By the end of the month 16 young ladies will be selected to vie for the Miss Guyana/Universe crown at the National Cultural Centre on April 13.

But this task is not likely to be easy as according to Steve Ninvalle, public relations officer (PRO) for the Miss Guyana/Universe committee, some 100 applications have been received.

This year, the franchise is controlled by McNeal Enterprise, which has Odinga Lumumba at the helm. Apart from Ninvalle, the committee comprises coordinator, Nickolet Trotman, designers Michelle Cole, Pamela Fox and Pat Coates, physical instructor, Regina Spencer, pageant organiser and beauty salon owner, Pamela Dillon, commercial interior designer, Supriya Singh. Clem David is also a PRO on the committee.

A number of past contestants in the Miss Guyana/Universe and Miss Guyana/World pageants have applied to have another go at the crown. However, these do not include the reigning Miss Guyana/World, Olive Gopaul, since she still bound by contract to the owner of the Miss World pageant franchise.

A former Miss Universe would be on hand to crown the winner.

When selected the girls would undergo a six-week training period and they would be prepared by Trinidadian Lester Rauseo who is expected in the country by next week Wednesday.

According to Ninvalle, the swimsuit competition will be held the Sunday before the pageant at the Splashmin's Fun Park.

Ninvalle said three venues have been short-listed for the grand ball after the pageant and these venues are; the Everest Ground, the Eve Leary Ground and the National Service Ground. The grand ball will be a canopy style affair and will have an international fashion show with singers such as Jamaican Freddie McGregor and Trinidadian soca singer, Machel Montano performing.

Tickets for the pageant will range from $2,000 to $5,000 and persons who purchase the $5,000 ticket will use the same ticket to enter the ball while other persons would be required to pay $1800 for the ball.

Whoever wins the crown on April 13 will represent Guyana at the Miss Universe pageant billed for May on the island of Puerto Rico.