Married to a pilot and teaching nursery school in Iceland, Alexis Sverrisson nee Glasgow is literally and culturally miles away from her humble New Amsterdam upbringing. But just as she never adopted airs and graces when she won the title in 2003, Alexis remains modest. Her smiles and dazzling beauty speak volumes though and it is easy to see why she was snapped up.

She had quietly disappeared off the local scene, almost without a trace. But after some digging, The Scene found out she was married and living in the Republic of Iceland, where she is a nursery school teacher.

Who is she? Alexis Glasgow, Miss Guyana World 2003.

When we last heard about this beauty she was employed with the now bankrupt Universal Airlines, as a stewardess. But even before the airline went under around mid last year, she had already fallen in love and moved to Iceland with her sweetheart whom she later married.

After winning the crown and later representing Guyana at Miss World, Alexis returned here and little was heard of her again. That was because she landed a job with British company, Urban Therapy, which deals with men's and women's hair products, as the company's Caribbean face. She spent almost nine months in Trinidad and Tobago, as the company's Caribbean office was based in Trinidad, but travelled to other countries advertising the company's hair products.

But things did not work out and she returned here where her job as stewardess was still open.

Now, just a few months shy of her 24th birthday, Alexis is taking things even more quietly, though with little children around her there is never a dull moment, and just focusing on her husband, job and studies.

The special man who swept Alexis off her feet and took her thousands of miles away from her homeland is Icelander Thoroddur Sverrisson, a pilot by profession.

Alexis revealed that they met on board a Universal Airlines flight from New York to Guyana. "...Guess it was love at 37,000 feet."

Alexis said that at that time Universal was leasing planes from Icelandair.

"We just started talking and became friends. Well one thing led to another and now we're married. Don't know if it was love at first sight. It took some time, but there was that spark.

"I was just looking for an honest, humble and intelligent guy who would make me laugh and is compassionate with a whole lot of understanding and communication skills because I know how difficult I can be." Seems she has found all she was looking for. Alexis and Thor were in Guyana last week and visited us at The Scene.

With regard to her job, Alexis revealed that being a nursery school teacher is great and in addition the children are all interested in her cultural background.

"It's amazing how knowledgeable Icelandic children are they know about anything and almost everything," she said.

And like so many Guyanese, Alexis never thought she had an accent but in Iceland people are always commenting on her accent and loving it.

But moving to Iceland was a big step. "It was a brave decision, of course. But I was only [going] to visit Iceland for three months and in that time I got married and ended up staying and I am loving it."

But she admits that there is no place like home and while she misses her family she knows they are always a phone call away and she chats constantly with her sister online.

When her husband is away flying, Alexis says she gets very lonely and it is during those periods she spends a lot of money calling home. However, she described her in-laws as very loving people who do all they could to make her feel comfortable.

She says Iceland is amazing with a landscape and scenery to die for. "But I'm still adapting to the Icelandic culture and trying to deal with the cold and darkness in the winter."

According to Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia, Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland is an island nation, a volcanic island in the northern Atlantic Ocean between Greenland, Norway, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Faroe Islands. Iceland is the 5th richest country in the world based on GDP per capita at purchasing power parity. The economy historically depended heavily on the fishing industry, which still provides almost 40% of export earnings and employs 8% of the work force.

Some famous Icelanders include alternative rock band the Sugarcubes; singer Björk; rap-rock group Quarashi; artist collective GusGus; avant-garde rock band Sigur Rós; and novelist Halldór Laxness, winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1955. Although raised and educated in Scotland, TV presenter Magnus Magnusson was born in Reykjavík.

Iceland's literacy rate is among the highest in the world, and a love of literature, art, chess, and other intellectual pursuits is widespread.

Unlike neighbouring Greenland, Iceland is considered to be a part of Europe, not a part of North America. Because of cultural, economic and linguistic similarities, Iceland in many contexts is also included in Scandinavia. It is the world's 18th largest island, and Europe's second largest island following Great Britain.

The major towns are the capital Reykjavík, Keflavík, where the national airport is situated, and Akureyri. The island of Grímsey on the Arctic Circle contains the northernmost habitation of Iceland.

Alexis is still trying to master Icelandic, which she feels is one of the most difficult languages in the world. "But I can speak enough to get about and the children that I work with are always teaching me something new so I am getting there," she revealed.

She has also been doing a bit of travelling and so far she has been to Spain, Italy, the Maldives and Belgium. "I am having the time of my life and sometimes I still can't believe I am this far and experiencing a whole new life with so many changes."

Alexis would love to have children but not anytime soon, first she wants to have her degree in English with a diploma teaching certificate and she plants to starts studying in September.

Alexis was born to Colin Glasgow and Regina Faria but grew up with her mom and stepfather Leon Faria in New Amsterdam and she is the eldest of five children.

After completing her secondary school education she was employed at the Banks DIH Berbice branch as a cashier but soon moved to the city to the company's Camp Site location in the administration office as a data entry clerk.

She then moved on to Guyana Stores pharmacy department and it was while there that Universal Airlines cabin crew manager Joanne Heart discovered her.

"I got hired started the training and I was on my way to the New York for the first time I was so excited I was going to work on a plane. Wow!

"My experience of working with that company was life changing it's very special to me. That's where I met my husband and the people who I've worked with made it even more fun we had our laughter and tears but I miss it."

It was shortly after she joined the Universal crew that Alexis entered the Miss Guyana/World pageant. Alexis never thought she would have won, but she did and looking back, says that too was life changing.

She described her reign as being a "very good experience" which assisted her with her self esteem as she became bold and comfortable speaking in public.

"It gave me many opportunities and with the title... well persons always stand and take notice when they heard I was a beauty queen." While she did not do all that she had wished to do during her reign, Alexis said she cannot complain. "If I had to do it all over again you can be sure I would do it," she said.

Now she is being encouraged her to enter the Mrs World pageant and it may be something she would consider one of these days but not now. Right now she is concentrating on her studies and her husband and later there are those children she wants to have.

Alexis is back in Iceland after her short visit here and she is spending a lot of quite time at home since school is out.