THIS year's best kept secret in Holsworthy was revealed on Wednesday, July 7 as this year's Pretty Maid stepped out though the Belfry doors of St Peter and St Paul's Church.
As the clock struck 12noon, Nicola Isaac stepped out through the church doors to greet the scores of residents who had gathered outside.
Unique to the town, the Pretty Maid tradition has been running since 1841, when Rev Thomas Meyrick instigated it by bequeathing a sum of £100 to a 'Pretty Maid' charity.
He stipulated that the chosen young lady would be a Holsworthy spinster under the age of 21, and that she should be "generally esteemed as the most deserving, the most handsome, and the most noted for her quietness and attendance at church."
Fourteen-year-old Nicola, is in Year 9 at Holsworthy Community College and is the daughter of Tim and Julie Isaac of Hollacombe.
Having recently taken her options for Years 10 and 11, Nicola has chosen to continue her studies in Physical Education (PE); Cooking; Music; Geography and Religious Education (RE) as well as the core subjects — Maths, English and the Sciences.
She is following in the footsteps of her older sister Gemma, who was previously a Pretty Maid three years ago, along with her two cousins who have also fulfilled the role.
Nicola attends Holsworthy Church, helping with the Sunday School, and Hollacombe Church.
Her past times include sport and music. A keen player of the cornet and flugel horn, Nicola has been a member of Holsworthy Town Band since she was nine-years-old, but has been learning music since she was seven.
Along with Holsworthy Town Band, Nicola is involved with Bude Metric Band and helps out Launceston Town Band and Launceston Juniors during contests.
At school Nicola is part of the Embers Band and has taken part in the summer concerts, she is also on the school hockey and rounders team.
She is part of the Rock Solid Christian Group and is attending two Christian camps in the summer and has recently returned from Stowford camp. In her spare time, Nicola attends Chilsworthy Youth Club.
Nicola said she was "shocked," but was looking forward to being Pretty Maid.
Nicola's mum was "very proud" and pleased that Nicola was continuing such a lovely tradition.