NO GRAFFITI ON THIS SWEETIE

New York,NY,USA

August 5, 2004 -- The subways may have been filled with a lot more graffiti in 1975 than they are today, but that didn't stop former Miss Subways Ayana Lawson-Scott from loving every minute of her disco-era reign as queen of the rails.

"It was like winning Miss America," Lawson-Scott said yesterday. "It was great to represent New York, with your face up on the subway. Some people would recognize you. It was fun."

The Manhattan investment adviser won the 1975 Miss Subways title when, as an aspiring model, her agent entered her in the contest.

Lawson-Scott spoke yesterday as The Post conducted a citywide search for a new Ms. Subways 2004 in honor of the subway system's 100th anniversary.

The Brooklyn native said her mid-'70s victory helped spark her modeling career, which she enjoyed until she went into banking full time. She believes the new contest could help the winner in the same way.

"It's fun and it's good exposure for them," she said. "And it's a good feeling to represent New York and the New York subway. New York is a great place to live, I feel that way."

Lawson-Scott said being Miss Subways made her a celebrity during her reign, even though the posters the MTA put up with her picture on it were the target of graffiti bandits. "It was on all the girls, they would put mustaches and things like that," she said. "The subways are much better now. It's safer now."