Anya Ayoung-Chee is T&T’s representative for the Miss Universe Pageant while Gabrielle Walcott will be the country’s beauty ambassador at the Miss World contest.

At Sunday night’s Tourism Development Company (TDC)-sponsored Miss T&T Pageant, both young women won favour with a panel of adjudicators to vie for these major international titles. The event was produced and presented by the Pageant Company of T&T.

Ayoung-Chee, 26, travels to Vietnam on July 15, for the Miss Universe Pageant.

Three months later—in October—Walcott, 23, takes the spotlight in the Ukraine for the Miss World contest.Ayoung-Chee and Walcott formed a cast of seven sexy, elegant, gorgeous and witty young women who vied for the opportunity to represent T&T overseas.

Makeda O’Neal, 23; Sasiya Roxanne Albert, 22; Kerry-Ann Murphy, 19; Priya Chanderbally, 24; and June Lighbourne, 23, were the other five delegates who took the spotlight for the coveted titles.

O’Neal was voted first runner-up for Miss World while Lightbourne holds a similar honour for the Miss Universe Pageant, according to the adjudication panel.

The judges were: former Guardian editor-in-chief Dominic Kalipersad; Dale Enoch, heads of news at i95.5FM; former Miss World Giselle La Ronde-West; Yvonne Popplewell; Jeneile Mc Carthy-Sinanan and Bobby Ackbarali.

Their decisions were announced at the end of a glitzy one hour and 45-minute production at Zen, located on Keate Street in Port-of-Spain.

Hosted by former Miss World finalist Valene Maharaj and Adrian Raymond—an associate with the Pageant Company—Sunday’s event was staged before a capacity audience.

They saw the bevy of beauties being judged in three categories: swimwear, evening gown and current affairs.

Taking the spotlight with shoes courtesy Payless, hair styled by Bally, make-up by Sandra Hordat, swimwear by Carolina Swimwear and formal wear by Peter Elias Designs, delegates on the evening’s showcase seemed evenly matched.

It was the current affairs segment, however, titled “Ripped from the headlines” that separated them, and the evening’s entertainment came alive.

Newly crowned Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Universe, Anya Ayoung-Chee, says she is ready for the challenge of getting prepared for the Miss Universe competition, which is just a mere four months away.

The 26-year-old, who recently started as a graphic designer with Above Studios, said "young women all have the challenge to multitask and take on many responsibilities. In being a Miss Trinidad and Tobago it is a challenge to do both, but I am ready".

A confident Ayoung-Chee was speaking after winning the crown on Sunday at the Zen nightclub in Port of Spain.

The Maraval beauty along with Gabrielle Walcott of Petit Valley was chosen to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the Miss World from a field of five other contestants at the Miss T&T finals.

To the sounds of African drums, the seven contestants danced their way on stage in native wear at the show's start. This was followed by the swimsuit and evening gown categories.

Snjezana was born in Slavonski Brod, but has been living in Zagreb for quite a while. The other girls are also happy that Snjezana won, because according to them, she deserves it.

The winner studies at the faulty for hotel and tourism management in Opatija, and it is her wish to become a manager. With the title, she also won a Mitsubishi Colt Cabrio.

The 80s anthem Girls Just Wanna Have Fun rang out – a sort of mission statement for the Miss Wellington beauty pageant.

The first search in eight years for Wellington's next top model was held last night at the Loaded Hog bar.

With ten contestants, a VIP section full of men, and a crowd of cheering female supporters, the battle was fierce.

Winner Rebecca Connor, 23, of Seatoun, was the crowd's favourite when she strolled out to the catwalk for the first sports-themed round dressed as a golfer – though not one you're likely to see too often. She was not too worried about the pressures of the Miss Universe-sanctioned pageant: "It's just all in the name of fun for me."

To those who criticise beauty pageants as relics of another era, she had a simple answer. "I think it's about confidence for girls. I don't think it should be taken too seriously."