The agronomist and livestock nutritionist with an infectious smile received the coveted tri-colour sash in front of a packed amphitheatre at the Sydney Royal Show on Sunday.

Maisie, 24, grew up at Cassilis and studied Rural Science at the University of New England. She is the first ever showgirl to represent Merriwa at the Sydney Royal.

Wagga Wagga showgirl Emma Gorman placed second in the competition and Rydal showgirl Isabel Hawken was second-runner-up.

Emma, 23, grew up in Scone and moved to Wagga three years ago as part of her medicine degree at the University of New South Wales. Originally from Scone, she has showed cattle in the Sydney Royal school steers competition as well as in horsing events in the past but it has been her childhood dream to see the show through the eyes of a showgirl. 

Representing Rydal Show Society, Isabel, 24, is a nurse at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. She’s passionate about making a different in the world through rural health and is now well on her way to achieving her goal of working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.