Her heart stopped a beat when she heard her first name called on stage.
But it was another Laura that stole the tiara at this year's Miss Australia competition on Wednesday night.
Tipped as one of the favourites in the lead up to the national final, Sutherland Shire model Laura Andon missed out on being named the next Jennifer Hawkins to fellow Sydney-sider, Laura Dundovic.
With the winning combination of beauty and brains, the psychology student beat 28 other hopefuls to take out the crown.
Two other shire girls, Cronulla cheerleader and Fuel TV Fox Sports host Lorraine Hudson, and Sutherland model Annette Melton, both 22, were also contenders.
They all secured three of the seven finalist spots from NSW.
Miss Melton, the new face of the Chiko roll, was not initially selected to advance into the final.
But she was given a second chance when the NSW heats were reviewed, after she complained to organisers that the first round of the competition was "degrading''.
See Tuesday's Leader for more.