A rodeo queen is a female representative and public ambassador of the sport of rodeo, often seen as a living symbol of the values and traditions of the American West. She typically represents her rodeo, association, or region for a term of one year, promoting the event and its cultural heritage at public appearances. Rodeo queens are expected to demonstrate proficiency in Western riding, public speaking, rodeo knowledge, appearance, and personality. In addition to their ceremonial duties, rodeo queens participate in parades, media interviews, school visits, and charity events. Their role blends the athleticism and horsemanship of the cowgirl with the pageantry and symbolism of Western myth, drawing on frontier-era imagery that continues to shape how the American West is imagined and celebrated.

Originally, the term “rodeo queen” in the late 19th and early 20th centuries referred informally to prominent women rodeo riders – the cowgirl champions of early rodeos.^[1] For example, famed cowgirl Lucille Mulhall (1885–1940), one of the first women to compete against men in roping and riding, was nicknamed “Rodeo Queen” and “Queen of the Western Prairie” for her accomplishments. This early usage denoted skilled female rodeo athletes.

In 1910, however, the town of Pendleton, Oregon introduced a new concept of rodeo queen at its first large-scale rodeo (the Pendleton Round-Up): instead of a touring cowgirl performer, the rodeo’s queen was a young local woman chosen by the community.^[1] Pendleton’s inaugural queen, 17-year-old Bertha Anger, earned her title through a ticket-selling contest and was tasked mainly with looking regal in the rodeo parade.^[2] At that time she had little involvement in the actual rodeo competition and even rode on a float rather than on horseback, reflecting early 20th-century social norms that emphasized decorum over rodeo skills for women.^[2]

Pendleton’s example marked the start of the community-sponsored rodeo queen tradition, which gradually spread to rodeos throughout the American West.^[1] In the 1920s, rodeo organizers began more actively incorporating the rodeo queen into events. Notably, in 1922 Pendleton’s reigning queen (Thelma Payne) and her attendants were for the first time presented to the crowd inside the arena at the start of each performance – riding in on horseback and being introduced as the “reigning monarchs” of the show.^[3]

This inaugurated a popular tradition of rodeo queens making grand entrances on horseback at rodeos. By the mid-1920s, many Western rodeos had adopted the practice of selecting local young women as queens or “Miss [Rodeo]” of their annual events, often shifting the focus away from former rodeo cowgirl champions. Laegreid notes that by about 1925, with few exceptions, the transition was complete: community-appointed “genteel” cowgirls had effectively come to rule the rodeo arena, replacing the earlier era’s professional cowgirl performers as the official rodeo royals.^[1]

In the 1930s, some rodeos began to add more pageant-like competitive elements to their queen selection. For example, the Texas Cowboy Reunion in Stamford introduced a judged rodeo event for queen contestants and added appearance as a criterion – an acknowledgment of the growing influence of beauty pageant culture alongside horsemanship.^[2] Such changes formalized the role, requiring rodeo queens not only to represent moral virtues of the community but also to demonstrate riding skill and personal presentation.

By the late 1930s and 1940s, most major rodeos across the West had established their own annual rodeo queen titles (for instance, Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming crowned its first “Miss Frontier” in 1931).^[4] The onset of World War II saw many rodeos (and their queen contests) put on hold, but the tradition rebounded strongly after the war.^[2] In the later 1940s, rodeo queen competitions surged in popularity – hundreds of young women vied for the honor of rodeo queen, which by then often brought celebrity-like attention and was considered a prestigious civic role.^[2]

Rodeo queens became a staple of post-war rodeos, with expanded responsibilities and visibility. Pageants in this era increasingly included horsemanship trials, public speaking, and travel obligations. Queens were now expected to ride expertly in the arena, promote the rodeo in media appearances, and serve as representatives at events ranging from service club meetings to meetings with dignitaries.^[2]

A major development in the tradition’s history was the creation of a national rodeo queen title. In 1955, organizers formed the Miss Rodeo America pageant under the auspices of the International Rodeo Association, establishing a nationwide competition among local and state rodeo queens.^[5] That year, Marilyn Scott of Wyoming was selected as the first Miss Rodeo America, holding the national title for 1955–1956.^[5] The advent of Miss Rodeo America in the 1950s signaled that the rodeo queen had evolved from a purely local figure into a national ambassador for the sport.

