The Miss Guyana Universe pageant ‘The Quest’ returns this year with a few changes.

The committee, for instance, appears to be smaller, consisting it would seem of only franchise holder Odinga Lumumba, his wife Nicolette Lumumba and former Miss Guyana World official and designer Derek Moore.

The list of candidates who will vie from the crown is more diverse with contestants coming from East Coast, East Bank, West Coast and West Bank Demerara, Rupununi and Corentyne, Berbice rather than predominantly from Georgetown.

Rachael Bakker

Candace Horatio

Nandani Seecharan

Asanti Mickle

Faye Nicholson

The committee also appears to have made a concerted effort to mix beauty with brains, culling contestants who have had some tertiary education; at least one of them holds a degree.

The pageant was last held in 2007 and the current title holder is catwalk model Meleesa Payne.

Shivon Sieweyal

Lucria Rambalak

Latoya Maraj

Melissa Hendrax

Althia King

Moore who is the artistic director of the pageant said the committee has 15 contestants confirmed and two more who could be added to the line up by the time pageant night, July 4, rolls around.

On the ‘Quest’ this year are: Althia King, a 19-year-old aspiring entrepreneur who is studying at the Business School. She is 5ft 5in and a resident of Georgetown. Asanti Mickle who is 21 years old, is a first-year student at the University of Guyana (UG). The 5ft 6 in, West Bank Demerara  resident is studying to become a human resources manager.

Janella Lewis

Ornella Ramcharan

Divya Sieudarsan

Cianna Persaud

Jenel Cox

Faye Nicholson, 19, a teacher is from Lethem, Rupununi. She is 5 ft 7 ins tall. Candace Horatio, a 24-year-old UG graduate, lives on the West Coast Demerara. She is 5 ft 8 ins. Cianna Persaud, 23, is 5 ft 4in. This resident of Bartica, who has her sights on entering the diplomatic service, won the Ms Bartica Chamber of Commerce & Industry title in 2002, and was first runner up in the Ms Bartica Regatta pageant last year. Divya Sieudarsan of Corentyne, Berbice is studying to be an accountant at the Tain campus. She is 21 years old and 5ft 4in. Janella Lewis, 20, and 5ft 9in is pursuing a Diploma in Business at, Nations University. This resident of Georgetown was first runner-up of Ms Jamzone, Bartica Regatta 2007 in the top nine at Ms Europe and World Jr. Jenel Cox, 19, who is pursuing a legal career is also at UG. She lives in the city, is 5 ft 8 ins and was Ms Guyana Talented Teen 2006 and second runner-up at Guyana’s Next Top Model. Latoya Maraj, also 19 years old is 5ft 9in. A resident of the East Bank Demerara, she is studying marketing at the Academy of Professional Studies. Melissa Hendrax of Corentyne, Berbice is also at UG’s Tain Campus and is studying medicine. She is 19 years old and 5ft 7in. Nandani Seecharan, 26, is an aspiring Human Resources Manager. She is study at City College and lives on the East Bank Demerara. Ornella Ramcharan, 19, is 5ft 8in. A resident of Soesdyke, she is studying to be teacher. Rachael Bakker is 22 and stands at 5ft 7 in. A final year UG student she lives in Georgetown and eyes a legal career. Shivon Sieweyal is a 21-year-old auditor who lives on the East Coast Demerara. She is 5ft 7in. Lucria Rambalak is 22 and stands at 5 ft 5 ins. She is pursuing studies in computer science at UG and lives in Georgetown.