Rodeo Queen Mentality
Finding success in life is all about your mindset.
It is officially October 1st and we are only 28 days away from finding out who will be Miss Rodeo California. There is many things to do, outfits to prepare, topics to study, but also I am trying to work on making sure my mindset is in the correct headspace as well. The prettiest clothes and infinite rodeo knowledge are not what wins rodeo queen pageants. What it really comes down to is looking for someone adaptable, hard working and the ability to present to others who you are as a person and educator. I believe how to project your personality in the way you want can be taught, appearance and horsemanship can be trained, but your mentality is the base at which everything stems from.
Your personal journey with your mentality and mindset is going to be completely different from every other rodeo queen, but I think it is a skill that is often overlooked. The pageant world, much like the horse show world, is mostly subjective, which means contests can be won and lost over very minor details. This is where mindset comes into play, you can’t win every contest there is, for example look at Chenae (Shiner) Vest, Miss Rodeo America 2013, she competed at Miss Rodeo Utah and was runner up two years in a row before finally taking home the Utah State title and then went on to win MRA.
Imagine what her mindset had to have been like for those four years, in fact a little take home journal assignment:
If you were in her shoes, competing at state title after title and then winning MRA, what would your mindset be?
Would you say you are confident in who you are as a person? Would you be proud of yourself for persevering?
What would you be telling yourself younger self after that first runner up title? Time to give up, guess your not a good rodeo queen? NO! absolutely not, I would hope you say something along the lines of "its okay to be upset that you didn’t win, but is there something you can take from the experience to apply to the next pageant? because I believe in myself and my rodeo queen journey”
Winning pageants is not the only way to grow as a rodeo queen, in fact you will probably learn more about yourself when you don’t win. I am a big believer in things happen for a reason, and while it may be hard to understand at the time, it just might not be your time yet. But the truth will ring true, you have to believe in yourself.
Working on bettering and growing your mindset is an insanely useful skill both in and out of the rodeo queen world. Becoming more confident in your own skin and being unapologetically yourself is one of the best qualities a rodeo queen can have, and that is all the judges really want to see. they don’t want you to act like someone you are not or to fit a rodeo queen mold. they want to know what makes you unique and what you can bring to the title.
My mindset is definitely not perfect, but I am actively trying to better it. Some of my recommended resources include podcasts, self help books, and motivational YouTube videos, even therapy or life coaches if you need more individual personal development. Some of my favorite podcasts on Spotify is The Mindset Mentor and Breaking Butterflies, though there are many more out there and I encourage you to search around and find someone whose mentality resonates with you. You don’t have to take every word, but utilize what you think fits you the best.
Don’t forget that your mental health is just important as physical health, do not ever neglect it. There is a reason Rodeo Queens where a crown on their head, because their mind is their best quality, and you should always do your best to represent the crown and title you have been given.
