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

Abstract

The judging of the inaugural Victorian Miss Showgirl competition was held onThursday 19 September 1957 in Centenary Hall at the Melbourne Showgrounds.Crowds gathered to see almost a hundred entrants parade the narrow stage toexhibit their 'personality, dress sense and grooming'. This state-wide competitionwas organised by the Victorian Royal Agricultural Society as a new 'highlight ofthe show', and was promoted by its co-sponsor, the <i>Sun-News-Pictorial</i>, as being'open to all single girls between 16 and 25 years of age' whose photos met theapproval of the newspaper's General Manager. The <i>Sun</i> carried photos of each'heat' winner, with nine women eventually, chosen for the final parade on ShowDay. Kay Nielsen, an 18 year-old shop assistant from the Melbourne suburb ofThornbury was awarded the title. Next day, the <i>Sun's</i> front cover described 'Kay'as 'a brunette with green eyes', gave her height, weight and 'vital statistics', andreported 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 anentrant in the Miss Australia contest (a competition also sponsored by the <i>Sun</i>).