The 20-year-old law student of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, is competing against 91 other delegates from around the world.

The pageant is scheduled to start at 09:30 hrs (local time) and will be broadcast to some 142 countries, but Guyana is not on the list.

None of the local television stations is scheduled to show the pageant that is regarded as the biggest international event outside of the Olympics.

Odessa could not be reached directly for comment, but her chaperone, local designer Derek Moore told the Chronicle that he is confident that she will do well.

Moore said that the Miss World pageant has made “a whole new Odessa”, and he feels she can make it into the top 20.

He said the Guyanese beauty is “in high spirits” and has really been working hard to make Guyana proud.

However, Moore expressed reservations about the voting system being used but said he is still keeping his fingers crossed.

“At all the functions I’ve gone to, people have had good things to say about Odessa. She is definitely a new person and I’m looking forward to a good performance from her”, he told the Chronicle via telephone.

“From what she told me, she did very well in her interview (Thursday) and that along with her ‘bubbly’ personality and her other good attributes will work well for her”, Moore added.

Apart from Moore, franchise holder, Guyanese born British businessman Ken Chung, will be at the pageant to give Odessa support.

However, they will not be the only Guyanese in the house rallying around the “El Dorado” girl.

“From what I’ve heard a lot of Guyanese have bought tickets and will therefore be throwing their weight behind Odessa”, Moore said.

Guyana started participating in the Miss World Pageant in 1966 and has managed to have six finalists over the years.

The last time this country placed at Miss World was in 1971.