Taleyha Evans claims gold at Country Life Showgirl Awards, calls on younger generations to step up and keep ag shows alive
The 2025 showgirl winner, who has dreams of becoming a mounted cop, hopes to inspire young people to get involved in country shows so the longstanding tradition grows into the future.
Toowoomba
Don't miss out on the headlines from Toowoomba. Followed categories will be added to My News.
For as long as she can remember, Taleyha Evans has been inspired by the showgirl competition entrants that have long been a staple of agricultural shows across Australia.
Representing Stanthorpe at this year’s Country Life Showgirl Awards, the 20-year-old took home gold, the first time in six years a competitor from the Southern Downs has taken out the top award.
Now Ms Evans hopes to inspire the next generation of girls to do their part in keeping regional shows alive.
Ms Evans has lived in Stanthorpe for the past five years and said she has always grown up going to country shows. She said young women needed to be part of the future of these events.
The Queensland Country Life Showgirl Awards, held on March 29, highlights young promising female leaders in regional communities.
“I’ve always looked up to showgirls at other agricultural shows because I’ve been going to ag shows most of my life and I thought it’s a great way to encourage younger people to come and join the show and be the next generation of the show society,” Ms Evans said.
“Without people coming up through the generations, the ag shows will probably die. So we need to keep them going.”
Ms Evans, who was born in Sydney and grew up in Mudgee in regional NSW, said it is has been her dream since she was about five to join the police service as a mounted officer.
“I’ve always wanted to be in the mounted police force, obviously having horses in my background, so tying my horse into work and keeping the community safe (would be ideal),” she said.
Scroll through our photo gallery of the event and the Darling Downs Sub Chamber Queensland Rural Ambassador Awards won by Toowoomba’s Jamie Colley:
More Coverage
Originally published as Taleyha Evans claims gold at Country Life Showgirl Awards, calls on younger generations to step up and keep ag shows alive
‘Learning is exponential’: Groom MP promises $459k for literacy programs
The simple act of reading to a child every night can put them a full year ahead of their peers when they start school, and it is programs like this that can address the root of Queensland’s youth crime problem.
Holt reveals mega donor, calls on rivals to do the same
Groom hopeful Suzie Holt has stepped out from behind Australia’s murky campaign finance laws to reveal who is backing her.