As part of the competition for the Miss Universe pageant in Ecuador, the 81 contestants have already faced judges in an interview segment. Miss Guyana, Odessa Phillips completed her interview and the questions and her answers are below:
Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life. Why?
Miss Desiree Bernard has influenced my life since she was always a prominent woman in my country. She is the first female to be the Chancellor of the judiciary system. In Guyana, this position is equivalent to the Chairman of the US Supreme Court, in essence she is the highest judicial officer in the court system of Guyana. Miss Bernard is a prime example of women deviating from the traditional roles of being a housewife and a housekeeper and to becoming involved in all aspects of society.
What is the most interesting or unique thing that has ever happened to you (aside from winning your title) and/or what is the most interesting thing about you?
I am a natural leader and ultimately I believe in perfection.
What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
My career ambition is to become a successful lawyer and to be able to contribute meaningfully to the ethics of Corporate behaviour in my society. Success at the Miss Universe competition will serve as a catalyst towards the accomplishment of this goal. The discipline that is required to represent this title for one year will certainly lend to the maturity and intellectual development which can only influence my academic and professional success.
List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
Guyana Community Based Rehabilitation Organization - influencing children with disabilities in the fact that they are beautiful and handsome and that they too can be fashionable
Television Host - enlightening the public on proper waste management, required visiting dump sites, which was quite unusual for a queen
Describe your childhood home and living conditions. Were you raised with a large family with lots of brothers and sisters?
I am the product of a working class, nuclear family. My father is a retired soldier and my mother, an educator, working with the Department of Administration of Education in Guyana. I have a younger sister who is a trainee teacher at Guyana's finest teacher training institution - Cyril Potter College of Education. My living conditions are very comfortable. I have all my immediate relatives living next door and throughout the entire block. It makes me feel privileged to have a variety of homes to choose from daily to eat and to sleep!