In an incident that recalled the "weight question" of 1997, Ms. Kwelagobe waded into a bit of controversy when she was asked whether a Miss Universe who becomes pregnant ought to resign. She indicated that she thought not, despite pageant rules to the contrary, and received loud applause.
The question brought into the spotlight the pregnancy of Miss Guam, Trisha Heflin, who was disqualified a few days before the Miss Universe Pageant. The reason for her departure had been acknowledged, but the announcement was kept low-key.
During the pageant, organizers went out of their way to congratulate and thank officials of Trinidad and Tobago, some of whom had reportedly felt snubbed during early pageant events. The contest was generally popular with the local populace, and one religious leader's call for a boycott came to nothing.
