Queensland Country Life Miss Showgirl Awards
About the Queensland country life miss showgirl awards
The Miss Showgirl Competition aims to find a young rural woman to act as an ambassador for rural Queensland and Queensland Agricultural Shows, with her role involving many official and informal duties both at Royal Queensland and during her travel’s interstate and overseas.
The Miss Showgirl Competition is not a Beauty Pageant or Fashions in the Field racewear competition. Most importantly the Showgirls must have a genuine interest in, and knowledge of, rural Queensland. The Competition encourages the participation and subsequent awareness of the rural women’s contribution and involvement in both local communities and rural Queensland as a whole.
This year the Queensland Country Life Miss Showgirl Awards celebrates 37 years since its inception in 1983. The Competition has come a long way, with the Awards today providing an opportunity to excel in leadership, community involvement, professional development and confidence. It has given many women across Queensland to become involved in or increase their involvement in one of the greatest traditions of rural Australia – their Local Show.
The Miss Showgirl Awards are just one of the many ways young leaders in their community can be recognised by their Local Show. The Miss Showgirl Awards, Rural Ambassador Awards and Young Judges Competition are all hosted by the Queensland Shows – the governing body of all shows across Queensland. Our aim, along with developing connected and resilient rural women across Queensland, is to broaden the knowledge and participation of our youth in the Show Movement.
The Competition plays a significant role in the overall development of rural young, strong female leaders and the sustainability of the Agricultural Show movement within Queensland and boasts incredible support from entrants, sponsors and organisers. Sponsorship at a State Final level is worth over $50,000, which does not take into account Local Show competitions.
Each year the achievement level is heightened and broadened. The entrants meet other young women from rural Queensland and gain great insights and personal development through this rare and very relevant experience. The winner of the Miss Showgirl Awards will be awarded the title of the Queensland Country Life Miss Showgirl and will represent Queensland Shows for the following twelve months.
The contestants are judged on personality, confidence, ambition and life goals, general knowledge, show knowledge, rural knowledge, presentation and speech. Finalists are also asked to demonstrate knowledge of their local community and current affairs. Apart from their potential ambassadorial qualities, contestants are also judged on their involvement in and experience of agricultural shows .
The Miss Showgirl Awards are an excellent opportunity for young Queensland women to become more involved in their local show and their community.
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Queensland Country Life Miss Showgirl Exchange - QLD & NSW
In 2011 the Queensland Shows and NSW Shows formed an Exchange Program for their respective Showgirl Winners, Queensland and NSW are the only States who conduct the Awards. This program has proven very successful and will hopefully continue for many years. The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl has been running considerably longer than Queensland commencing in 1962, whereas the first year for a State competition in Queensland was 1983. The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl each year joins the Queensland Finalists in Brisbane for a few days at the Ekka. The winner of the Queensland Country Life Miss Showgirl then attends the Sydney Royal Show the following year. The exchange program provides the State Winners the opportunity to experience a few “Days in the lives of Showgirls” from another State.
Thank you to our 2019 Sponsors:
Australian Show Ribbons
Birdsnest
Brisbane Bus Lines
Bruce Robinson Diamonds
Cootharaba Beef Genes
Preston Peak Wines
Queensland Country Life
RB Sellars
Brisbane Riverview Hotel
Showmans Guild of Australasia
Stefan
Sunny Queen
Super Butcher
The Right Mind
The Star Gold Coast
sWestpac Agribusiness
Woods Equipment Australia
Yellow Cab Co
Our thanks to the Royal National Association for their support in including the State Showgirl in their Ekka program.
