'I was worried that I was too curvy'

The Greek-Chinese babe was stunning as she sashayed with confidence down the runway last night at the Miss World Singapore 2013 finals.

Unknown to her fellow finalists, the eventual winner, Miss Maria-Anna Zenieris, was slightly insecure about her figure, but hid it well under pressure.

Of all things, the 18-year-old student was worried that she had looked "too curvy".

By dieting, she had lost 4kg in two weeks to look toned in her hot pink bikini.

The trained opera singer, who is also a jazz and hip-hop dancer, need not have fretted because she scored top marks for her figure, according to event organiser Edmund Ooi of Asia Music People.

The girls were scored based on physical appearance (35 per cent), performance (25 per cent), talent (20 per cent) and audience voting (20 per cent).

The five judges included singer-songwriter Bevlyn Khoo and prolific criminal lawyer Subhas Anandan.

Miss Zenieris, a United World College graduate who majored in English and psychology, told The New Paper: "I love my curves, but you know, I do have insecurities about it.

"As this was the first time I was in a bikini and walking down the runway, I was definitely nervous.

"But I told myself to be confident and I think it showed.

"When they announced that I was the winner, my mind was blank."

As Miss World Singapore 2013, she walked away with $3,000 cash and a working contract with Asia Music People worth about $30,000.

She will represent Singapore in the Miss World international finals in Jakarta in September.

The runner-up, nursing student Elizabeth Houghton, 18, and second runner-up Rachel Leng, 23, who was recently accepted into Harvard University, took home $2,000 and $1,000 cash respectively.

The 15 finalists appeared to be having a blast as they danced onstage and showed off their catwalk skills for the swimwear and evening wear rounds.

Final round

Only five finalists made the final questionand- answer round, including restaurant owner Teri Chua, 22 and actress-model Krizzia Sayson, 20.

Mr Ooi said that it was almost an unanimous decision to crown Miss Zenieris the winner because she had come out tops in all categories.

Even local child star Miguel Antonio, whose performances of I Dreamed A Dream, Someone Like You and When I Was Your Man were a huge hit with the audience, had picked Miss Zenieris as his favourite to win just before the show started.

Said the 12-year-old singer: "I think Maria deserved to win because I met her backstage and I was very impressed by her"

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