It was little Shelby's looks and cheeky personality that stole the hearts of the judges and the crowd, earning her the title of Ms Ballarat.

But this was no ordinary beauty pageant — Shelby was one of more than 300 guinea pigs taking part at this year's Cavy Council of Victoria show in Ballarat.

Shelby and her owner Aria Treacy are part of a growing movement in regional Victoria of competitive guinea pig showers, where owners pit their pets against each other in the cavy equivalent of a dog show.

The competitions showcase pedigree cavy preservation, education and breed improvement, with more than 20 categories on offer, from Cutest Face and Best Funky Hair to Heaviest, Best Couple and Best Smooth Coat.

Regional boom

The collection of tiny paws, fluffy coats and twitching noses competi

See Full Page