Ghana Review International was amongst the world?s press invited to an exclusive preview of the Miss World 1999 launch in London on Tuesday 16th November. There was a parade of 94 of the world?s most beautiful ladies on hand. And GRi?sAssociate webmaster, STEPHEN BOADI, took time off updating the GRi web site to attend the function and talk to Ghana?s entry in the competition.

Though she may be described by some as a 'gorgeous white-black lady', Ms. Miriam Bugri, Miss Ghana 1999, has no doubt that she possesses the qualities of a worthy Ghanaian beauty queen. To those who might condemn her as looking more foreign than Ghanaian, her message is that the fact that one does not have 'size 45' hips for example, does not make her a 'gorgeous white black lady'. She adds that this notion is a rather unfortunate mis- conception of traditional Ghanaian beauty. True Ghanaian beauty should be apparent in one?s body, intellect, knowledge of Ghanaian culture and traditions, ability to express Ghanaian culture and traditions to the rest of the world and more besides.

Indeed, at my meeting with her in London at the Miss World 1999 Press Launch, it was her intelligent description of the qualities of a worthy Ghanaian beauty queen that convinced me that she should be odds-on for the Miss World 1999 crown. My first sight of her was when she emerged to greet the gathering, dancing to the Mambo Number Five. She strolled across the stage with a beaming smile that betrayed her confidence that come Saturday 4th December 1999 at the London Olympia, she could be crowned Miss World 1999. Miriam stands taller than the average 5.5 feet of Ghanaian lady, has what could be described as a Coca-Cola bottle shape and wears her hair long.

The 19-year old beauty queen attended Achimota Secondary School, Accra, and is awaiting the results of a Diploma in Shipping Management from the Institute of Commercial Management (ICM), UK. Unlike most beauty queens, she does not hope to be a model, actress or beautician. Instead, Miriam hopes to be an expert in the shipping industry.

Asked about her involvement in charity work, Miriam mentioned that she was a 'passionate advocate' for breast cancer awareness and dedicated to educating the public on its prevention and early detection in Ghana. She added that she was adopting breast cancer and girl-child education for her charity project in her tenure as Miss Ghana.

On her chances of winning the Miss World 1999 crown, Miriam mentioned that while previous Ghanaian beauty queens have won such awards as best costume in 1995, it was hire-time a Ghanaian beauty queen won the Miss World crown.

On the issue of swimsuits which are to be re-introduced into the competition this year, Miriam pointed out that this was part of the competition in Ghana, and that she was not reluctant to parade her beautiful body in a swimsuit.

For the first time in the history of the Miss World pageant, there are contestants from ninety-four countries around the world. Another highlight of this year's pageant is that it would be seen live by over two billion viewers in over one hundred countries around the world.

The organisers promise that the pageant would be horny but not porny, not corny, simply groovy baby. Among the judges for the pageant would be the newly crowned undisputed World heavyweight Champion, Lennox Lewis, and among the line-up of performers would be Enrique Iglesias of 'Rhythm Divine' fame.

The party leaves London on Thursday 18th November 1999 for Malta for the shooting of the beach wear section of the pageant.

Stay tuned for live broadcast from GRi?s Mission Control no 44, which will be firing on all 8 cylinders.