re-establish the Miss Bermuda Islands contest are being laid.

Franchise holder and producer of the contest Mr. Terry Smith said the there was no pageant last year because the committee was "restructuring'' to make the show better.

And he revealed efforts to secure top model Iman as an international judge were in hand.

"It was not feasible to have the show last year. We looked at the show's layout, its costs and budget,'' Mr. Smith said.

The contest was criticised after 1993 Miss Bermuda Islands Miss Kelly Hall complained about the lack of activities in she was asked to take part.

She said once the Miss World pageant was over the committee had no further use for her.

But Mr. Smith said that with the restructuring the duties of Miss Bermuda Islands will be more organised, "especially now that there will be a person who will be responsible for setting up the winner's itinerary.

"The objective from the first pageant was to have one contest every year but it would not have made sense to have one last year because we were re-structuring. It has to be done well from beginning to end. We don't want to have a contest just to say that we did it.'' He added, "There will be a show every year from now on starting with this year's contest in August.

"People tend to look at this thing as a big money making opportunity but it's more like a community venture.

"The community is the one that benefits from the international competition seen by the world and it is great for tourism.'' Mr. Smith also said the contestants also benefit as they gain exposure and experience, and "the winner can use the experience as a stepping stone to use in life.'' "Bermudians don't realise that in the US the pageant is seen as an upward mobility and there is an entry fee for each contestant, but in Bermuda there is no fee, and there is no aid from the Bermuda Government.

"Some countries get assistance from Government, and major contributions from individuals or businesses are tax deductible.'' Mr. Smith said this year's contest would be in August at one of the major hotels.

"Right now we are negotiating with the agent of well-known South African model Iman to have her attend the contest as our international judge.

"We are hoping to organise a good show so that we can pull in a big crowd.

Girls are already interested and on May 8 calls for contestants will go out.'' The other beauty pageant, Miss Bermuda, last took place in 1991.

Executive director Mr. Wentworth Christopher said: "In 1991, model agency Look Ltd. took over the contest for what we discussed would be two years, but in 1992 they decided they were not going to be the organisers and I was not prepared or able to organise the show that year.

Mr. Christopher said he hoped to start the pageant up again sometime "in the future.'' Anyone who is interested in entering the Miss Bermuda Islands contest can contact Mr. Terry Smith at 234-3409.

TOP MODEL -- Iman, here sporting a milk moustache from her latest advertising campaign, could be a judge.