Parkes woman Jackie Batt enjoyed last year’s Miss Priscilla competition so much, she decided to enter again for a second year.
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And lucky the 30-year-old did because on Thursday night at the official Miss Priscilla Dinner at the Parkes Services Club, she was announced Miss Priscilla for 2017.
Thanks to Adele Hawke from Adele’s Hair Salon and her right-hand lady Donna Davis, Jackie looked the perfect part to take the title.
Jackie said she was so excited when they announced her name and presented her with the sash ahead of the eight other entrants on stage.
“I was a lot more calm this time, I wasn’t so nervous,” she said.
“I entered with Adele last year, I had so much fun that when Adele asked me again I didn’t hesitate.”
It was no easy task getting ready for the competition – it took hours of preparation and planning for hair, makeup and outfits.
Jackie was required to attend the salon five hours before the dinner.
“On Wednesday night Adele dyed my hair black, my hair is normally light brown,” Jackie laughed.
“I still had black in my hair when she dyed it last year.”
The 44 degree heat on Friday certainly made Jackie’s first day of being face of the festival trying, but she carried out her duties with a big smile.
By 1pm, she was already onto her second set of fake eye lashes after the hot wind blew her first set away.
Jackie had a big itinerary planned for the remaining three days of the festival, with her first appearance being at The Dish with the festival’s international headline acts Jake Rowley and Pete Storm for photos and interviews.
She also stopped by BaptistCare Niola Centre and Parkes Hospital to say hello to local residents and patients before doing a street and park walk with festival ambassador Al “Alvis” Gersbach.
And escorting her along the way was Parkes volunteer Tony Fisher.
“I was even talking to Chris Brown on the main stage in Cooke Park,” Jackie said.
Her other duties included appearing in the street parade, assisting with the look-a-like competition in Cooke Park, pub and club walk-throughs, attending the renewal of vows and farewelling the Elvis Express on Monday morning.
“I’ve never been to the renewal of wedding vows before,” Jackie said.
Jackie would like to thank the Miss Priscilla committee for organising a great event and to Adele for all of her hard work.
“Really I’m just the clay,” she said.
“They did all of the work.
“This is a once in a lifetime thing, I will never get to do it again.
“There will be plenty of Priscilla competitions but you can only do this once.”