No Ordinary Beauty Contest

As a rule, I hate beauty contests.  They're dumb, meaningless and demeaning.  But the Stampede Queen is no ordinary beauty contestant.  The winner actually has to "do something".  In fact, she has to be a skilled horsewoman, which is very cool. 

Started thinking about this when I read about a book that has just come out about the history of  the Rodeo Queens and Princesses.  The first Queen was chosen in 1946, sixty-odd years after Stampede began.  Patsy Rodgers was her name and there have since been many extraordinary Queens and Princesses who have promoting Stampede far and wide all over the world.  To qualify young women have to be:

• Between ages 20 and 23
• Canadian citizens
• Resident in Alberta for the past 12 months
• Never married and no children
• Agree not to marry during the reign
• Agree to reside and work within a 64-mile radius of the Stampede grounds
• Have high school, or equivalent
• Possess a driver's licence and have access to a vehicle
• Have no criminal record, and
• Pass a riding competency test

How cool is that!  These criteria ensure no bums need apply.  Those chosen tour the world promoting Stampede and have to adhere to strict non-fraternization rules.  For a few years, the riding requirement was inexplicably dropped and the Queen and Princesses rode around in the backs of convertibles.  Thankfully, the riding rule was reinstated, giving them back their credibility. 

Yep, Calgary is gearing up for the greatest outdoor party in the world!