That's the advice from former Singleton Showgirl Camillia Batten of Mayfield, who joined the Newcastle Showgirl Committee about 12 months ago and has been selected in the three-person judging panel this year.

Ms Batten, whose husband Graham is Newcastle Show vice-president and who hopes to see her daughter Indiana participate in the competition, said judges were looking for women aged 18 to 25 who were keen to experience the show from a different perspective.

"They would have a friendly personality, like to meet new people and looking to be involved in the community," she said.

"They should view it as an opportunity to represent rural NSW and network, to meet other like-minded girls and young professionals."

Ms Batten said the idea that the competition was beauty-based was incorrect.

Instead, the judging panel will have a 15-minute informal chat with each entrant about what they do, their goals and ambitions, their community involvement, their favourite attraction at the show and what they want to get out of the competition. Entrants will also be asked about current affairs and rural NSW.

Each girl will be asked another question in front of a live audience on the opening night of the show, with the winner, runner-up and people's choice announced shortly afterwards.

"We're looking for someone who has an outgoing personality because they will be interacting with lots of different people in their work, and good deportment in terms of how they present themselves with speech, diction and how they handle themselves," she said.

The Newcastle Showgirl will go to the zone final in February next year.

■ Showgirl competition closed yesterday, Tuesday, February 24, 5pm.