Pageant Guidelines

Contestant Guidelines for the Miss Rodeo California Pageant

Appearance Guidelines

Attractiveness with self-confidence.
Grooming: This should include neatness and cleanliness in every detail including complexion, hands, fingernails, hair, hat, boots, and other wearing apparel. Meticulous care in general grooming is essential for a girl to be considered as Miss Rodeo California.
Photogenic Quality: Judges will conduct a review of a single 8”x10” photo that the Contestant will have submitted with her entry.
Posture: How a Contestant carries herself is very important. The Judges will be looking for Contestants to carry themselves straight and tall and exude self-confidence and poise.
Poise and ladylike behavior in every situation: Judges will be looking for Contestants to handle each situation in which they are involved with grace and style. Judges will be also be looking for Contestants to have a substantial knowledge of proper etiquette.
Western Fashion Sense: Contestants should pick outfits that reflect fashionable and tasteful western clothing. Judges will be paying particular attention to Contestant’s ability to use colors to enhance her natural coloring, appearance and eye appeal.
Proper fit of clothing: Contestants should pay particular attention to the fit of their outfits. Outfits should be figure flattering and altered to fit her personally. Judges will be looking for a properly fitting hat that is shaped to flatter the Contestants face. Contestants should remember that this is not a clothing contest. It is not necessary to invest an excessive amount of money in clothing. Judges will be looking for versatility and imagination and a Contestant’s ability to carry out a “total look”.
Knowledge of western clothing: Contestants should be familiar with the major western wear manufacturers and the latest trends in the western wear industry.

Personality Guidelines

The purpose of this category is to select the young lady who rates the highest in:

Intelligence and good common sense.
Conversational ability in varied circumstances, with an emphasis on grammar and enunciation.
A good sense of humor.
Self-confidence, high moral standards, sincerity, and integrity.
Genuine interest in other people and consideration of others.
Self-Projection – the ability to project one’s personality, whether it be from horseback or appearing on stage before a crowd.
A happy outlook on life.
Promptness in keeping the pageant schedule.
Maturity.
The ability to clearly express ones educational backgrounds and career goals.

Horsemanship Guidelines

The purpose of this category is to select the young lady who rates the highest in:

Horsemanship – Control of the horse and the way the Contestant handles each situation that may occur.
Balance – The ability to sit steady in a saddle.
Position of hands, feet, and seat.
Mounting and dismounting.
Understanding and skill will be judged and not the horse or equipment.
There will be two go-rounds of Horsemanship competition. The 1^st go-round will be a pattern selected by the panel of Judges from the patterns listed in this booklet. At the discretion of the Judges, patterns may be altered due to the arena conditions. Any changes and/or alterations to the Horsemanship patterns will be announced to the Contestants before the Horsemanship competition begins. The 2^nd go-round will be group Rail Work.
Each Contestant will be interviewed on each of the following categories; knowledge of tack, horse science, professional rodeo and history, rodeo terminology, explanation of “standard” rodeo events, championship standings, and current issues of the PRCA magazine.
Showmanship: How well a Contestant projects her personality to the audience from horseback.

Judging Guidelines

The Miss Rodeo California Pageant Executive Board will use the following procedures for judging:

At least four Judges will be used to judge all categories.
Judging will cover three categories: Personality, Appearance and Horsemanship.
The services of an independent Auditor will be used to tally the Judge’s scores.
Pageant Officials will not have access to completed judging sheets. The Judges will select from among themselves one person to serve as Head Judge and that Judge will gather the completed score sheets from all of the Judges, put them in a sealed envelope and personally see that the Auditor receives them.
Decisions by the Judges are final!
Scoring ties for each category (Appearance, Personality, Horsemanship, Speech and Photogenic) will be broken by referring back to the score of Judge #1. That score will break the tie. If a tie still remains, the score of Judge #2 will be used… and so on until the tie is broken.
A tie in scoring for Miss Rodeo California (and first runner-up) will be broken by the Horsemanship scores. The Contestant with the highest score in Horsemanship will receive the higher ranking.
The Miss Rodeo California Pageant Executive Board will select the Judges based on their expertise in the various categories.
Contestants will have at least one personal interview with the panel of Pageant Judges. Judges will ask questions pertaining to rodeo, horsemanship, current events, western attire, personal goals, opinions, etc. Judges will attempt to determine the character and knowledge of each Contestant.
Contestants will vote for the selection of Miss Congeniality. A tie in scoring will be broken by a second vote by Contestants with only those tied for the selection on the ballot.
All Pageant Judges will select the Contestant most deserving of the Miss Photogenic Award. There will be no points awarded to Contestants for this award. Judges will select the Contestant most deserving of the Speech Award (Extemporaneous). There will be no points awarded to Contestants in this category; however, Contestants will be judged in personality and appearance during the speech presentation.

Wardrobe Guidelines

As stated above, the Pageant will include; a Horsemanship portion, an Evening Speech or Fashion Show competition, a Extemporaneous Speech competition, at least one Interview Session, and a Coronation Ceremony. It may also include other events. Contestants should study the tentative Pageant Schedule that is included with the Application Packet for wardrobe guidelines. The Final Schedule will be provided with your Entry Acceptance Package.
The Horsemanship outfit should consist of WRANGLER BRAND JEANS of any style or color with a coordinating blouse that should be tucked in. Accessories (hat, boots, belt, etc.) may be any color. Chaps are not permitted.
The Extemporaneous Speech and the (modeling) Competitions require a western dress or skirt outfit that should be made in the western style with added glamour for the evening and to show up well on stage.
One Interview outfit should be a western styled suit or other conservative dress or skirt outfit. The other Interview shall be in Wrangler jeans. The Interview outfits will be defined in the Final Schedule and they should allow the Judges to concentrate on the Contestant, not the clothing.
The Coronation Ceremony outfit should be a classic western dress that is suitable for eveningwear.
Contestants should bring extra casual outfits (appropriate with Wrangler Jeans) for free time and a swimsuit for use at the hotel pool/spa, if time allows.
Contestants shall wear no personal crown or sash. The Miss Rodeo California Pageant will provide sashes and Contestants shall return these at the end of the Pageant.