Some among us may consider packing a dozen pairs of stockings for a week away excessive; but then again those people have probably never been a finalist in The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl competition, according to Canowindra Showgirl Kristy White.
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Locked and loaded with court shoes, a sash and a bottle of clear nail polish in her handbag to stem any ladders , Ms White was one of 15 regional finalists who spent a week in Sydney vying for the top title of Sydney Royal Showgirl 2014.
While she didn't come away with the win, Ms White said she couldn't have asked for a better experience.
"It was amazing, we were flat out. I haven't worn shoes since being home after living in heels for a week, I was one of the only girls who didn't end up with five Band-Aids on their feet!" she laughed.
Bridging the gap between the city and the country, Ms White and the other finalists spent their all-expenses-paid trip seeing the sites, attending to their ceremonial duties and enjoying multiple-coursed dinners with the likes of Professor Marie Bashir and Sir Nicholas Shehadie.
"You don't think you're that important but then you're treated like a VIP all week. It's hard to believe people hold you in such high regard just for being you and trying to make a difference for regional NSW," Ms White said.
Topping her week away was a trip to the Children's Ward at Westmead Hospital.
"The show donated 100 show bags so we walked around and gave show bags to the children and talked to the kids and their families," Ms White said.
"It was amazing to see how the kids' faces lit up when we gave them a gift. It was nice to talk to their parents as well, a lot of the time they were just sitting there by themselves and were grateful for a chat."
Despite her incredible experiences, Ms White said she's glad she didn't win in the end and isn't interested in throwing her proverbial hat in the ring again.
"I wasn't interested in winning. You effectively sign your life away for 12 months," Ms White said.
"It is a competition but as everyone kept saying, we were all winners. Winning was making it to Sydney."
In a world where the divide between paddock and plate is getting wider, Ms White said the Showgirl competition is now more relevant than ever.
"A lot of people from the city really have no idea what happens out in the country and our biggest role as rural ambassadors is to close that gap," Ms White said.
"There's a lack of education in the city about farming and people only always hear the bad stuff."
She believes the competition's perception is what stops many girls from entering and is determined to dissuade any misconceptions.
"It's not until you get to state finals that people start to take the Showgirl competition seriously," Ms White said.
"I know when I was originally asked, I said no because I thought it was a beauty pageant. People still don't know what it's about, they think it's like Miss Australia. People seriously call the zone office to ask what time the bathing suit section is on. You could get up there in a paper bag and have just as much of a chance.
"If I could get someone to have the same experience that I did it would be awesome."
Ms White thanked Barry Burn, who donated her a tank of petrol to get to Sydney, Amy Watson, Ashleigh Bayliss, the Canowindra Show Society and a few anonymous donors for helping her get to the finals.
She asked any girls thinking about getting involved in this year's competition to get in touch with her by calling 0428 468 290.