PLUMMETING ratings, dwindling sponsorships and calls for it to be canned. The Miss Singapore Universe pageant has been plagued by problems the last few years.

But what about the contestants?

Do they have a part to play in the pageant's decline over the years?

Yes, say some, who feel that the girls should do more to be good ambassadors of the pageant, by getting involved in more social and humanitarian work, and keeping themselves in the limelight.

As local model Christabel Campbell, 21, who was placed third in last year's competition, observed, 'winners disappear from the radar soon after winning'.

It is almost a tradition at each year's international pageant to see a video of the previous year's winner making charity appearances around the world during the year of her reign.

But in Singapore, with the exception of 2000 winner Eunice Olsen, whose advocacy of volunteerism is well-known, we hardly hear of previous winners of the pageant fronting humanitarian causes.

As for the other winners, some may have have joined showbiz, but most just fade into oblivion.

Mr Ewan Shah, 29, head booker at Upfront Models, said: '(Pageant winners) should be promoting Singapore.

'They should be doing charity work and fronting charity organisations. They're supposed to be role models.'

Bernice Wong, the 2003 winner, said winners 'should put the title to good use'.

Bernice, 30, said she helped to raise money for the Sars fund when the virus struck during the year of her reign and also volunteered with the Red Cross.

Winners of the international Miss Universe are contracted to the organiser, but the Singapore winners are not. Here, it seems that if our beauty queens did any humanitarian work, it was mostly on their own initiative and not widely publicised.

Derrol Stepenny Promotions organises the Miss Singapore Universe pageants here. When contacted, its business and promotions director, Mr Daryl Pang, declined comment.

Lawyer Nuraliza Osman, 31, who clinched the 2002 crown, said she volunteered at the Muhammadiyah Welfare Home. When asked if Derrol Stepenny had looked for charity work opportunities for her, she answered: 'It's up to the individual to take the initiative.'

Nuraliza found out about the Make-A-Wish foundation herself when she went to Puerto Rico for the Miss Universe pageant, and has been helping the foundation here ever since.

Last year's winner Jessica Tan, 26, said most of the charity work she did was of her own accord.

'Derrol Stepenny did link me up with the Rotary Club, but everything after that was arranged and done on my own,' she said.

2001 winner and actress-host Jaime Teo, 31, said winning the pageant came with a MediaCorp contract, and admitted she did not do any charity work.

'By and large in Singapore, as a celebrity, you get to be involved in charity, be it the President's Star Charity or others,' she said.

'So I was involved, but not as Miss Singapore Universe.'

Should the organiser be doing more to make the winners more visible after the pageant?

Bernice said Derrol Stepenny 'is doing all right, but they could try to do a little more, to help the girls with sponsorships, charity work'.

TV viewer Joanna Khoo, 24, a product control executive, agreed.

'The organisers should find social work opportunities for the winners as they already face a lot of hassle with the competition itself,' she said.

'They have to deal with public criticism as well as look for sponsors. They should get some publicity for charity events too.'

Eunice is clearly one winner who has remained in the limelight.

Jaime, a personal friend of hers, said: 'Eunice has a passion for social work. Even before Miss Singapore Universe, she was involved in charity work. When she won the title, it was a platform for her to do more of it.'

Eunice said she was busy with personal commitments and was unable to give us an interview.

Vivien Chan, newsroom intern