for Miss Kellie Hall but the new beauty queen is sure about one thing: She's excited.

The 22-year-old said it took her a split-second to realise she had won over the 12 other contestants. But it didn't really hit her until she was congratulated by her friends and family backstage.

When asked if she had thought she might win, Miss Hall said: "I was very positive right through to the end despite the competition.'' She thought about entering the pageant while at school, but decided to take the plunge after graduating from college and before beginning post-graduate work.

Miss Hall, who represented Southampton, said the competition was a positive experience.

"It enhanced qualities I already possessed,'' she said. "I like the fact that pageants today look more at intellect. This gives everyone a fair chance at the crown.'' The new Miss Bermuda Islands is intelligent as well as beautiful. She attended Southampton Glebe Primary School and Berkeley Institute before going to the Bermuda College as a Police Cadet.

She graduated last year from Spelman College in Atlanta with a sociology degree. After finishing her duties as Miss Bermuda Islands, Miss Hall plans to gain a Master's degree in sex therapy.

It was her experiences as a Police Cadet which convinced her to go into sex therapy as a career. During her two years as a cadet she worked with abused children and rape victims and saw a need for treatment of convicted sex offenders.

"It does not help to incarcerate someone and not help them with their illness,'' she said. "They need treatment.'' Miss Hall plans to come back to Bermuda after finishing her education to help rehabilitate sex offenders.

"I want to strive for and achieve the academic requirements needed and use my skills in Bermuda's prison system,'' she said.

As a representative of Bermuda in the Miss World pageant, which takes place in South Africa this November, she plans to be herself.

"Nerves come into it,'' she said. "But I figure I'll do fine if I let my personality shine through.'' BIG WINNER -- Miss Bermuda Islands Miss Kellie Hall.