<B>By Pauline ETIENNE</B>

I forced myself not to make any comments before the show started last Thursday. Even though I have witnessed so many unprofessional and low-standard shows since I was old enough to watch the competition, I told myself I would make an effort this year. After all, the televised election of Miss Mauritius has been so subject to criticism over the past years that it has become almost ridiculous. So the public might have hoped that the organising committee would have made an effort as well so as not to deliver the same inferior goods to the public this time… Obviously, many have been disappointed.

So, Melody has been crowned Miss Mauritius 2006. There is nothing surprising in such an election; isn’t she “beautiful and intelligent”? But what could be considered as arrogance might actually be more the result of her quite young age. Melody is sixteen and will not even be able to represent Mauritius in the Miss World competition. Fortunately, she will be seventeen next year and will therefore be old enough to defend the country’s colours in the Miss Universe competition.

The choice of the jury – as well as the public as it represents 50% in the final results – can certainly be questioned to that effect. From the height of her sixteen years – and obviously not very well aware of the country’s problems – how could we expect her to “help attract investors and show that Mauritius is a wonderful place”?

Melody is certainly good-looking and will have a lot to offer in a few years… But there are some doubts as to what she really has to offer as the new ambassadress of Mauritius. We can only hope that the year to come will help her to become an elegant young woman able to think for herself and represent Mauritius as it deserves. But the amateurish show last Thursday leaves us with some doubts about the capacity of the organisers to handle the situation properly.

Every year, the public may hope that the show will be different, that the organisers have been able to train the girls properly and teach them how to behave on stage. Every year, we are disappointed by the sad results. With a few exceptions, the girls did not look very comfortable on stage.

This could sound a bit “easy to say” when we are only watching it live or on television… There is no doubt that being on stage makes people nervous. However, they are in a competition and are supposed to offer a national show to the public. The organisers should always keep it mind that the girls should be given training and self-confidence before being exposed to the public eye. Otherwise the girls’ uptight behaviour when they “parade” on stage or try to chat with the presenter is just one more reason for the public not to watch the competition next year – and for the sponsors not to give any financial support.

Instead of making them learn their speeches by heart - which gives them a stupid air when they do not even answer the presenter’s questions - the organisers should make sure they have a minimum of knowledge as far as their country is concerned. They should also be given some tips to reduce their chances of appearing nervous in front of the TV cameras.

In fact, I have come to think that the best way of improving the Miss Mauritius competition would be to have it run by different people. The organisation of the competition could be entrusted to professionals of the fashion sector for instance… Or maybe the present organisers should be subjected to some training themselves to avoid torturing the public again next year. There are indeed beautiful and intelligent women in Mauritius who could well represent the country abroad. What is lacking is a professional competition that would reveal them to the public…