Held at Centro Armidale, the competition attracted 59 entrants ranging in age from 10 to 29. Run over two days, a crowd of between two and three hundred people watched the heats with a much bigger crowd attending the final.

The overall winner was 18-year-old Phoebe Thompson of Bellingen, who won a modeling contract and a path to the national final.

“It was amazing to have won, especially as a country girl I’m stoked to get this type of opportunity,” Phoebe said.

“I’m very excited about the nationals – I’m already looking at dresses to wear,” she said.

The winner of the nationals will be crowned Miss Country Girl Australia and then will be entered in the heats of the Miss Universe Australia competition as well as heading to Melbourne for the Cosmopolitan magazine model search.

Phoebe has modelled previously in Sydney and for a local Bellingen designer. She plays soccer, is interested in journalism and says her role model is Tyra Banks.

As well as Armidale, heats were also held in Grafton, Lake Macquarie and Goulburn.