Rodeo Queen Pageants in Oklahoma

A high honor in Oklahoma is to represent the state as the reigning Rodeo Queen. To qualify for the Miss Oklahoma Rodeo Pageant, the contestant must begin the competition at the local level. According to the Oklahoma Rodeo Pageants Council, Inc., their mission is to provide opportunities for the young women of Oklahoma to maximize their educational potential while promoting the state of Oklahoma through the sport of Rodeo.

  1. Eligibility

    • You must be beautiful and have the ability to ride.

      As opposed to a standard beauty pageant, the objective of the Oklahoma Rodeo Queen Pageants is to find a girl who can ride a horse well, speak to the public about rodeo and represent herself, as outlined in the application process in the 101 Wild West Rodeo Pageant.

      Along with horseback riding skills, the participant must be a resident of Oklahoma. The contestant is required to submit a completed application, photocopies of her identification, headshots specific to the pageant's request, signed release forms and an entry fee. The fee amount required can vary widely by city, county and pageant and can be comprised of ticket sales along with an entry fee, or cash alone. Often times, in the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by highest ticket sales.

    Rules

    • Regulations vary slightly from pageant to pageant but are for the most part consistent across the state of Oklahoma. Applicants are accepted anywhere from ages 4 to 25. Bartlesville Rodeo requires the participant to be 10 and above at time of the rodeo, while Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo Queen participants must be 16 to 24; to compete in the Miss Teen Pageant you must be under 18. Across the board, contestants may not have been previously married and some stipulate no children or current pregnancies.

      The winner is required to enter into an agreement with local rodeo to qualify for a state pageant. Activities for the candidates can include a Queen's luncheon and style show, appearances in the parade, media appearances and interviews, as well as appearances and autograph sessions during each night's rodeo performances.

    Segments

    • The Oklahoma Rodeo Queen Pageant consists of four segments, including interviews, speech, horsemanship and modeling. During the interview portion, the contestants are asked questions pertaining to rodeo knowledge, current events, general horse health care, goals and aspirations and life experiences.

      In the horsemanship showcase, the girls display their riding abilities around the arena. If needed, horses are provided for the contestants. Specific wardrobe requirements are outlined by each pageant's rules.

      Each competitor will be asked to wear western attire and give a speech no more than two minutes in length. Topics can include home state or town, or women in rodeo history. The objective of this category is for the girls to display to the audience their public speaking abilities along with demonstrating their creativity, confidence and personality.

      Unlike traditional pageants, formal dresses are worn down this runway in this modeling contest. Participants showcase their style by displaying their most creative western trend, which will of course include a cowboy hat.

    Prizes

    • The winner will be crowned.

      An array of prizes await the Queen of the Oklahoma Rodeo Pageants. Sponsors such as Tractor Supply, Merle Norman Cosmetics and the local chamber of commerce contribute western-themed rewards like a tack set, a sterling silver belt buckle, a saddle, gift certificates and of course the treasured trophy and authentic hand beaded rodeo crown.