car, transport officials have ruled.

The gleaming Nissan NX Coupe was presented to Miss Mitchell after she was controversially crowned Miss Bermuda Islands a month ago.

But now she can only gaze at it in PW Motors showroom, following a Transport Department decision that she cannot own it -- yet.

The bureaucratic blow is another disappointment for 24-year-old Miss Mitchell, who still faces a legal fight by contestants who dispute the contest result.

Lawyer Mr. Phil Perinchief is consulting with the women to see if they will proceed with a court battle against pageant organiser Mr. Terry Smith.

Asked about the TCD ruling yesterday, Miss Mitchell would only say: "I'm still waiting to hear from Terry about it.'' Mr. Smith's phone was out of service and he could not be contacted through his lawyer.

A TCD spokesman explained the problem stemmed from Bermuda's laws on car ownership.

"She wanted to sell her present car and take on this other one, and she simply can't do that. If you sell your car you must wait a year until you can get another one.'' The only time the rule was waived was in cases of hardship, he said. "In this case she could not show that she had hardship.

"We would like to assist her, but the law applies to everybody. The committee and the minister have decided that she does not qualify to have this car.

"But if she was to dispose of her present car by having it cut in half or exported out of the Island, she could have the new car.'' The Nissan has power steering, central locking and a state-of-the-art Sound Advice CD system.

Miss Dianna Mitchell.