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From queen of agriculture to miss showgirl: Embodying rurality in twentieth‐century Australia

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 15:56 authored by Katherine Darian-SmithKatherine Darian-Smith
The judging of the inaugural Victorian Miss Showgirl competition was held on Thursday 19 September 1957 in Centenary Hall at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Crowds gathered to see almost a hundred entrants parade the narrow stage to exhibit their 'personality, dress sense and grooming'. This state-wide competition was organised by the Victorian Royal Agricultural Society as a new 'highlight of the show', and was promoted by its co-sponsor, the Sun-News-Pictorial, as being 'open to all single girls between 16 and 25 years of age' whose photos met the approval of the newspaper's General Manager. The Sun carried photos of each 'heat' winner, with nine women eventually, chosen for the final parade on Show Day. Kay Nielsen, an 18 year-old shop assistant from the Melbourne suburb of Thornbury was awarded the title. Next day, the Sun's front cover described 'Kay' as 'a brunette with green eyes', gave her height, weight and 'vital statistics', and reported that she 'smiled through tears' as she received her sash and £250 prize. Ms Nielsen was obviously a popular winner; she later became Miss Victoria as an entrant in the Miss Australia contest (a competition also sponsored by the Sun).

History

Publication title

Journal of Australian Studies

Volume

25

Issue

71

Pagination

17-31

ISSN

1444-3058

Department/School

College Office - College of Arts, Law and Education

Publisher

Routledge

Place of publication

Australia

Rights statement

© 2018 Informa UK Limited

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Understanding Australia’s past

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