(Seychelles News Agency) - Seychellois ladies between ages 18 and 26 are invited to audition to represent the island nation at the Miss University Africa in South Africa later this year.

The Miss University Africa pageant, established in 2009, is committed to promoting and celebrating the beauty and innate potential of students on the African continent. As a non-bikini pageant, it provides the winner with a platform to discuss issues of social importance and find lasting solutions.

A goal of the pageant is to unify university students or youths in Africa and promote African culture. The winner of the pageant becomes the official International Queen for Africa and a United Nations Students Ambassador.

Interested young women are asked to register by sending an email to telly@seychelles.netwith their names, photos and phone numbers or contact the organizer of the audition, Terry Carolla, on 4224360 or 2510014. Registration needs must take place by April 4 as the audition will take place on April 6 at the Paradis des Enfants in the capital city of Victoria.

Carolla, who is also the owner of Telly’s Modelling Agency, said that this year her agency is auditioning prospective young women as there is more time to find the right candidate to represent the 115-island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean.

This is possible now as the modelling agency has obtained the right to represent the pageant in Seychelles. The young woman representing the island nation will hold the title of Miss University Africa Seychelles.

He said that the “winner of the audition must have a certain level of discipline, as well as a good educational background and the ability to do teamwork will also count.”

“I would like for girls who meet the criteria to take the opportunity to come forward, as it is a very good pageant. The young lady to be chosen for Seychelles will also have to present us with a talent piece which is a requirement during the pageant,” said Carolla.

Once chosen, the young lady will be groomed and prepped for the Miss University Africa pageant.

Last year, Rynia Tamboo represented Seychelles at the pageant, facing 53 other contestants from all over Africa. Tamboo will be conducting the audition and helping to groom the chosen girls.

In the last pageant, Marlise Sacur of Mozambique walked away with a full scholarship to any African university and $50,000 which the beauty queen can use to help make Africa a better place.