In so doing, Vega created history as the first-ever reigning Miss Universe to set foot on Guyana's soil.

Looking every inch the Queen, the 19-year-old university student, dressed in red Capri pants and white top complimented by red wedged-heel slippers and an off-white, knee-length winter coat, immediately embraced local reigning Miss Guyana Universe 2003, Leanna Damond, who met her on the airport tarmac. The two embraced for almost a minute.

The warmth between the two beauties, who along with 70 other beauty contestants from around the world spent one month in Panama in the run-up to the June 3, 2002 event at the Panama Canal Village Convention Center, was immediately evident.

And, as the Santa Domingo-born beauty, accompanied by Leanna and her Manager/Chaperon, Mr. Roston Ogata, made their way toward the VIP lounge, Amelia smiled warmly with airport employees who left their respective offices to have a quick peek at her, and media operatives, saying countless, "Hi's".

In the VIP lounge, Miss Universe 2003 was met by local Miss Guyana/Universe franchise holder, Mr. Odinga Lumumba, and other members of the local franchise committee, following which she spent some 15 minutes engrossed in a friendly "catching gaff" with Leanna.

And as Miss Universe 2003 left the VIP lounge for breakfast and a quick change of clothing at the Prairie International Hotel, Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara, before departing for Kaieteur Falls, she was greeted outside by delegates of the local Miss Universe 2004 pageant who lined both sides of the exit.

As word of her presence at the airport got around a number of persons who were there conducting other business, drew closer for a glimpse of Miss Universe 2003, whom they had come to know via television or newspaper reports following her capture of the crown.

In brief comments to the media corps, Amelia said she enjoyed her flight although it was "six hours - something like that."

She said of her first impressions of Guyana, "I love to be here. The weather is just like that in my country..." reminding that she is "from an island, the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean, so I feel just ...home."

Asked how has her life changed since winning the Miss Universe Pageant, Amelia with a sigh said "there is a difference, more responsibilities, but I love it, a lot of work travelling, getting in touch with people, learning about different cultures, it's great."

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Regarding her impressions of the Guyanese people, Miss Universe remarked "Wow! Nice people," and even had a little compliment for the media corps.

Amelia said, too, of meeting Leanna who she had not seen since the pageant,

"something when you get to see other girls when you are there, it's like you think you'll never get to see them again. It's (the pageant) like you have a dream, it's a dream for all the girls, but just come true for one. So while you're there you try to enjoy, to see each of them, because you think you'll never see them, and when you get to their country you say Oh my gosh, here we are again..."

Meanwhile, her timely advice to the delegates of the upcoming Miss Guyana Universe Pageant to be staged on December 27, was "Be yourself. It's the only way to get the things you really want..."

Miss Universe 2003, who departs Guyana tomorrow, will participate in a number of public functions including a sashing ceremony of the Miss Universe delegates last evening on the lawns of Castellani House; discussions with officials of the Ministry of Health and HIV/AIDS related non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and historical sights around the City of Georgetown.

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