'It was a thoroughly rewarding experience' -- Miss Guyana
Although Miss Guyana/Universe, Morvinia Sobers, did not bring back the Miss Universe crown as she promised, she found the experience in Trinidad and Tobago a thoroughly rewarding one, and said she did do Guyana proud. Speaking at a media briefing yesterday at Le Meridien Pegasus, the reigning Miss Guyana said: "I did enjoy my stay in Trinidad and unfortunately I did not bring back the crown, but I did my best at the Miss Universe competition." Sobers was Guyana's first ever representative at Miss Universe. She said that she did everything she was supposed to do, but it was a competition among the 84 delegates that participated. "The best part of my life was going on stage wearing Guyana's signal in front of me and representing my country," Sobers said. She said that she was very proud and as she stepped onto the stage she thought to herself, "I'm doing this for Guyana." Sobers revealed that some of the other contestants and supervisors were very fascinated with her wardrobe and that she had presented Miss Universe, Mpule Kwelagobe, with one of her dresses just before they went on stage on May 26. "In terms of support during my stay in Trinidad, I think that I should have had more, a little more support coming from the Guyanese people but nevertheless I thank those who were there," the queen said. She said she hoped whoever represents Guyana at next year's pageant will get more support. Referring to the Miss Universe Pageant schedule, she said: "It is not an easy task as people might think, it is a very hectic schedule, late nights, early mornings, but you had to cope." She said once you are at the pageant you would not know what sleep is during the day. And, she explained, at times they had to be at their elevators at 0330 hrs dressed and made-up and with their bags packed waiting for their supervisors. She said that she adhered to all the rules and regulations of the Miss Universe Pageant and as such did Guyana proud. She disclosed that she had a very good relationship with the other delegates and also the supervisors that were in charge of them. She said that many of the delegates and supervisors told her that she had a nice personality and that they should like to visit Guyana one day. She expressed the hope that the next Miss Guyana/Universe Pageant would be staged as early as possible to give the delegate a longer time to prepare herself mentally and physically. Sobers said that she had a short time to prepare and that she was the last delegate to send in her entry form. She explained that many of the contestants had started to train for the pageant since 1996 and some of them had even represented their country at the Miss World Pageant, did not place, but went on to represent their country at the Miss Universe Pageant. She gave the example of the new Miss Universe, who had represented her country at the Miss World Pageant in 1997, but did not make it in the top ten. "I have gained a lot from the experience and I'm very happy to be Miss Guyana and I will continue to do my best," Sobers said. Sobers said she had a wealth of experience to share with Guyana's next delegate. Franchise holder for the Miss Universe Pageant, Sri Yoogeandra, who also spoke at the briefing said that many people were happy to see Guyana on the Miss Universe stage. He disclosed that the Miss Universe Organisation has taken on a policy to embrace the cause of AIDS and every country which sends up a delegate will have to support the cause. He said he would be doing that immediately and would meet officials at the National AIDS Programme Secretariat shortly to talk about how the Miss Guyana Organisation could help. Yoogeandra also disclosed that Caribbean franchise holders have decided to stage a pre-show before the Miss Universe Pageant, showcasing the delegates of the Caribbean to give them some exposure. He said that the pre-pageant show will be hosted in different countries. The national director revealed that he is hoping to launch a "Miss Guyana school", where girls over the age of 15 would be groomed for the Miss Guyana/Universe Pageant. This plan includes the staging of a Miss Teen Guyana Pageant. He further disclosed that he would be appointing recruiters in different parts of the country to spot the talents of girls and encourage them to enter the Miss Guyana/Universe pageant. The franchise holder said that because of the economic situation in Guyana he may not be able to hold the Miss Guyana/World pageant and as such the first runner-up of the Miss Guyana/Universe, Indra Changa, may represent the country at the Miss World Pageant. He said that next year the two pageants will be held together. Yoogeandra is also planning to host a Miss India World Wide Pageant, the winner of which will represent Guyana at a pageant in India. Yoogeandra said persons applying for this pageant should be between the ages of 17 and 27 and all applications both for this pageant and the Miss Guyana/Universe pageant should address their applications to National Director, PO Box 10362 and should send a telephone number at which they could be contacted. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Miss Guyana/Universe Pageant Committee and all those who helped to make the pageant a success.
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