Queensland Miss Showgirl Winners
2010-2019 Winners
| 2019 | Clare Webb | Burnett |
| 2018 | Mikaela Tapp | Central & North West Queensland |
| 2017 | Claire Jackson | Central & North West Queensland |
| 2016 | Kaitlyn Shultz | South East Queensland |
| 2015 | Michelle Mesner | Darling Downs |
| 2014 | Sophie Hughes | Burnett |
| 2013 | Donna Baker | Burnett |
| 2012 | Jessica Robinson | Central QLD |
| 2011 | Samantha Gluer | Darling Downs |
| 2010 | Christie Menzies | South West QLD |
2000-2009 Winners
| 2009 | Aimee Davina | Burnett |
| 2008 | Ayla McIntyre | South West QLD |
| 2007 | Amanda Lindeman | Central Highlands |
| 2006 | Jacinta Tonscheck | Darling Downs |
| 2005 | Sara Dieckmann | West Moreton & Brisbane Valley |
| 2004 | Rebecca Jennings | West Moreton & Brisbane Valley |
| 2003 | Michelle Fritz | Central QLD |
| 2002 | Jacqui Illa | South East QLD |
| 2001 | Kate Burton | South West QLD |
| 2000 | Bronwen Croner | Burnett |
1990-1999 Winners
1999 | Helen Dennis | Central Highlands |
1998 | Lauren Pearce | Darling Downs |
1997 | Alita Blackmuir | South East QLD |
1996 | Allison Storie | South West QLD |
1995 | Lucy Johnston | South West QLD |
1994 | Sharee Ware | Central QLD |
1993 | Julianne Paget | Darling Downs |
1992 | Kylie Farmer | Darling Downs |
1991 | Anita McAuley | West Moreton & Brisbane Valley |
1990 | Michelle Piddick | Burnett |
1983-1989 Winners
1989 | Michelle Cole | Near North Coast |
1988 | Stacey Kibble | South East QLD |
1987 | Margie Page | Near North Coast |
1986 | Kim Watkins | South East QLD |
1985 | Kylie Williams | Burnett |
1984 | Sue Robinson | South East QLD |
1983 | Esther Smith | South West QLD |
The Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies gratefully acknowledge the generous support and sponsorship provided by the Queensland Country Life.
2018 Winner’s Profile
Photo courtesy of Queensland Country Life
Mikaela grew up in Cloncurry and completed her education at Cloncurry State School. She is currently studying a Diploma of Events Management and has already completed a Certificate II in Business & Hospitality.
Mikaela currently works as an Administration Assistant in the Training Department at Ernest Henry Mine. Her ambitions include using her events management studies to increase the tourism and spirit in the North West region. Mikaela would like to hold new and exciting events, which will bring the community together and bring people into the area. She is the current secretary/treasurer for the Cloncurry Lions Club and assisting in the planning of the Cloncurry C150 Celebrations and Beat the Heat Festival.
Mikaela enjoys netball, swimming, water-skiing, snowboarding and playing touch football.
What are you hoping to achieve over the next 12 months during your term as Queensland Country Life Miss Showgirl?
I hope to empower other young women and spread knowledge and understanding of what being a Miss Showgirl representative is.
My aim is to encourage other young women to be part of the Miss Showgirl Awards as I believe this will help more young people to get involved with their local shows and communities, not just for the short term but for the long term also. I believe the Miss Showgirl Awards are a platform on which women are able to use for personal growth and community and show involvement. I hope that my actions as the Queensland Country Life Miss Showgirl in the next 12 months benefit Queensland Ag Shows and rural communities.
What inspires you?
My parents inspire me; they are incredibly hard working, are heavily involved in the community and show kindness to everyone.
What do you see yourself doing in five years?
I will have finished my study and will be an events coordinator with my own business supplying events management and equipment hire to the North West Queensland area. I will have also travelled overseas and will be surrounded by family and friends.
What’s your main rule in life?
Always put in 110% effort into everything that you do and don’t be afraid to have a go.
History
In June 1982, the Darling Downs Sub-Chamber Delegate and State Vice President, Mr Gilbert Lange again raised the matter and after much debating and persuasive argument it was agreed to run a Final in 1983. A committee appointed from the Darling Downs (Mrs Lillian Krog, and Messrs Graham Jensen, Gilbert Lange and Richard Pietsch) conducted the event. After consultation with Mr Blair Chadwick from Queensland Country Life (who were to be the major sponsors) the contest was underway. Other sponsors were obtained and Rules were drawn up using the New South Wales Competition Criteria as a guideline.
The first Showgirl Winner was Esther Smith from South West Queensland and Charmaine Bondfield from the Darling Downs was Runner-up. In 1984 the first National Final was held and since then two Queensland girls have taken out the National Title; namely Kim Watkins in 1986 and Kylie Farmer in 1992. Kim became well known as a TV presenter. The National Miss Showgirl Competition ceased in 2000.
Since its inception in 1983 the Showgirl Awards has offered the opportunity to hundreds of young Queensland women to become involved in one of the great Australian traditions their Local Show. The Awards are just one of the many ways that allow the youth of Queensland to participate in their local Show. Showgirl Awards, Rural Ambassador and Young Judges are all hosted by the Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies the governing body of Queensland Shows. Our aim is to broaden the knowledge and participation of our youth in the Show Movement. We hope all participants will continue their association by becoming involved with the “Next Gen” a Sub Committee of the Queensland Chamber.
