By the time she finished displaying her talent, it became a full blown conclusion that Snorti Forh was tipped for this year's crown of Miss Liberia. Her beauty, charm, marches, costumes, and the design of her wearing added up to her chances that made her walk away with the crown.

Hence, when judges announced their result, their decision was welcome by the audience, defeating any indication of murmuring. The Analyst News Editor Gibson W. Jerue was amongst the thousands that attended the Pageant Saturday, and describes what transpired.

By 8:00pm, hundreds of dignitaries and ordinary Liberians had begun gathering at the Unity Conference Center to participate in the Miss Liberia Beauty Pageant that had been on ice for about six years.

The anxiety was high, so was the expectation from the ten gorgeous, beautiful and charming ladies representing ten of Liberia's 15 political sub-divisions - counties. At least this was the time Miss Liberia was conducted on a county level; something many lauded and believed would generate interest in cross section of the population.

The organizers - Today's Woman Incorporated and the Ministry of Information in partnership with Miss World Limited - put what should be described as their best, with a classic design of the platform with rising sun at the background and a sparkling maroon color that gave radiant pleasant look.

The queens performed a brief prelude in their African wear, danced for a while and retired to their dressing chambers to get set to prove the stuff they were made of.

Grand Gedeh County fielded Munah E. Pelham, a sophomore Mass Communication student of the University of Liberia, who dreams of becoming a super model.

Munah's height was an advantage and she knew the march too. Her design of wearing, the African wear, the evening wear, were just superb, but her display of talent probably robbed her of the prestigious crown that many thought she would have won.

And had it been for her intellect or the way she answered her question, she could have been celebrating by now, as she proved what she understood of herself.

Marylanders put up a stiff challenge, but not good enough to walk away with the crown. Loretti L. Collins fought a brave and sober fight, as her radiant smiles and pop eyes drove fans crazy. Students of African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) were there to see their colleague through.

Loretti demonstrated what some described a professional teacher. Her topic; factors that impede girl education - teenage pregnancy, early marriage and sexual exploitation took the crowd by storm. She did a good presentation, but was repetitional in her summary, and if for any reason the judges did not look at her direction that could be it. So she took the 5th place too far to win the grand prize - a nice new Neon Chryslers car that fit the occasion.

Wilhelma D. Cooper representing Margibi County and a sophomore student of the AMEU, like the others did march well, African and evening wears were elegant, but the talent.

She spoke against war and tribalism, calling for unity and love, and stressing that war has brought suffering and poverty to Liberians. The issues were cliché that many already knew and did appeal to anybody's mind. She received a faint applause signaling that she must pack off and hang her dress to resign and accept defeat.

Grand Cape Mount County's representative, Williametta F. Cooper (it is not clear whether or not she is a relative of Wilhelmina). She marched as if she were absent-minded, no zeal and though her dresses were of class, her talent presentation on the "cardinal points for Liberia's restoration did not do her much to walk away with the crown.

"Let us all be patriotic," her banner read, and pick other issues like moral and spiritual discipline, giving others what they deserve and being our brother's keeper, never to fight war again were only cliché that the crowd probably was not interested in.

Grand Bassa's Lela D. Williams put up brave fight and she came out a second runner-up, a place well deserving. She demonstrated a President punishing her brother, accused of corrupt practices. The way she arranged the act was splendid and that moved to the crowd to gave a thunderous applause.

Kormassah H. Mayson is also an icon of beauty but speech and beauty are just two separate things to judge. If she had been an actress, she would have added flair to the speech she delivered on Nationalism, and against injustice. But come to watch her twist waist and cross-walk on the platform, she was a delight. She has a good sense in class of wearing.

Lofa's Marwu R. Zayzay performed an interesting monologue on the war that devastated the country and its people. But that probably was not enough and if it had been for marches and various dresses, she could have made the mark.

Florence Doe represented Grand Kru. She made some moves. She spoke against the filth of Monrovia and sung a nice song that only came out her mouth like ordinary sound but did really move the crowd lest to talk pricking the judges to apportion great marks for her. She is beautiful and the way she beams her smile could take anyone away outside of beauty pageant. She must have hired a good designer.

Then it was Snorti Forh, beauty queen who snatched the crown with a thunder. From the first move to last, it became a full blown conclusion she went into the race with a purpose of mind. She proved she went that road before, when she won the Miss Montserrado County Pageant without a jot three years ago at the Monrovia City Hall.

Snorti's speech was accompanied by video clips compiled by ClaraTV depicting the days of old when the culture of was respected and unity and peace was the order of the day.

In the arrangement of the clips, she showed how the war desecrated the moral values of the people, bringing into the fold boys in arms shooting and killing their fellow compatriots. That Snorti called a spoiled society.

But the crowd went wild when clip showing Liberia's football legend scoring a goal with his left foot.

Then she said: "That's our own George Weah". Liberia can still live and be better she said. By then, applause had overtaken the hall. She sang and left the stage.

The judges were Francis Horton, Managing Director of International Bank; Nyemale Gibson, General Manager of Crystal Ocean view Hotel; Gloria Y. Menjor, Manager of Banking Operations Department, LBDI, and Chief Dele Momodu, Publisher/Chairman of Ovation International Magazine, London. Chief Momodu announced the results The sashing crowning of the new queen was done by Monrovia City Mayor Ophelia Hoff-Saytumah and Miss Ghana, Inna Mariam Patty.

Ghana TV3 producer Iso Paelay, a Liberian, was one of the Masters of ceremony.

This year's Beauty Pageant was also sponsored by the LoneStar Communications, which donated 10 Tiger Generators, 10 cell phones with US$100 account, and Africa Motors, the donator of the car. The LPRC donated two laptop computers.