Miss World contestants' beeline for the buffet

If you thought being Miss World meant cultivating a tiny appetite, think again.

The contestants at last Saturday's competition were so keen to grab lunch that they raced one another towards the buffet, according to Jeremy Hopkins, catering manager at Alexandra Palace, London, where the event took place.

"You would not have believed your eyes if you had seen how enthusiastically the girls approached lunch. When we opened the doors there was a stampede to get to the table. I was surprised, they really do eat quite a lot," Hopkins said.

He added that Miss Turkey, who won the contest, was also one of the quickest to reach the buffet table when lunch was declared, so enthusiasm for food may even be an advantage in meeting the Miss World motto, "Beauty with a purpose".

Hopkins had two days' notice of the contest's switch of venue to London from Nigeria after Muslim and Christian rioters clashed, causing more than 100 deaths.

Nearly 6,000 lunches and dinners were served during the six days that Hopkins and executive chef Jerry O'Sullivan catered for the contestants and stage crew.