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Feature
08 | iNarrabri Magazine | September 2016
Why were you initially motivated
to enter the competition?
MP - I was motivated to enter the
Miss Junior Showgirl competition
as I saw it as a great opportunity
to become more involved in my
community and a great way to ac-
tively give back to the community
as a member.
EJ - I was motivated for several
reasons to enter the 2016 Narrabri
Showgirl competition. Firstly,
being new to Narrabri I thought
that the competition was a great
way to become more involved in
the community and let various
organisations know I was here
to lend a hand. Secondly, I was a
New South Wales Rural Agri-
cultural Scholarship recipient
whilst studying at University.
The RAS has close ties with The
Land Showgirl movement and I’ve
always been so thankful for the
assistance I was provided. I have
wanted to give back to this foun-
dation so I decided that entering
would be a way to contribute to
the society.
What background information did
you have about Miss Showgirl?
MP - Upon entering Miss Junior
Showgirl, I was well informed
about the process from my Ag
teacher Mrs Partridge, who re-
ally helped and supported me
throughout each stage. I also
accumulated tips from previous
showgirls that I knew.
EJ - To be really honest I didn’t
know a great deal about the Show-
girl movement until I was experi-
encing it firsthand. A close friend
of mine recently won the New
South Wales Showgirl Runner up
at the Royal Easter Show this year.
Luckily, she was more than happy
to share her experience about the
Showgirl movement!
How much time was spent in
choosing your outfits?
MP - There wasn’t much planning
when it came to choosing my
outfits. Mostly I tried to be myself
while looking respectable as I was
not only representing myself but
also the younger generation of our
society.
EJ - To be honest, not much time
at all. The night of my interview
and the cocktail evening I raced
home from work, frocked up the
best I could and jumped into the
car to get there on time!
2016 Narrabri Showgirls
photo: John Burgess
Earlier this year, McKenzie Parkes and Ellen John were
awarded Miss Junior Showgirl and Miss Showgirl at the
2016 Narrabri Show.
Can you describe the process
involved in the judging?
MP - The first stage of judging
was a 10-15 minute interview, fol-
lowed by lunch. The second part
was public speaking in front of a
crowd of well respected individu-
als from our community and the
judges at a cocktail party. We
were also judged on how well we
interacted with others in a social
environment. From this stage it
was left in the hands of the judges.
Miss Showgirl and Miss Junior
Showgirl were then announced
before the rodeo on the opening
night of the Narrabri Show.
EJ - The judging process was
much less daunting than I initially
thought. I was required to have a
short interview with the judging
panel. The questions ranged from
my personal experiences to “If
you had visitors in Narrabri for a
weekend, where would you take
them?” The judges made the in-
terview process relaxing and more
of a casual chat than anything
else. The next process was a short
impromptu interview at a cocktail
evening.
Were there any questions that had
you stumped?
MP - During the Miss Junior
Showgirl interviews I managed
to answer all questions that were
asked.
EJ - I was asked a variety of ques-
tions during the process. However
I think I need to scratch up on my
parliamentary knowledge!
What was your initial reaction
when sashed Miss Showgirl?
MP - When my name was first
announced I was shocked. Being
crowned Miss Junior Showgirl
was a massive achievement for
myself! I was very humbled
toward the judges for giving me
such a great opportunity and
also to everyone who makes the
Showgirl competition possible
each year.
EJ - The sashing took place on
the opening night of the Nar-
rabri Show in the Rodeo arena.
I was initially shocked by the
announcement, nevertheless I
was very grateful to be given the
opportunity to represent Narrabri
at the next Zone level.
Where to from here with the
competition?
MP - There is no further competi-
tion for Miss Junior Showgirl, but
from here I plan to be the best
ambassador for our society that I
can be.
EJ - The next process of the com-
petition is the Zone finals which
are held in Walgett next February.
In what ways has participating and
winning this prestigious local event
changed you?
MP - Miss Junior Showgirl has
given me more confidence and
a greater will power to chase
after any further endeavours.
The competition has also given
me the chance to become a more
involved member of our town.
EJ - Winning 2016 Narrabri
Showgirl has opened so many
doors for me within the commu-
nity. I have had the opportunity
to meet various people I wouldn’t
have met otherwise. I am also
becoming more involved in
community organisations, which
is the main reason I entered the
competition.
Any advice for girls interested in
the 2017 Miss Narrabri Showgirl?
MP - Miss Junior Showgirl has
opened so many doors for myself
and has made me a more involved
member of our community. I
definitely encourage everyone
interested to enter and take this
great opportunity into mind. The
only advice I could give would be
to encourage anyone thinking of
entering to just be yourself. The
judges and society will always ap-
preciate and respect a young girl
who is not afraid to be themselves
and express a love for their own
passions and their community.
EJ - The Showgirl movement is
a wonderful way to contribute
to your local community and
become an ambassador for rural
areas and promote the aware-
ness of women’s contribution the
country. I have already met many
like-minded women in the proc-
ess that have simular ambitions. I
think one of the most challenging
parts of the process is firstly being
able to expand your comfort zone
and challenge yourself to a new
experience. I encourage all girls
and women who are thinking
about entering the competition in
2017 come and have a chat about
the process and then decide if you
think it is for you.