She once used to hate public speaking but now 19-year-old Elizabeth Spalding enjoys every minute of it.

Miss Spalding has gained a lot of confidence over the past year all thanks to the Newcastle Showgirl competition.

The Wickham resident won the competition last year.

She said it had given her enough confidence to speak in public and enter other competitions.

“I was very nervous before entering the Showgirl competition.

“I hated public speaking at school and was extremely nervous about the speech I had to do for the showgirl competition,” Miss Spalding said.

However, she now does not mind talking in public anymore.

“After I won the competition I had to speak to the media, do a lot of interviews and make speeches,” she said.

Miss Spalding impressed the judges last year with her knowledge of Newcastle, which led her to become an ambassador for the region.

When asked by judges where about she would take visitors in Newcastle, Miss Spalding had a number of favourite spots.

“I’d take them to a Knight’s game, cause that’s our team, and then to Newcastle Port, the beautiful beaches and Fort Scratchley,” she said.

She said despite sometimes feeling under pressure and feeling a little overwhelmed with the work involved in being showgirl, she thought it was all worth it.

“I love Newcastle and I get to travel all across NSW telling people about where I come from.

“I’m very proud of the area.”

Miss Spalding competed at regional showgirl competition at Oberon against 16 other showgirls last weekend.

And despite not making it through to the Sydney Royal Easter Showgirl competition, Miss Spalding said it was a great experience.

She saidthe highlight was meeting the other girls who were competing.

Single and married women, aged between 18 and 25 are both eligible to enter this year’s Skoda Newcastle Showgirl competition.

For more information on how to enter Newcastle Showgirl, go to www.newcastles-how.com.au or phone 4961 2085.