The Millers Forest woman follows her late great-grandfather Harold Willard who was the show ringmaster for many years and her late grandfather Kevin Lawrence who was on the show committee. 

Her grandmother Joan Lawrence and her mother Kyra O’Brien, who are heavily involved in the show, watched on as she was sashed in front of the historic grandstand on Saturday night. It came hours after she won Champion Small Galloway with her horse Signette.

“Saturday was a really good day for me,” she said. 

“If I can impact someone’s life in some way and get more people involved with the show society i’ll know I’ve done something.”

The 22-year-old is studying equine studies at Charles Stuart University via distance education and plans to complete courses that will make her a qualified equine chiropractor, massage therapist and acupuncturist. 

She re-entered the quest after being named runner-up in the 2016 competition. She wanted to become more confident and make new friends. 

Ms O’Brien said past showgirl winners mentored her in the lead up to the quest, which helped her prepare for the judging process.

She urged young women between 18 and 24 to enter next year’s contest and said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The judging panel asked entrants a range of questions about their life, why they entered the quest and current affairs. 

“They asked two political questions which were quite easy, and then they asked me about Maitland and why I love it,” Ms O’Brien said. 

“All you have to do is be yourself … It was a relaxed chat.”

At the gala ball Ms O’Brien took to the stage and shared her vision of agriculture, her ties to the show, her love of the showgirl movement, and the admiration she has for her mother - her biggest female role model.

“If I could be half the woman she is I’d be happy,” she said. 

Blair Harvey and Macia Borowiec are reeling with enthusiasm thanks to the Maitland Showgirl and Miss Maitland quest. 

They’ve been interviewed, had an etiquette lesson, spoken publicly at a gala ball, sashed animals, made new friends and held a prestigious position at Maitland Show as a showgirl entrant.

They’ve got more confidence than ever before, and now they feel as though they could achieve anything.

They said placing in the top three on Saturday night was an added bonus in what had been one of the best experiences in their lives. 

There were seven young women in this year’s quest. 

Ms Harvey was named runner-up to Maitland Showgirl and Miss Maitland Miranda O’Brien and Ms Borowiec took out third place. 

They said entering the showgirl movement was never about winning. It was about stepping out of their comfort zone, making life-long friends and representing their community.

“I went in with a blind eye and what happened was above my expectations,” Ms Harvey said.

“I went into it for the experience, so I was really surprised when my name was called out – I was not expecting to get anything back,” Ms Borowiec added.

The pair said all of the seven entrants soon discovered the community backed the showgirl quest – and it wasn’t outdated, or a beauty pageant, like some young women assume.

Ms Borowiec was asked to stop for photos at the show and found the crowds felt special to meet her and be a part of the movement. 

“People still take pride in that we’re still doing this quest – and it’s so nice to see the community get behind it,” Ms Borowiec said.

She competed in the horse events hours before the announcement and picked up two firsts, two seconds and a third. When she placed third, she thought it was the perfect finale.

Ms Harvey’s only regret is that she did not enter the competition earlier. 

She won’t fit the 18-24 age bracket next year so she’s determined to urge the city’s young women to take part in the quest before it’s too late. 

“More girls should do it – they will get a lot of confidence out of it and it’s an experience you won’t get anywhere else,” Ms Harvey said. “They should do it earlier than I did and take the chance to develop themselves. 

“I really surprised myself. The competition wasn’t on my mind, it’s not a competition really, it’s a movement.”

Ms Borowiec, 19, agreed and said she wanted to enter the quest again. 

“I’ve always seen myself as an advocate for agriculture and those who don’t have a voice,” she said. “I went in there being myself, and I’ve learnt being yourself pays off … I know if I put my mind to it I can do anything.”