Miss Universe Singapore finalists have Q&A session at BMW showroom

Days away from the grand final of Miss Universe Singapore (MUS) 2016, the 15 finalists are revving to go.

Having been treated to a variety of beauty regimens, including facials, dental treatments and make-up consultations, the girls got some practice in how to present themselves.

Last Saturday afternoon, BMW hosted a short Q&A session to get them prepared for the final on Sunday.

At the BMW showroom at Alexandra, the girls were presented in front of a crowd, before being introduced by former MUS finalist Cordelia Low.

Vanessa Tay answers questions from former MUS finalist Cordelia Low. TNP PHOTOS: CHOO CHWEE HUA

There was a short speech by Mr Horst Herdtle, managing director of Performance Motors, the distributors of BMW in Singapore.

After that, Miss Low conducted a short Q&A session with each girl, with questions such as "Who is your female role model?" and "Why did you join the pageant?".

The finalists were grateful that BMW gave them the chance to test their public speaking skills.

"The Q&A session was good training," Tanisha Khan, a business student at Temasek Polytechnic, told The New Paper.

The 18-year-old said: "The more events we do, the more experience we have and the more exposure we get in front of photographers."

She added that she was grateful for the hospitality shown by BMW, and that the flowers given to each girl at the end of the session was a lovely gesture.

Actress and model Luisa Gan, 22, agreed.

She said: "It was good to have the Q&A to prep us (for the final). I'm also glad to be able to meet the event sponsors."

POISED: (From left) Sreeveena, Vanessa, Patricia and Tanisha pose in front of a BMW 730i. TNP PHOTO: CHOO CHWEE HUA

The chance to prepare was not the only thing that Luisa was excited about.

"We don't usually get the chance to see so many BMW cars," said Luisa, who was impressed by the wide variety of car models in the showroom.

Shona Woo, 26, felt the same way.

Though the coding instructorsees cars as "a vehicle to get (people) from one point to another", she was captivated by the cars on display.

FASCINATED

She told TNP: "It's my first time seeing the (car) models... I'm fascinated by things that are rare."

None of the girls' enthusiasm, however, could match that of Mr Herdtle's.

He said: "I think I'm more excited than the girls... It's great being in the presence of so much beauty. I'm really looking forward to Oct 16."

In an earlier statement to TNP, Mr Herdtle said the MUS pageant "embodies the confidence and power in women to celebrate diversity and support humanitarian issues".

He added: "This event relates to BMW's commitment to shaping the mobility of the future as is this pageant to campaign for positive global changes."