sprawling Sun City resort in South Africa, which she described yesterday as a "magical kingdom out of a story book''.

The Island's 24-year-old Miss World hopeful has gone on safari and visited a crocodile sanctuary, ostrich farm and primary schools in the heart of Bophuthatswana, the black homeland where Sun City is located.

And when she returns to the resort after the day's activities, she has a choice of half a dozen swimming pools to soak up the sunny South African weather.

She has even, along with the rest of the 84 contestants, frolicked in computer-controlled waves lapping along the shores of a man-made, white sand beach.

It's hard to believe anyone staying at the luxurious complex would have time to miss tiny Bermuda and the wintry weather now setting in.

But Miss Mitchell, who controversially won her title in September, admitted from her Sun City hotel room yesterday that she had a bout of homesickness last week.

She said she was becoming frustrated at having to call her chaperone every time she wanted to leave her room -- even to go to the pool.

However, rehearsals went into full swing this week -- signalling the ending of weeks of photo shoots and promotional activities and the nearing of the big day.

She was busy preparing for her one-on-one interview with the pageant's judges today, in which she thought she would do well.

And her brother, a cousin and aunt had just arrived from Bermuda to watch her compete for the crown on Saturday, which made her feel much more upbeat about being thousands of miles away from home.

The contest is being held at the just-built Lost City resort.

An AP reporter this week described Lost City as "a stupendously lavish fantasy resort''.

"Set in the parched African bush northwest of Johannesburg, the Lost City is a 42-acre playland of man-made rivers and rain forests, marble interiors, life-size animal carvings, and a 328-room hotel designed in the style of an ancient, unknown civilization with a taste for the ornate,'' the reporter said. "Lost City's controversial creator, Mr. Sol Kerzner, had spared no expense in launching his $267 million project, from the domed ceilings to the live crocodiles in the golf course's water trap.'' The Miss World contest is being held at the resort to help kick it off. And Miss Mitchell promised Bermuda viewers the show this Saturday would be "out of this world'', with the swimsuit contest being staged against a backdrop of real-water fountains and elephant sculptures.

"I'm having the most amazing time,'' she said. "The girls and the people we are working with -- all the producers and make-up people -- have been great.

And the organisers are trying to keep us as happy as possible.'' Her bets on the winner? Miss South Africa, who is the first beauty queen from that country of mixed race, Miss France, Thailand, Venezuela, USA, Czechoslovakia and Spain.

She added, "The language barrier has been very frustrating. The most common language spoken here (by the contestants) is Spanish, so I have been learning quite a few words.'' Miss Mitchell said race was not an issue at Sun City and she had not been outside of Bophuthatswana except for spending one night in Johannesburg.

It is the first time that the contest is being held in Africa -- and in a country that no one recognises -- Bophuthatswana.

Bophuthatswana is one of 10 tribally based homelands, which have been widely criticised as corrupt, authoritarian creations of the white South African government and its apartheid policies.

South Africa and Bophuthatswana consider the homeland an independent state, but no other nation recognises it, and Bophuthatswana is not allowed to enter the Miss World Pageant. South Africa was only readmitted last year after being barred for 20 years.

Profits from Miss World go to charity, and this year's main beneficiary is Operation Hunger, a private South African organisation that cares for the poor.

WINNING SMILE -- Miss Bermuda Islands Dianna Mitchell poses for photographers at the artificial beach of the just-built Lost City resort in Bophuthatswana, South Africa. The Miss World contest is being held on Saturday at Lost City.

ITERNATIONAL BEAUTIES -- Miss Bermuda Islands Dianna Mitchell second left, second row, and other contestants in the Miss World pageant smile for the cameras at Sun City. The sprawling resort, in the black homeland of Bophuthatswana, is owned by South African tycoon Mr. Sol Kerzner (center).