Winner excited to return home and share experience

Kimberley Girl 2015 winner Darrylin Gordon says she is excited about flying the flag for the leadership program when she returns to her community this week.

The Halls Creek resident said she was still on a high after taking out the title last Friday night at the joint Kimberley Girl and Pilbara Girl final.

Ms Gordon was one of 14 finalists who strutted down the catwalk at the 12th annual event held at the Goolarri Amphitheatre.

Hundreds of people and special guests attended the glitzy show including Premier Colin Barnett, Kimberley MP Josie Farrer, Member for Durack Melissa Price and Christine Simpson Stokes who was announced patron of the program on the night.

Other award recipients crowned during the evening included Jodene Garstone as the Kimberley Girl first runner-up and Shiahn Bin Hittam taking second runner-up.

Teanne Brown took out the 2015 Pilbara Girl title, with Ava Watkins and Terri Murphy crowned first and second runner-up respectively.

Speaking to theBroome Advertiser after the event, Ms Gordon said she was surprised and honoured to be this year’s Kimberley Girl.

The 24 year old entered the program to boost her self-esteem and confidence.

“The journey was great because there were all of us girls around the Kimberley that came in together, trying to overcome low-self-esteem, poor confidence and just wanting to think about our body and the way we look differently, rather than doubting ourselves.”

Growing up on a cattle station 50km out of Halls Creek, Ms Gordon felt she lacked a teenage social life.

“I grew up very shy and didn’t really have a lot of confidence in speaking out loud…so I had to learn how to do that on my own.”

Despite facing a number of personal challenges as a teenager, Ms Gordon said she was proud to have come out on top and had learnt so much from Kimberley Girl that she now wants to inspire others to follow their dreams.

“I just want to be able to show other young women that even though we do go through hard times in life, there’s always an option and how we think about getting ourselves out of it - you’ve just got to reach for opportunities,” she said.

“It’s never too late to go back to what you wanted to do.”

Upon returning to Halls Creek, Ms Gordon said she was excited about channelling her newfound experiences from Kimberley Girl and using them to help start up a young women’s life skills program.