Bell Showgirl Nicole Blanck, 21, crowned 2022 Darling Downs Showgirl

For 21-year-old Nicole Blanck, riding a horse on the family property outside Bell is less daunting than standing on stage during the Showgirl 2022 pageant.

Nicole Blanck, from Bell, was named Darling Downs Showgirl at the Heritage Bank Toowoomba Royal Show. Saturday March 26, 2022. Picture: Bev Lacey

YOU can take the girl out of the country but you will never take the country of 2022 Darling Downs Showgirl Nicole Blanck.

The 21-year-old was selected from a very bright field of the region’s showgirls to be crowned at the Heritage Bank Toowoomba Royal Show at the weekend.

Ms Blanck hails from Bell and was Bell Showgirl 2022.

Having lived all her live on the family property outside Bell, Ms Blanck moved east to study for a Batchelor of Agribusiness at the University of Queensland’s Gatton campus and now works in sales admin with AGT Foods Australia’s head office in Toowoomba.

But her heart is never far away from her roots in the country and in particular the family’s predominantly cattle property.

“I’m a fourth generation farmer and while I work in Toowoomba I still have a lot of family out there,” Ms Blanck said.

“I do my best to get out there and work on the property.

“I do love living on the farm where you can jump on a horse and go and check out the cattle,” she said.

“I definitely want to end up back on a property.”

Ms Blanck said her family was fortunate getting through the drought and the recent rain had helped with a positive outlook for the future.

“Luckily we made it through the drought and now the rain has come,” she said.

“Our herd was built up so we were lucky.”

While she is at home on the land, standing on stage and speaking before the crowd during the Showgirl pageant judging was a little foreign for the 21-year-old.

“It was a bit nerve-racking being on stage but it was nice to have my family and boyfriend here.

“All the girls got along well, we had a dinner last night (Friday) where we could relax and get to know each other better.”

Ms Blanck was pleased the Heritage Bank Toowoomba Royal Show was so well supported by the people.

“I think coming out of Covid people want entertainment and to go out,” she said.

“The crowds have been good.

“This is (winning Showgirl 2022) very exciting, I didn’t expect it.”

Ms Blanck will represent the Darling Downs at the Ekka in Brisbane in August at the state titles.

Rural Ambassador for 2022, Belinda Weber, 23, of Pittsworth, and the runner up Ben Westhead, of Crows Nest. Heritage Bank Toowoomba Royal Show. Saturday March 26, 2022

Twenty-three-year-old Belinda Weber, who also hails from a predominantly cattle property between Pittsworth and Mt Tyson was awarded the Rural Ambassador prize while Ben Westhead of Crows Nest was her runner-up.

Originally published as Bell Showgirl Nicole Blanck, 21, crowned 2022 Darling Downs Showgirl