THE top five The Herald Greenacres Miss Port Elizabeth finalists, Di-Anne Qoto, Esther Shaidi, Claudia Muniz, Elda van Vuuren and Maryke Ferreira, faced some tough questions from the judges but took it in their stride.

Here are the questions posed to the young women along with their answers.

If you were in the hot seat what would you have said?

Question 1:

Miss Port Elizabeth 2008 Nono Gali: If you had to become the new Miss Port Elizabeth, what positive elements would you contribute as proud ambassador for Nelson Mandela Bay?

Esther Shaidi: First and foremost, something I've learnt as a Miss PE finalist and something that has been drilled into us is attitude, attitude, attitude, and on stage it's all about showing yourself but in life it's all about having the right attitude. When people have the right attitude they excel at their work, they do better and that's what I want to impress on people, that's what I want to motivate people to do.

If you look at the workplaces, if someone has the right attitude, then you are the boss you know if someone has the right attitude. You know when someone is enjoying their work and enjoying what they want to do and that's what I want to encourage people to do, to have the right attitude and go out there and get what they want

Question 2:

The Herald managing editor Sicelo Fayo: Crime is rife in our country, involving a lot of young people. Now, if every child grew up with both parents, would this reduce crime in South Africa in your opinion?

Claudia Muniz: When you live with your parents as a child it’s imperative that you obey and listen to them. I speak from experience.

From my parents I learnt so much. Everything that they've done, everything that I have learned from them: the morals, the standards that they have imparted into me – that's what I'm going to produce when I'm older, when I'm entering the big world and when I'm dealing with different situations.

Again, today’s kids are tomorrow's parents and therefore you need to have a good sustainable household, make sure that each child has the privilege to grow up in a good social environment, a good emotional environment as well as a spiritual environment.

Question 3:

Former Evening Post Spring Queen and businesswoman Lauren Rushmere: Going green from an environmental point of view is a much debated topic how seriously should we as humans be reacting and contributing?

Di-Anne Qoto: I think much of the pollution that has happened has happened throughout generations and if we need to reverse it we will have to reverse it continuously, consistently.

The problem with the environment is that we haven't taken care of as it as much as we should have and now is the time that we all as citizens, even though we are in a crisis looking at our economy, should focus on our environment as one of our most important priorities right now; going green, planting trees and making a personal decision to make a difference in the country. All of us do have a responsibility every citizen must make a plan.

Question 4:

Salome Abrahams of Greenacres Shopping Centre : The upcoming elections on April 22, firstly I would like to know is it your responsibility to vote and whatever your answer is to that could you elaborate please?

Maryke Ferriera: I definitely feel that each and every one of us is supposed to vote. It gives each and every one of us our individual voice and a chance to make a difference and, like I said, if the right leaders are put in place things would be run much better.

Question 5:

Miss South Africa 2008 Tatum Keshwar: What is the role of Miss Port Elizabeth within her community?

Elda Van Vuuren: I think the role of Miss Port Elizabeth is quite huge. It’s an amazing window of opportunity as an ambassador of a city to mean something in the lives of the citizens. I think that If I should become Miss Port Elizabeth 2009, I think that I'd be able to mean something in the sense that I can go out and I can communicate with people. I'm a good communicator, they tell me, and I think I can mean something in the lives of others by showing them that I care and not just me but that their fellow Port Elizabethans care.