Faraliza Tan, 23, MissSingapore World 2008

I feel that if you are going to represent Singapore at an international pageant, it is important to maintain a professional image.

It seems unfair to Ris Low (to have her conviction made public), but she has to learn to face the facts and to deal with it.

I do sympathise with her, but knowing that she had a chance to win the pageant, she should have considered that she would have to maintain a certain image of herself to avoid such negative publicity. It was a lapse of judgment on her part.

With Ris, everything was blown out of proportion because, in the first place, the video of her poor diction sparked so much discussion.

As a pageant winner, I see myself as a role model to my peers - I have to maintain a proper image, and show others that beauty queens have substance as well, not just looks.

If a beauty queen is mired in so much controversy, I don't think she would be an ideal representative for Singapore.

Cheryl Desiree Chan, 20, Miss Singapore Tourism Queen International 2008

When you are in the limelight, you definitely sacrifice some of your privacy. Everybody has a past, but people are curious, and they will definitely poke into the past of anyone who's well-known.

If people want this information for themselves, it's fine - but I think they are crossing the line when they spread it.

I sympathise with Ris Low, but I believe if she was brave enough to join the pageant - knowing her own history - she should have been prepared for this. It is difficult to hide stuff like that.

Clara Tan, 21, winner of the 2007 Lee Kong Chian School of Business pageant at SMU

When you enter a beauty pageant, you will definitely be subject to a lot of scrutiny. People are going to focus on you and criticise you - and you have to be prepared for it.

After I won the pageant, I faced some negative comments from schoolmates who said I wasn't good enough. I felt they shouldn't have criticised me, but I knew that it would happen.

I don't think it is fair for people to dig up (Ris Low's credit card conviction). But people love to gossip, and she should not be surprised.

That said, I feel a clean record is important for a pageant winner. If she had the guts to do something like that, it says a lot about her values and morals. She shouldn't be allowed to represent Singapore in the pageant.

Summer Lee, 21, winner of Safra Beach Hunk and Babe pageant 2009

I don't think people should judge a book by its cover - people shouldn't be jumping to conclusions about her (Ris Low).

If she made it this far in the competition, she probably has certain redeeming qualities people can focus on.

But then again, this is a bitchy industry, and you can't control what people say about you - especially if it's true.