IT’S always tough to separate the entrants, but there was just something about Jessica Corse that made her most worthy of the title of Miss Showgirl 2018.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Corse received the honour at the annual Royal Bathurst Show and Showgirl Dinner on Saturday after a long day of judging.
No one was more shocked by the announcement than Ms Corse herself, who said she and her family could do little more than gasp when her name was called.
“I don’t think anyone expected it, I certainly didn’t, but I am so honoured,” she said.
Ms Corse has been a big fan of the Bathurst Show since her childhood and always admired the work of the various Miss Showgirls.
It became a goal of hers to be Miss Showgirl one day, leading her to enter the competition this year.
As part of the process, Ms Corse and the other eight entrants had to be interviewed by three independent judges from outside of Bathurst and quizzed on current topics locally, nationally and globally.
At Saturday’s dinner, the entrants had to answer two questions on stage, which they were also judged on.
Ms Corse was asked about her work in regional theatre, as she is an employee of Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, and later had to discuss how the show could celebrate its past but also bring the event into the future in an innovative way.
“I believe that showing our history is important, but my idea was to start documenting the show each year with little videos that can be used for promotion,” she said.
Ms Corse said she is looking forward to attending the show this weekend as Miss Showgirl and having a more fulfilling show experience.
“I’m so excited to be at the show for three days and to get to see a little bit more of the show this year than I usually do and have a bit more of a role,” she said.
She will be joined by the runner up, Sarah Driver, and the other entrants, who will get to be part of the Grand Parade and help out in the pavilions.
Miss Showgirl competition steward Vicki Wilson said all the entrants were wonderful and did very will during the judging process.
“All the girls did quite a good job in the interview questions,” she said.
She feels the competition is a very significant part of the Bathurst calendar and a great way to encourage confident and successful young women in the community.
“As the mayor said, out of the thousands of young women living here, these nine girls put their hands up to participate in this big community event in Bathurst,” she said.
“It is just showcasing that we have wonderful young women in Bathurst.”
