Kampala — Long prohibited as a symbol of bourgeois decadence, the Miss World pageant took an immaculately pedicured step into China last month as contestants from 79 countries converged for their month long residential training.

Among the contestants is 19-year-old Miss Uganda, Aysha Salma Nassanga Cisse.

Today she joins Miss China - 21-year-old Guan Qi - and other national beauty queens to walk down the catwalk in a ceremony which organisers expect to attract a global TV audience of 2.5 billion viewers.

They are all vying for the Miss World 2003/04 crown, a title that comes with a chance to realise one's dreams.

For China's government and the municipal hosts in Sanya City, the event is a chance to show how far China has opened up.

This year, the face-saving compromise is that judges will consider contestants according to attitude, appearance and ability.

What is in it for our African contestants?

Beauty contests have been looked at as ways through which men demean women. But we are saying that pageants do not demean the women or men folk - rather it is a celebration of the beauty, the essence and physicality of life.

That African women and a Ugandan woman can contest in a world-recognised pageant is a testament to how far the African woman can go when given a level playing field.

They say it takes a single step to complete a journey. This is a journey for African women. In 2001 Miss Nigeria was crowned Miss World, a big step for Africa. We may be lucky again and this time it could be Nassanga.

But it does not matter.

For the well-being of the nation, we should learn to support all Ugandans who endeavour to compete in whatever competitions, big and small.

Above all, we should think positively of the awareness such exposure would bring us internationally.