The 2004 Miss Universe pageant has opened for women in Guangdong, the Nanfang Daily said.

Hong Kong and Macao women are also included in the biggest qualifying event of an international beauty contest to take place in Guangdong.

Zhuhai will be the principal venue with others in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Foshan and Shantou.

Preliminary selections will be completed no later than March 25 while the provincial final is set for April 10 in Zhuhai.

The Miss Universe quest will be held in Quito, in Ecuador. A date is yet to be announced, but will probably be known later this month.

Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International are the three major world pageants.

(People's Daily January 13, 2004)