Miss World Singapore (MWS) should be able to rally public support for her charity campaigns.
So if a MWS 2013 finalist cannot even get people to buy seats at the finals and cast their vote for her, how is she then going to canvass for her charities?
If these girls think that the win is just going to fall into their lap, they are wrong.
These strong words were uttered by an adamant Mr Edmund Ooi, the MWS 2013 event organiser who has come under fire for allegedly favouring the wealthier finalists.
Mr Ooi made his comments after The New Paper got wind of some disgruntlement over finalists being asked to buy seats or tables at the event.
The girls were recently informed that the audience attending the finals on July 28 at the Pan Pacific Singapore hotel were allowed to vote.
Audience voting counts towards 20 per cent of the girls' final score alongside physical beauty (35 per cent), performance (25 per cent) and talent (20 per cent).
There are a total of 33 tables and each table of 10 seats costs $3,500.
Finalists get to buy each table at a discounted rate of $2,500.
So far, only three - Miss Elizabeth Houghton, Miss Maria-Anna Zenieris and Miss Teri Chua - out of the 16 finalists have bought a table each.
Last week, a finalist who wished to remain anonymous wrote to TNP to express her unhappiness at the judging criteria.
She said that she "shouldn't be penalised" for not being able to afford the seats.
But Mr Ooi of Asia Music People said that it was ironic that these less wealthy finalists were actually the ones who had the chance to shine with the announcement of the audience vote weightage.
He told TNP that it was more than support from friends and family.
"Miss World is all about charity and children and we wanted to emphasise that this year (more so than previous years).
"A finalist who stands out would be the one who can convince strangers to buy seats at the finals and cast their vote for her.
"So in fact, the contestant who complained can either choose to make noise about this or get out there and show us what she's made of."
Mr Ooi said that audience voting at the finals is not new.
This year, he said that he had deliberately revealed the percentage in order to "pressurise them" into working harder. He added: "Being thrust into this kind of situation, you get to find out what the girls are really like.
"Some of them have gone the extra mile and that is what will ultimately impress the judges."
Bought tables
Miss Houghton's family had bought one table for the finals and is trying to secure her second table.
Said the British-Eurasian student, 18, who has already filled another seven seats with her father's friends and colleagues:
"It's not fair to blame us when the girl (who complained) doesn't want to make the effort.
"It's so hard approaching people to buy seats, the rejection is very bad because they will just say 'no'.
"But me, my mum and dad have been doing that anyway. "
Fellow finalist Zenieris, 18, a Greek-Chinese student, felt that the unhappy contestant shouldn't be hung up on the judging criteria and in turn, miss out on enjoying the pageant experience.
Said Miss Zenieris, whose parents, boyfriend, godmother, godsister, uncle and aunt will be occupying the seats at her table: "I'm just so grateful my parents were able to buy the table, they work hard for their money.
"My heart does go out to those who say they can't afford the seats but the audience voting really doesn't count for much in the whole process.
Student Kimberlin Cheng, 18, who hasn't bought any tables at the finals, admitted that she was slightly taken aback when told about the audience voting.
She said that as her friends were still students, no one could afford to pay to support her at the finals.
Said Miss Cheng, whose mum is a housewife and dad is a taxi driver: "Personally, I think it's a little unfair (that in this case, having more money means getting more votes).
"My mum actually wanted to buy a table at the finals but I told her not to.
"One seat costs $250 and I told her that money could be put to much better use as we come from a middle-income family, such as a trip to Thailand.
"I have tried going on Facebook and asking people to support me at the finals but to no avail.
"I'm not worried because I know a lot of the other girls also didn't buy tables.
"I'm also confident of doing well for the other 80 per cent (that is not audience voting)."
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