Cowgirl to Queen

A three minute horsemanship pattern, a one minute modeling segment and a five second buzz run are often the only interactions that judges...

When I began my rodeo queen career in 2009, it was not uncommon to see girls at pageants with bags of candy, cans of energy drinks and...

A horse and a handful of mane were the only two things that mattered to a ten-year old cowgirl in central Utah. As the daughter of a...

Sweat pants and messy buns replaced wrangler jeans and rodeo queen curls. COVID-19 concerns resulted in lockdowns and social distancing...

The role of the dice and the luck of the draw; rodeo has often been referred to a game of chance. Drawing a good calf, a good bull or a...

"County Fair and Rodeo Queen.""Pro Rodeo Queen." "High School Rodeo Queen." From your banner to your buckle and your crown at the top,...

A love of horses and a cheesy smile were the only two things that I truly had going for me when I began rodeo queening over a decade ago....

Horsemanship patterns may be practiced daily. Enhanced, refined, and committed to memory long before a competition. Speeches can be...

The smell of hairspray and the feelings of anticipation that accompany pageant days are just a mere moment of the the work that should go...

Rodeos, meet-and-greets and community service projects can make a rodeo queen’s schedule exciting if not a little overwhelming, but when...

A felt hat, wrangler jeans, and the jingle of spurs from well-worn leather boots set the trainer apart as a cowboy, but it is his soft...

Poetry in motion. Graceful confidence paints the movements of the rodeo queen as she streaks by on her fast horse, their movements...

Pig tails, miss-matched red boots, and my favorite pink-trimmed white plastic hat. I strode into my first pageant with all the confidence...

On May 27, 2020 the Miss Rodeo America Organization issued a press release announcing their decision to cancel the 2021 pageant...

Weekends of rodeos, county fairs, and appearances is just one of the many perks of holding a title. Though fun, these weekends can be...

From pin stripes to paisley and classic denim to eye-catching Aztec, rodeo queening and western fashion’s resurgence of heart-racing...

Full curls and big wings. A trade mark of a rodeo queen as showcasing as her crown and brightly colored clothes. Big hair and wings are a...

If your hat hits the ground, your head better be in it. An adage not uncommon around the rodeo arena, but rooted in a deep respect and...

Fast horses and beautiful girls. Flying around the arena at mock speeds. Nothing but a flash of rhinestones and curly hair atop beautiful...

The air is painted with the scent of kettle corn, hamburgers, and the freshly worked arena dirt. Breathe it in. The ground shakes with...