Age 23. Height 1.79m. Star sign Virgo. Interests - apparently technorealism and the Internet.

Stella Tan in her online interview for the title of Miss Internet World has some interesting thoughts on why she entered Singapore's beauty contest with a difference:

"To be part of the silent invasion which is occurring at a disconcertingly rapid pace. Through this contest, I hopefully can pick up some useful skills to optimise the usage of the computer as a tool. To see that this invasion poses a promise, not a threat to my existence," she says.

Real pageant, virtual parade

The Grand Final of the pageant takes place at the Hotel Inter-Continental in Singapore on Saturday. The 12 finalists, narrowed down from a field of 620 single female Singaporeans aged between 15 and 28, have already been judged by visitors to the contest's website, where vital statistics, photos, soundbites and answers to why they entered have been posted.

The organiser, the island's leading Internet Service Provider, SingNet, says this is a search for intellectual beauty where 60% of the judging marks will be awarded for Internet knowledge, 20% for confidence and interview skills and 20% for looks and appearance.

There will be the obligatory evening dress and exercise leotard parades in the show, but laptops will also be on stage for the contestants to answer Internet trivia questions and all 12 finalists will have to produce a Home page about themselves to be posted on the Web.

Singapore's Internet intellectuals

"Young ladies should always be aware of new developments in the Internet and Information Technology world," says the contest's website, "It's the next best thing to have happened since the television."

Stella Tan says she entered because brains as well as beauty were required. She is currently studying for a Master's in Genetic Engineering and hopes to go on to Oxford University for her Ph.D.

Singapore aims to be the most wired island on the planet and its intellectuals are treating the Internet as a necessary social skill - the government has even set up a popular online dating service for them.

Some of the answers to questions on the website are a little unexpected though. Asked about her favourite sites, Irene Ang (25, 1.68m, Libra) says: "www.vcm.com.sg, I heard that they are launching a searchable library of second hand cars out there in the market with more than 1000 records in their database."