following claims of racism and fixing.

Angry at being the targets of abuse, they are withholding their approval until organisers reveal just how the winner was picked.

The pageant ended early yesterday with many of the 750 spectators booing and walking out, and controversy grew louder during the day.

Judges discovered Miss Dianna Mitchell was the winner at the same time as the audience.

The 24-year-old insurance underwriter, one of three white contestants in a line-up of 19, won a $25,000 sports car and a place in the Miss World show in South Africa.

The judges were Lady Gibbons, the Hon. Pamela Gordon, assistant tourism director Mr. Randy Horton, Bank of Bermuda official Mr. Edward Tucker, and Bermuda Broadcasting programme director Mr. Keevil Burgess.

Sen. Gordon said: "It was a bit of an unfortunate mess at the end. I wouldn't go so far as to say that there was something untoward done, but we don't know.'' The way to find out was to get a printout from the computer which the organisers used to add up the judges' scores, she said.

"We asked for the printout to ensure that the numbers we were putting down were correctly entered. We have yet to see that, but I'm sure it will be forthcoming.'' Sen. Gordon said a couple of the judges might have signed forms approving the running of the show, but she and others would not sign until they saw the printout.

"They were ready for our heads last night,'' she said, recalling the end of the five-hour show at the Southampton Princess. "I was called a racist. There were four black judges and one white, and we were called racists because we chose a white girl. That is so sad. To be accused of being party to a fix or a set-up is an insult to my integrity.

"I would have thought that anyone who did win should have been able to win on merit. We have to rise above this colour thing.'' One contestant, who asked not to be named, said: "The audience were very annoyed at it, mainly because this girl didn't really do anything right.'' She claimed Miss Mitchell did not say her pledge of loyalty correctly, tripped in the swimsuit section, and asked for a question to be repeated three times.

"Even if she did dynamite in the interview, on Friday night, she couldn't compensate for last evening.'' Organiser Mr. Terry Smith of Tee'l Productions, who revived and took over the contest this year, said if people were rooting for other contestants it was understandable for them to walk out. He said the audience may have misjudged proceedings because they were used to pageants where everything depended on one night's performance.

But because organisers wanted a "consistent, high quality representative for a whole year'', they decided to let points accumulate throughout the pageant.

Friday's interview section, with a maximum 30 points, was added to the final performance, which carried a maximum of 70.

Mr. Smith said his partner Mr. Henry Campbell was responsible for the computing, but was not available for comment. "I have all confidence that it was done correctly and that the person who got the highest points was selected as Miss Bermuda Islands.'' He had received no official complaints, and was not aware of a judges' request to see the printout or of any refusal to sign their forms.

"I would be outraged for people to even consider that it could be fixed.'' Contestant Miss Genelle John, said: "I feel that the best man won. She was a nice person.

"It didn't come off as organised, but it's over, it's OK now. It was their first time.'' Another entrant, Miss Ilona Perry, commented: "Dianna didn't do very well on stage but she did very well when she did interviews. She was very friendly and she's very pretty.'' Miss Mitchell could not be reached for comment.

Hon. Pamela Gordon.