Back from Miss Universe — Maggie gets scholarship offer

That didn’t stop her excitement when greeted by her mother and officials at the VIP lounge at the airport, however.

The welcoming party included local franchise holder of the competition Peter Elias, Allison Brown, who presented the six-foot 22-year-old beauty with a bouquet of flowers, Renatta Mohammed-Valere, PRO at Tidco, her family, hairstylist Ashvin Bali and Adrian Raymond of Peter Elias and Associates.

Walcott, who placed in the top 15 of the Miss Universe competition two years ago showed-off a glass replica trophy from the just concluded competition, having placed in the top 15 semi-finalists of the Miss Universe 2005 beauty pageant. At the press conference, she said her experience this time around was much more hectic than her first international competition. "It was fabulous and Thailand was so beautiful that I want to go back for a holiday, or to work," Walcott said with a laugh.

About Natalie Glebova of Canada, who was eventually crowned Miss Universe 2005, Walcott said: "I think Miss Canada deserved it. She had all the qualities for it." And of Miss Japan with whom she shared a room, Walcott said the difference in language wasn’t much of a problem as they laughed a lot.

Walcott was particularly pleased on hearing the news that accounting firm Price Waterhouse had contacted Peter Elias and Associates about a scholarship which she will have to discuss in the coming days.

Also revealed yesterday by Elias was that BWIA also offered Walcott and her mother a trip as a reward for her efforts at the competition.

Elias expressed his pride at Walcott and how she rose to the occasion in the short space of time she had to prepare for the competition.