Tiaras and cowboy boots seem an unlikely combination for most people, but not for animal science freshman Starr Ries, who competed in the Miss MSU Rodeo Queen Competition for the first time this past weekend. The MSU Rodeo Club hosted the Spartan Stamapede Rodeo, which started Thursday evening with completing a horsemanship pattern and concluded Saturday evening with the crowning of the queen.

Each competitor had to memorize a walking pattern and guide their horse and another random horse.

Everyone worked hard preparing for the event, Ries said.

“I’ve been figuring out how to curl my hair, finding outfits, riding my horse, practicing the pattern,” Ries said. “I’ve been studying a lot — there’s a lot of names you have to learn and a lot of abbreviations.”

Along with the horsemanship pattern, Ries and the seven other competitors were interviewed, modeled Western outfits and gave a speech, scoring points from each event.

Most of the competitors were competing for the first or second time.

“I was talking to Danielle (Palermo), and she told me not a lot of girls run … but it should be fun,” she said. “I didn’t think I would get it because I’m a freshman, so I just wanted to have the experience,” she said.

Palermo, an animal science junior, won the Miss Congeniality and Queen title.

The girls were supportive of one another and created a bond throughout the weekend. Ries said she’s become closer with the other girls throughout the event and has gained friends.

Although she didn’t win the title, Ries is sure she and her horse, Dos, will compete again and that she will continue to stay active in the Rodeo Club.

“I’ve really always had a huge passion for horses,” she said. “I feel like rodeo is where I belong.”