PREPARATIONS for the departure of Miss Guyana World, Odessa Philips for London, en route to Nigeria will climax today with an evening of elegance at the Hotel Tower, Georgetown.

The programme, sponsored by Franchise owner K.M. Chung Promotions, in association with Hotel Tower, takes the form of a 'Farewell Fashion Show and Dance Extravaganza'.

The event will commence at 17:00 hrs and patrons will be presented with a resplendent showcasing of a collection of sophisticated fashions - the works of local fashion designers including Derek Moore, officials said.

There will also be a Latin dance presentation by Bryan `Straighty' DeNobrega along with appearances by Guyana's top models.

Philips, 19, who hails from Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, is due to leave the country next week Thursday for London where she will spend one month and be honoured at a special dinner with the Guyanese community, among other special occasions. On November 2, she will leave with the other delegates for the Miss World pageant in Abuja, Nigeria. (The contest, originally scheduled for November 30, will now be held on December 7. The change was prompted by consideration for Nigeria’s Muslim population whose period of fasting and abstinence would have coincided with the pageant.)

"I am Guyanese, and I am going to be an ambassador for Guyana. So I generally need everyone's support since it's my people's support that would boost my confidence," Philips told the Chronicle.

She stressed that there are people here looking forward to what she is going to do for Guyana while in Nigeria and promised to give her all at the pageant.

She said that so far, she has been receiving a good response from the public but pointed out that people have to appreciate that once you are in the eyes of the public, some people would appreciate you while others would not.

Philips further noted that at the Miss Guyana pageant, people were rooting for each of the 10 delegates and that there were disappointments at the end since all could not win.

She, however, said she has not been receiving negative comments and has not come into contact with people trying to 'put her down'.

Though she is prepared for the trip, Philips said the fundraiser will boost her wardrobe. She said that so far the necessary preparations are progressing favourably and noted that everything has been running its course.

She said there was good planning and organisation in terms of the conduct of training the few days before she leaves.

Philips is also undergoing training with University of Guyana lecturers Mr. Al Creighton and Ms. Myers.

She is still very excited about winning the crown though she is undergoing rigorous training.

Her day starts at 06:00 hrs with training at the gym to ensure her body is perfectly toned and in tip-top shape for the big event. She then has modelling exercises with Derek Moore during the day, and meets Creighton and Myers at the University of Guyana.

Then of course there are the makeup classes.

She explained that unlike the Miss Universe pageants where the delegates may have persons assisting with the dressing at intervals, at the Miss World Pageant, things are much different and the delegates have to dress and apply their makeup by themselves.

"...so you have to be prepared," she stated noting that she hardly used makeup before and did so only to attend a wedding, for instance, where someone would do it for her.

She recalled that she entered the Miss Guyana World pageant late and the other delegates had already done the makeup classes. She said some of them gave her tips on makeup application.