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TOYOTA Star Maker has welcomed Bathurst's Kaylee Bell to the fold as the 34th winner.
Kaylee, originally from New Zealand, was named the latest winner after the four grand finalists performed in Bicentennial Park last night prior to the Toyota Concert for Rural Australia.
"This is pretty bloody awesome," she said in her her acceptance speech.
The Bathurst resident said she was "blown away" to be the winner."I'm incredibly honoured," she said.
"This is third time lucky, so I guess that shows perseverance pays off."Kaylee said it had been a major challenge leaving her family behind in New Zealand to move to Australia to pursue music.
They were in the audience when she was announced the winner of Toyota Star Maker, though, so they could share in her proud moment."I can get so much more absorbed in music now," she said.
"That will fight the homesick feelings. I want to take every opportunity and make the most of it."
The emotional winner said the 2012 Star Maker Bob Corbett had been a great ambassador for country music and she wanted to put it on the map even more.
"I also want to inspire young artists," she said."I want to show them that you have to make sacrifices if you want something in life."
For more photos from the night, and coverage of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, click here.
