one of the show judges, today in the hope of satisfying her the show was run fairly.

Sen. Gordon, Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation, has asked to see proof that scores were accurately entered into the show computer.

Angry contestants in the show have attacked the system of judging, and have started legal moves against Mr. Smith.

Sen. Gordon said: "All I wanted to do was to see my scores to make sure they were transferred correctly, and to ensure that the rules and regulations were correctly followed. We never actually saw them.

"Hopefully we will sort out everything.'' Sen. Gordon wants answers on whether scores from the panels deciding other titles, like Miss Photogenic or Miss Tourism, were used in the final Miss Bermuda Islands total.

But she confirmed that Mr. Smith told judges and contestants about the "cumulative'' scoring system on Friday night, when the women were judged on interviews. The system adds points up as the pageant progresses, instead of scoring one night's performance on stage.

Meanwhile, disappointed contestants are planning to go public with their claims.

Arrangements were being finalised last night for contestants and parents to gather for a joint statement on their legal action. Their lawyer, Mr. Philip Perinchief, said he hoped it would be today.

The women want an apology from Mr. Smith and changes to the judging system.

But they say they do not want winner Miss Dianna Mitchell to lose her crown.

Miss Mitchell was booed by a section of the audience at Sunday night's show.

It has been alleged that she performed badly on stage.

Mr. Smith has defended Miss Mitchell and his scoring system, which he says was accurate and designed to measure a range of talents.

The row over Miss Bermuda Islands is the latest in a long line of scandals and disputes connected with beauty pageants on the Island.

Gina Swainson brought glory to Bermuda by becoming Miss World in 1979, but raised the stakes for every hopeful beauty queen.

The record shows the catwalk often leads to a trail of anger and bitterness: 1973 -- Judy Richards , Miss Bermuda, launches an appeal after announcing she has nothing to wear for the Miss World show.

1975 -- Cindy Adams , Miss Tourism, hears politics robbed her of the Miss Tourism International title.

1977 - Connie Frith , Miss Bermuda, falls ill while in the Dominican Republic for Miss Universe.

1978 -- Valerie Akinstall , Miss Hotels, quits after three months, tired and frustrated.

1979 -- Gina Swainson , Miss Bermuda, is runner-up in the Miss Universe show and says she was treated like a piece of meat. A few months later, she wins Miss World in London.

1980 -- Arretta Furbert , Miss Tourism, tells of chaos and insults during a pageant in Trinidad, and attacks her local organisers. Jill Murphy , Miss Bermuda, quits Miss World saying the local committee is not interested. She is replaced by runner-up Zina Minks , who says once is enough.

1982 -- Heather Ross , Miss Bermuda, is arrested and jailed in England on cocaine charges.

1986 -- Suzanne Koren , Miss Photogenic, says she won Miss Bermuda on points but was cheated out of the title.

1987 -- Shelley Bascome , Miss Bermuda, loses the chance to compete in Miss World after the organiser discovers he made a mistake on her age. First runner-up Donna-Lee Ingham , Miss Tourism, is told she cannot go.

1989 -- Miss Ingham sues contest organiser Wentworth Christopher 1990 -- Miss Ingham 's contract was broken, Supreme Court rules. Mr.

Christopher must pay her $26,000, says the judge.

1992 -- Dianna Mitchell is crowned Miss Bermuda Islands after a three-year lapse in the contest. Disappointed contestants start legal moves against organiser Terry Smith after allegations of fixing, unfair judging rules and exploitation.