Emma Ball is proof that determination will eventually pay off.
After three years of entering the Wagga Showgirl contest, the 22-year-old was announced as the winner on Thursday night.
Miss Ball’s rural upbringing riding horses cemented the importance of agricultural shows in country communities at a young age.
“I want to help see the future of agricultural shows because I got so much out of them growing up,” she said.
“If we don’t get young people involved in these events we won’t have them anymore.”
Miss Ball first entered the competition in 2013 and was unsuccessful but it did not deter her.
She vowed to enter every year until she was victorious.
“My aim was to keep going, I’m committed to this,” she said.
“I always thought I wanted to be showgirl.”
The Daily Advertiser’s Rachel Parsons was named runner-up and Miss Ball said she was overjoyed for her friend.
But then her own name was called as at the winner and she said she was shocked and honoured.
“The calibre of the girls was so high this year,” she said.
“They are all so involved in the Wagga community.”
Miss Ball was involved in the judging for yesterday’s horse events.
She will represent the region at the zone finals in February next year.
