Backstage at the Queen quest | Grafton Jacaranda Festival

The Style Gurus | 4th November 2009

IT'S amazing how you notice different things when you are focusing on Jacaranda from the other side.

Growing up in Grafton, Jacaranda meant crepe paper, dancing and a day off.  When I worked at 2GF, it was the 5am breakfast and Prince Street was the focus.  Once the kids came along, Jaca meant chasing them up and down the street and in later years watching them get excited as they caught up with their friends while giving the orders about designated places and times to meet them.

This year we were honoured to be asked by the Jacaranda committee to be Secret Judges and help choose our Jacaranda Queen.  At first it sounded easy - until we met the nine lovely ladies personally.

On our first meeting, we were the stylists for the Jacaranda Fashion Parade, looking after the hair and make-up. 

We already felt a little like a traitor or a spy.  We met the girls at their most natural - wet hair and no make-up helps to break down the barriers with anyone.

The excitement and the friendship between the girls was unbelievable.  Kez and I were chatting for days about how dedicated and how seriously they took their roles.

On formal night - the Jacaranda Ball - they were the epitome of elegance.

That night part of our job was to judge on deportment and their socialising skills.  The girls knew the judges would be there and so took to that role like real professionals.

Still discussing who they thought the secret judges were, I know from our side of things we found the pressure building, the girls started to realise the finale was just around the corner.

Of course the Saturday of the crowning was a huge day.  Firstly we had weddings to tend to with a few Jaca candidates joining in for their makeovers too.

The heat was now on and the girls were so nervous and excited, practising their speeches with us while we up-styled their hair and applied fresh make-up.  Listening to their stories about the official judging at lunch time helped calm the nerves and excitement of public speaking on centre stage.

It was just around the corner and listening to the girls' schedule made our day seem easy.

All girls beautified, it was off to the crowning, pen and paper poised for the judges' comments.

We really felt close to the girls, particularly when we were going along with their speeches in our heads like proud parents.  They all made public speaking look a cinch.

Nine beautiful, hardworking girls sat waiting to be announced in a ceremony fit for a queen.  Kez and I wanted to crown all of them.

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