. Miss Venezuela looked very pretty and was one of the best dressed of the night.

MS GUYANA Universe, Leanna Damond, is one of the faces organisers are using to promote the Miss Universe Pageant in Panama, according to franchise holder, Mr. Odinga Lumumba.

Lumumba told the Chronicle yesterday that the Guyanese delegate emailed him with the news of her selection to help promote the pageant scheduled for June 3.

Miss Canada took a collection of Canadian coins. Miss Korea and Miss Japan offered traditional dolls from their countries, while Miss Venezuela chose an image of the `Coromoto Virgin’. Among the other interesting gifts were a wooden sculpture from Luanda's government office (Angola); a bronze sculpture (Belgium), The Bulgarian Encyclopedia (Bulgaria), a crystal Bohemian vase (Czech Republic), a Cuckoo wall clock (Germany), paintings from the Mughai era (India), coffee (Jamaica), indigenous art piece (Mexico), Panamanian orchid (Panama), tray made of pearls (Philippines), golden plate (Singapore), and an antique silver mirror (Turkey).


Leanna was an “unexpected and delightful” surprise at the Charity Auction and International Gala Event staged in Panama Friday evening.

According to a Global Beauties Website report on the 72 girls vying for the coveted Miss Universe crown, Miss Guyana “delivered a flawless dramatic performance, one of the best on stage.”

Leanna was among the nine beauties that the website singled out for special mention.

“There were positive surprises, and disappointing ones as well. For instance, Misses Poland, Turkey, Guyana, Thailand, Australia, Angola, among others, emerged as new favorites. The Europeans, the black candidates, and some Asians, were the ones who took the stage by storm,” the report said.

Delegates were asked to bring a gift from her country to be auctioned off during the gala international event. The Website report again singled out Guyana, and noted Leanna’s gift of a “beautiful necklace and earrings, all in gold”.