The two-dozen contestants of the pageant took to the Splashmins Fun Park on Sunday for the swimsuit competition and failed to make up for their disappointing performance during the interview segment televised live.

In a Miss Universe competition where fitness is a must, patrons were expecting well-toned and shaped bodies, but were they disappointed.

The evidence showed that the delegates did not work hard enough in the gym, or maybe they did not have enough time.

A glaring flop on stage was Vanessa Tacooram. She needs to lose much, much more weight to look good in a swimsuit. She is nowhere near the look required to parade on the Miss Universe stage.

However, if one of the judging criteria was confidence, she would have chalked up 100 per cent. Her radiant smile and self-confidence, along with her fair handling of the interview segment might well carry her to the top 10 at Saturday night’s finals.

Analisa Reynolds, Ulex Atwell, Latoya Perreira, Leanna Damond, Deslyn Jack, Danielle McIntyre and Marita Persaud are those who would have scored well on the judges’ sheets.

However well she did look, Jack did not follow the routine to take off the swimsuit wrap from around her waist.

A surprise of the day was definitely Tarmattie Bishun. Even though she is very slim, she looked good and performed excellently.

The 24 delegates modelled in shiny-bronze swimsuits, designed by overseas-based Guyanese, Roger Gary.

Before the competition actually started, patrons enjoyed good laughs at what came from the girls.

The delegates modelled casual pieces atop a floating barge and were only asked to identify themselves and their sponsors. Would you believe they messed up there too?

Take Amanda Barnwell for example. She completely flunked when it came time to tell the audience who her sponsor was.

She took another shot at it, and she simply could not tell!

Candacie Isaacs could not pronounce her hometown “Bartica” correctly, Shevonne Thomas also could not pronounce “Rupununi” and Wanda Dey said she was “spansored” not sponsored!

Come on girls!

After that introduction, the audience was invited over to the main stage for the actual competition.

To start things off, local singer “Lucky B” performed his radio hit “Why the hell they dissing Guyana?” Little did he know, members of the audience were answering him with their opinions of what transpired shortly before.

Reigning Miss Guyana Universe Mia Rahaman then emerged to display her national costume at the Miss Universe pageant last year in Puerto Rico.

MC Bobby Viera soon called on Asha Pieters, the reigning Miss West Indies, to grace the stage. She did so in a Rayon House of Fashion costume designed especially for Mash 2003.

Next on stage were more Mash costumes, which went down well with the crowd.

Former calypso monarch, “Mighty Rebel”, who you would remember from “Desi yo wrong”, showed that he is still a lyrical genius and received the loudest rounds of applause for the afternoon, cleanly sweeping the contestants under the mat.

After the show, it was competition time.

The first four delegates were Analisa Reynolds, Marita Persaud, Shevonne Thomas and Tarmattie Bishun.

They had already accomplished their tasks admirably, but after the other 20 delegates were done, they were asked back on the stage as the judges had some problems.

Even though it should not have happened, the crowd did not mind as they got to see more of their favourite girl Analisa Reynolds.

Chief Judge was Deputy Commissioner of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Mr. Basil Joseph.

Sixty points were up for grabs in the swimsuit competition, while 50 was the highest score any of the girls could have achieved during the interview segment which was held last Tuesday.

These scores will be added to what they gain during the evening gown competition, which will be held on the night of the show at the National Cultural Centre.

When these scores are added up, the ten semi-finalists would be determined.