Miss Rodeo America Pageant

In pictures

Every December Las Vegas plays host to a unique competition in which state rodeo queens battle it out for the crown of Miss Rodeo America, based on the categories of appearance, horsemanship, and personality.

Photos by Katja Heineman (Aurora Photos/Robert Harding)

Former Miss Rodeo America, Miss Kara Brown, opens the fashion show gala event by saluting the flag.

A Miss Rodeo America contestant strides onto the stage at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino to participate in the public speaking contest, while a chaperone trails behind.

Kara Brown, former Miss Rodeo America. A rodeo queen does not participate in actual rodeos, but routinely opens an event by parading the US flag through the arena.

Rodeo Queens commute by bus between the various engagements of the week-long Miss Rodeo America pageant. In pink, Miss Mississippi, Brianna Ratliff, demonstrates that color co-ordination is one of the arts an aspiring Miss Rodeo America needs to master.

Jenna Smeenk, 14-year-old Corn Palace Stampede Princess! from South Dakota (the exclamation mark is part of her title according to her business card) attends the Miss Rodeo America pageant to learn the tips and tricks of the trade.

Miss Rodeo America contestants line up during a segment of the gala fashion show held as one of the week’s highlights.

Miss Rodeo America contestants are applying some finishing touches to their make-up in a Flamingo Hotel restroom, awaiting their departure for the speaking contest, the pageant’s most feared discipline.

Miss Rodeo Wyoming, Tausha Simkins, and her fellow aspiring Miss Rodeo Americas are shuttled from one speaking engagement to another between Las Vegas hotels. Next to extravagant Western Wear fashion, Big Hair is essential to the pursuit of becoming a rodeo queen.

Miss Rodeo America Grand Finale: The unlucky State Rodeo Queens who did not make it into the top ten are relegated behind a curtain, while everybody waits to find out who this year’s pageant winner will be.

Grand Finale: State Queens and finalists Miss Rodeo California, Kelly Kraegel (front left) and Miss Rodeo Nebraska, Lori Bortner, wait to find out who this year’s pageant winner will be.