University of Wyoming alumna Kimberly Kuhn is in the lead for the People’s Choice Award for the Miss Rodeo America pageant.
In addition to this year’s pageant, Miss Rodeo America also is hosting the People’s Choice Award on its Facebook page where people can “like” the photo of the contestant they are supporting. Kuhn is leading in the competition with more than 3,000 likes on her photo.
Kuhn is reigning as Miss Rodeo Wyoming and will go on to compete in the Miss Rodeo America competition in December.
“I ran for Miss Rodeo Wyoming last August and won. I was the lady-in-waiting until December and then I took over in January,” Kuhn said.
The Miss Rodeo Wyoming competition is based on a 100 percent scale that involves four categories: 25 percent for sportsmanship, 25 percent personality, 25 percent appearance, and 25 percent written tests, speech, and other stage performances, Kuhn said.
To prepare for the Miss Rodeo America pageant, she has been studying the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association guidebook and has been practicing her public speaking skills. She also has been riding as many horses as possible as she does not know which horses she will draw to ride at the competition, she said.
“Miss Rodeo Wyoming is a huge civic commitment. It involves several public appearances in your local community as well as throughout the state and other states,” Kuhn said.
As Miss Rodeo Wyoming, Kuhn has traveled to several states including Arizona, Nebraska, Colorado, and Florida and participated in a number of events in each state.
“At each state I would visit a number of places including schools and special needs facilities in addition to attending the rodeos that were going on at the time,” Kuhn said.
Because she meets a variety of different people, Kuhn said she realizes it is important to be able to relate to just about anyone. With that in mind, Kuhn competed under the “Be your best self” platform. Kuhn also decided on this platform after being bullied.
“I was bullied sometimes in school and I realized it’s up to me to be my best self,” Kuhn said. “My morals and ethics are decided by me and it’s up to me to turn that negativity into something positive.”
Miss Rodeo Wyoming Kimberly Kuhn will compete for the Miss Rodeo America title in December in Las Vegas.
Kuhn says the platform also is illustrated through the competition itself because, even though she is competing with other women, she also is competing to better herself.
The pageant will take place at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and if she is crowned, Kuhn will begin by shadowing the current Miss Rodeo America. From there, she will attend the National Western Stock Show where she will be present at 20 performances.
As a student at UW, Kuhn was a member of the rodeo team and competed in barrel racing and roping. She also was a recipient of the Western Stock Show Scholarship.
“I was lucky enough to receive the Western Stock Show Scholarship while I was at UW, and I would be honored to go back and represent for the scholarship,” Kuhn said. “I’m so proud to represent UW, and I really appreciate the opportunity I was given. I cannot credit the university enough for my success.”
Voting for the People’s Choice Award on the Miss Rodeo America Facebook page will end Nov. 30 and the 2013 pageant will take place Dec. 6-12 in Las Vegas.
