Queen Elizabeth II may have been in Canada for the past week, but it was two local women catching the royalty headlines at the Airdrie Pro Rodeo.
Nineteen-year-old Alicia Kuipers of Airdrie was named the 2010 Miss Rodeo Airdrie, while Balzac’s Melinda Carmichael, also 19, was named the Princess, July 3.
“I didn’t expect this at all, so it was really nice to hear my name,” Kuipers said. “I’m just really excited and I worked really hard for this role.”
“My initial reaction was ‘Oh my God, what do I do?’ I was pretty much shocked,” Carmichael said.
“You go in hopeful, come out wishing for the best, and I’m really glad I pulled through. To win this is such an accomplishment, not just for myself, but for any woman trying to achieve a title of any sort and I’m very proud of myself for what I’ve accomplished.”
The two women prevailed over three other contestants: Jessica Brown-Harrison, Terra Fillmore and Jaysie Westin.
“The placings were just so close that you didn’t know until the end who was going to be taking home those two titles,” said Leanne Grenier of the Airdrie Rodeo Ranch Association’s Queen Committee.
“I know the other girls are happy for the two who won and (Kuipers and Carmichael) are amazing young women and I think they’re going to do this rodeo association and the city of Airdrie very proud. They’re both very energetic and outgoing and definitely want to be helping out where they can in the next year.”
Kuipers and Carmichael’s first duty as reigning Airdrie rodeo royalty was riding in the Calgary Stampede parade on July 9.
