Western Aesthetics Blog

The world of rodeos is often seen as a whirlwind of dust, adrenaline, and cowboy hats. But beyond the spectacle lies a rich history, deep-rooted traditions, and an unwavering commitment to community. Today, we sit down with Kaelanne Quinonez , the reigning champion of the IPRA ( International Professional Rodeo Association) rodeo, to gain a deeper understanding of the role of a rodeo queen and the values she represents.

Let’s start off by telling our readers about yourself!

Kaelanne: I grew up on the central coast of California, where good food, sun, and surf are always abundant!  I was a very active and outdoorsy child, always camping with Girl Scouts, rafting, hiking, or horseback riding.  I think from the age of 5 to somewhere in my early twenties I spent every summer in the woods.  My love for nature and the outdoors was only matched by my love for the horse.  I started riding horses at the age of 4 and my parents quickly found out that horses and everything western would not, in fact, be a phase.  My parents never owned horses, cowboyed, or ranched growing up, but they wholly embraced the lifestyle as it was something they could see I had a passion for.  After graduating from Cal Poly SLO with a B.S. in Animal Science and a minor in Equine Science, I was still trying to figure out where in the western space I belonged.  So I did a little bit of everything from training mustangs, rodeo queening, starting my own training business, content creating, and working at my favorite local steakhouse.  When I was accepted into Texas A&M for grad school post Covid, I knew I had to go!  So I moved to Texas, did more rodeo queening, and graduated with my M.S. in Business.  Along the way I discovered the Miss Rodeo USA pageant and I knew it was something special.  I competed twice, once during my last year of grad school (and it was my third pageant ever!), and once again after graduating where I am happy to announce I brought home the title of Miss Rodeo USA 2024.

What drew you into competing in rodeo queen pageants?

Kaelanne: The first queening pageant I competed in was, like a lot of my best decisions in life, on a whim.  To be honest I didn’t know rodeo queens were a thing until someone sent me a flyer for a pageant being held in my hometown.  Now I had gone to rodeos all my life, at least one a year, but my knowledge of activities outside of the contestants was really limited to flag girls and drill teams.  I wanted to be a flag girl so bad growing up, I thought it was the coolest thing you could do at a rodeo!  But my hometown had brought back the rodeo queen competition after taking a break from it for a couple years and I was intrigued.  All I knew going into the pageant was there would be a pattern performed horseback (all good there, and my mare was flag broke!), an interview (I love interviews for some reason), and a speaking component (I’d been speaking and giving speeches for Girl Scouts across the central coast for as long as I could remember). And to my surprise, I won!  My first title was Miss Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and little did I know that was the path the first title would take me on.

In your opinion, What is the most important aspect to being a rodeo queen?

Kaelanne: Being a rodeo queen requires a service above self attitude and I think that is the most important thing there is.  It was the attitude I had while being a Girl Scout and it’s the same attitude I have as a rodeo queen.  You may get to dress fancy, have cool hair and clothes, but at the end of the day, it is all about giving back to your community, bringing new people and interest to the sport, and helping propel the next generation forward.  Our job a lot of the time is doing whatever is needed from the production crew at the rodeo.  We may be asked to Help close gates, carry sponsor flags, push cattle, and greet guests and get them excited for the rodeo.  We are the rodeos’ biggest fans and we want to make sure their good name gets out there!  You also have to have an open and willing heart, especially when it comes to the little cowgirls and cowboys.  Being a rodeo queen means being a role model, and if you can model that for everyone you meet, then I think you are living up to the name of Rodeo Queen.

How has being a rodeo queen changed your perspective of rodeo?

Kaelanne: Being a rodeo queen has just deepened my understanding and respect for the sport.  I did not come from an agricultural or ranching family, so everything I learned was new and fascinating to me.  Loving horses and rodeo from a young age; I did come to the table appreciating the animals and contestants as athletes, I knew they worked hard for what they earned.  Coming from an event planning and teaching background, I knew the hard work each member of the production team and crew put in to make the rodeo run smoothly and provide the audience with as much fun as possible.  When I started studying to become a rodeo queen, I really just went that much deeper into the world of rodeo, and being able to meet and speak with people first hand has been an experience like no other.  I know that if it were not for rodeo queening, I would not have had the opportunity to meet and speak with those that make rodeo what it is today.

What is the hardest part in competing in a rodeo queen pageant?

Kaelanne: I’m sure everyone has a different opinion about this but, for me, the hardest part about rodeo queening is being too hard on yourself.  I tell my friends that are unfamiliar with what it takes to prepare for a pageant, especially a national pageant, that it is like studying for the MCAT.  You study and study and study multiple areas and just hope that some of the questions you studied show up on the ‘test’.  If you are OCD and a perfectionist like me, when you do study, and in the heat of the moment forget the simplest answer to an interview question, or stumble when you’re modeling on live TV, it can be difficult to not be hard on yourself.  After all, you are going into these competitions to be judged.  But the reality is, you shouldn’t judge yourself, not during the week of pageant.  During that week, you’ve done all the prep work you possibly could have, so you just have to let your inner light shine and be confident.  Something I worked on this year and while competing at the Miss Rodeo USA 2024 pageant was to acknowledge and work on my weaker points, not neglect my stronger points, and to give myself grace when I did fumble.  I remember one question in particular, an on stage question that was a two part answer, and one part was to name our judges.  Well, I knew who the judges were and even addressed them by name earlier in the week, but when that question came, and my blood pressure was up, I totally blanked.  I was so embarrassed. But it’s moments like that that you just have to say your answer with confidence and move on to the next thing.

What is your favorite part of the rodeo queen pageant?

Kaelanne: My favorite part of rodeo queen pageants is all the friends I make and the fun I have.  Spreading the word about rodeo and the western way of life brings me joy and being able to meet new friends that share a similar passion to mine brings me joy.  You connect with others in a new light!  Every pageant I’ve been to I’ve made at least one lifelong friend, it’s a blessing to get to know so many motivated and professional cowgirls.

For the readers who want to get into being a rodeo queen, what piece of advice would you give them?

Kaelanne: My advice would be, find your bigger purpose and run.  These pageants can be tough mentally and physically, but if you have a bigger purpose or mission to fulfill, then whatever outcome happens at the end will be ok with you, because you are motivated to go beyond and do more.  My mission, besides promote the IPRA and MRUSA organizations, and bigger purpose for rodeo queening is to promote the western way of life and core values in a world that is in need of stability.  I feel, as a rodeo queen, I can make a positive difference every day even if the act is seemingly ‘small.’  On a more technical side of things, if you want to run and don’t know where to start, look up rodeo queen groups on Facebook!  I’ve had such an amazing experience with this community; everyone is willing and happy to help others, especially girls wanting to join the rodeo queen scene.  And I will leave you with this, my platform for the year reminding myself and others that if you work hard you can make your dreams a reality… Keep Your Nose to the Grindstone and Eyes to the Rhinestones!

Keep up to date on Kaelanne’s reign by following her on Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/missrodeousa?igsh=cnhucWVtcjl0bjdt