Odinga Lumumba, franchise holder of the Miss Guyana Universe Pageant, invited members of the media and businessmen to mingle with his 24 contestants at the Umana Yana, Thursday evening.

US-based Guyanese trainer Robert Dover was on hand for the occasion. He rattled off all his pageant successes and promised to bring his recent Miss DC Teen winner, Natasha Prakash, to these shores for the pageant.

Big news? Yes, she is Guyanese!

"I want this country to win Miss Universe,” he said.

Meanwhile, while all the talk was happening at the podium, the girls were doing their thing on stage.

The 24 were put into four groups and appeared in African, Indian, Casual and Evening wear. The clothes were from leading fashion houses in the city, like Lynette Mangar Designs and Clairans.

The girls were simply gorgeous whatever they were wearing. They were all confident and were not afraid to smile. The make-up and hairstyles did wonders for a few.

If the votes go on the basis of cheers, the night clearly belonged to ranch girl Denese Rodrigues and the ever popular Ulex Atwell.

As they introduced themselves, the audience did their own judging about who would make it and who wouldn't.

All the girls had to say was their name and where they are from. And would you believe it, the ever-careful model/fashion designer contestant, was the only one to slip up!

As the party rolled on, previous beauty pageant winners and contestants were offered the stage.

And so, up came reigning Miss West Indies Asha Pieters, and then Miss Teen Caribbean first runner-up Shammane Davis.

Of course, reigning Miss Guyana Universe Mia Rahaman was in the house and she wowed the audience with the shiny grey pants suit she wore during the Miss Universe competition. Her smile was as radiant as ever.

And then, out of the blue, the fast-talking GBC announcer who served as the night's presenter, called on the Miss Guyana World first runner-up, reporter Maliza Walton.

The girl was shocked, but the huge support from the media crew made life easy.

Good thing she was dressed smartly!

In the end, the contestants mingled freely with the press and the business people who were there.

Meet the Miss Guyana Universe 2003 contestants
PREPARATIONS are moving apace for the Miss Guyana Universe 2003 pageant.

Today, we continue pen portraits of the 20-odd delegates vying for the title on February 22.

Tandika Samsoodin, 21, from Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, sports an appealing smile. She reveals that she is "very ambitious, caring, loving and friendly". Get to meet her and you'll agree. Her love for children goes back as far as she could remember. Taking care of her nieces and nephews soon landed her a job as a "caretaker", as the neighbours came to find out about her interest in kids. Today, her "kids" are Delisia, Delon, Denika, Lisa and Mark.

“They really inspire me," she points out, lighting up at the fact that they call her `Aunty Tandika’.

She joined the pageant because she thinks "we are all beautiful people and should be allowed to show it one way or the other, and this is my way of doing it".

Although studying Computer Science at the International University Guyana, Latoya Perreira, 18, of Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, dreams of becoming a lawyer.

She says a contest as big as the Miss Guyana Universe Pageant is a good way for a girl to pamper herself and discover her true potential.

"It’s a girl thing, you wouldn't understand", she tells me, adding that she has been a bit "boyish" and so she would love to learn "the ways of a lady".

Her mother is excited about the whole affair and so are her other family members. Latoya was Miss Guyana Teen 1999.

If you meet Deslyn Jack, 17, of Meadow Brook Gardens, you would hardly believe that she has not been in a pageant before. She is a true picture of beauty, poise and charm.

For the greater part of her life, Deslyn has lived with her grandmother, who is now 90 years old.

An old student of Central High School and Prestige College in Trinidad, Deslyn says the qualities of her grandmother have rubbed off on her. She is smart, sets priorities and is strict when it comes to moral standards.

Deslyn decided on becoming a delegate of the Miss Guyana Universe Pageant because she loves challenges.

Sheldyne Ferreira, 18, is from Rose Hall. The fifth of six children, she has been the "baby" of her family for 16 years, until her now one-year-old sister came along.

She loves indoor games, yoga and sketching. She is also fond of reading, especially the works of her favourite author Nobel Laureate V.S. Naipaul. She is presently pursuing a diploma in Accountancy at the Tain Campus of the University of Guyana.

Her platform for the pageant is `Cries of street children’ and she feels that everyone can realise their true potential once they are given the opportunity to do so.

Sheldyne is the reigning Miss Rose Hall Town.

Melissa Pickette, 18, of Pouderoyen is a character to reckon with!

She insists she just joined the pageant to see what it feels like and if she places, well then so be it! If not, so be it, also!

"When you're too sure, disappointment comes along and that makes you feel awful, so I'm not counting on anything", she says.

Melissa is a former student of Richard Ishmael Secondary. Her favourite sport is cricket, though she makes do with only watching it.

She also enjoys cooking and knitting. Her favourite singer is Mariah Carey.