Thirteen young ladies to participate in the 2003 Miss Guyana World contest were officially introduced Thursday evening at Le Meridein Pegasus.

It was an evening to pose for the cameras and to mingle with the people who really count when you’re in a beauty pageant - business owners and reporters.
The delegates come from across the country and represent a rich blend of Guyana’s uniquely diverse ethnic people.

The profiles of the contestants are featured in the Sunday editions of the Chronicle. The first six were in the edition of July 13.

Gracing the occasion in the Pegasus’ Essequibo Room, was an elegantly dressed Odessa Phillips, the reigning queen, who created quite a stir recently when she told reporters that she was not satisfied with her reign because of problems with the organizing committee after her crowning.

Notably, she left the party early.

Pageant Coordinator, Miss Guyana World 2001, Ms. Olive Gopaul, was seen busy giving reporters details about this pageant.

he delegates’ next night out will be on July 26, when they will feature at a fashion show in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

“Feminine Moods”, as the fashion shows are themed, will move to Thirst Park on August 3rd.

The Miss Guyana World Pageant is owned by UK based Guyanese businessman Kenneth Chung.

This year’s pageant is billed for September 06 at the National Cultural Center.

The 2003 pageant is focused on the humanitarian side, with proceeds from the fashion shows and the gala black-tie evening gown competition going to the Guyana Institute for the Blind and a burns patient who needs overseas medical attentions.

According to Ms. Gopaul, the Miss Guyana World pageant wants to achieve the status of charitable organization in the next two years.

Towards this end, the delegates will each have to work with a non-governmental organization voluntarily.

The delegates are being trained at Hotel Tower. Their classes include swimming, aerobics and yoga.

For pageant night, Artistic Director Derek Moore said he wants to create an oriental setting, giving that this year’s pageant will be held in China.

The only hint he gave was that the contestants will be “walking on the world”.

There were fears that the Miss World pageant could have been switched from China, given that country’s reported cases of SARS.

However, that was laid to rest by the Miss World Organization, as it has begun promoting the pageant.

For the very first time China is to host the Miss World Event, in the beautiful tropical resort of Sanya.

The pageant will be broadcast live from a stadium that is being designed to resemble the Miss World crown when illuminated at night.