In subsequent decades, the Miss Rodeo America program grew in prominence; by 1985 the annual national pageant became closely associated with the PRCA’s National Finals Rodeo, held in Las Vegas.^[5] The rodeo queen tradition thus entered the late 20th century firmly institutionalized – with local queens progressing to state pageants and ultimately to a nationally recognized competition. This framework has continued to the present day.

Rodeo queens serve as cultural symbols in the American West, embodying ideals of femininity, heritage, and patriotism. The role combines elements of the traditional cowgirl with those of a ceremonial figurehead. Scholars have described the rodeo queen as a modern representation of the “mythic West,” maintaining the values associated with frontier life—grace, resilience, and community leadership.^[1]

Rodeo events often emphasize historical continuity with the Old West. Within this setting, the rodeo queen functions as a visible link between past and present. She typically appears in stylized Western attire, including embellished shirts, fringed chaps, tailored skirts, and cowboy hats adorned with rhinestone tiaras. These outfits draw on Wild West performance traditions, signaling both nostalgia and theatricality.^[6] The pageantry evokes imagery of the “cowgirl princess,” a figure who is both elegant and capable.

Despite the decorative presentation, rodeo queens are generally expected to possess horsemanship skills. They perform in fast-paced arena routines, carry flags during opening ceremonies, and participate in mounted parades. This combination of visual appeal and athletic ability contributes to their symbolic status as women who balance traditional femininity with Western ruggedness.^[7] Some scholars compare this dual role to the archetype of Rosie the Riveter, emphasizing that rodeo queens present strength through a culturally accepted lens of femininity.^[7]

The queen’s role also reinforces gender norms present in rodeo culture. Whereas male rodeo athletes are judged on physical performance, female queens are evaluated on appearance, communication, and poise. Scholars have argued that this division reflects broader patterns in American cultural rituals, in which women function as “hosts” or symbolic caretakers.^[6] Nevertheless, many rodeo queens regard their role as empowering. By mastering public speaking, equestrian skills, and leadership responsibilities, they present a version of femininity that is active rather than passive.^[1]

Rodeo queens also contribute to the patriotic imagery common in Western pageantry. They often carry the American flag during rodeo openings, symbolizing national pride and traditional values. In interviews and ceremonial appearances, queens frequently articulate themes such as faith, liberty, and civic duty.^[8] These performances reinforce the idea that rodeo is not merely a sport, but a cultural institution tied to American identity.

As public figures, rodeo queens serve as intermediaries between the rodeo community and the broader public. Their highly visible role, which includes attending public events, promoting local tourism, and participating in charitable causes, positions them as ambassadors of rural values and Western heritage.^[1]

There are four nationwide pageants in the United States, Miss Rodeo America, Miss Rodeo USA, the National Little Britches Rodeo Association Royalty,^[9] and the National High School Rodeo Association Queen Contest. In addition, most states have their own pageants. There are a number of qualifying pageants, local pageants, and contests for specific rodeo events. Australia also hosts rodeo queens, and Canada has numerous pageants as well as a national title.^[10] Rodeo associations can also hold queen pageants and crown rodeo queens, such as Miss Rodeo New York and Miss Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Queen.

Most pageants require contestants to be single, childless, unmarried, under a certain age, and female.^[11] The most common major categories are appearance, horsemanship, knowledge, and personality, with a number of subcategories. The winner is usually chosen from a field of multiple contestants and judged by a panel of qualified judges in each event. The young lady with the most points will win the title.^[12]

• Joni Harms – American country music singer-songwriter from Canby, Oregon.^[13]

• Pam Minick – Miss Rodeo America 1973 from Texas. She later became a professional rodeo announcer, television personality, and Western industry leader. She is a member of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.^[14]

• Ja'Dayia Kursh – In 2017, she became the first African American rodeo queen in Arkansas.

• Indian princess – a similar title at pow wows

• Miss Rodeo America
• Miss Rodeo USA