From Purebreds To Pageants

The life of an equestrian rider is not a glamorous one. Riders at every level spend more hours than they can count doing the dirty work that comes with caring for a horse, from mucking stalls to daily groomings. That's why many of Amanda Miller's high school friends were so surprised when she decided to enter the Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen pageant.

"I had a really good friend in high school who did the pageants. I was tough, riding horses, getting in the mud," says Miller, now a sophomore on Baylor's varsity equestrian team. "But I went and watched her, and then I did Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen, and I made sixth place. It surprised me, but at the same time it was such a blessing, because I learned a lot about myself through the experience."

Since then, the Bridgewater, Virginia, native has continued to perform in both worlds. In January, she was named Miss Southeast Texas 2009, which automatically qualifies her for the Miss Texas competition in July and a shot at competing for Miss America next year.

But the pageants are just a side note to her work on Baylor's equestrian team. Though only in her second year with the Lady Bears, Miller was voted one of four team captains for 2008-09 by her teammates.
"I've been very honored to be able to take on a leadership role as a freshman and now as a sophomore to be elected team captain," she says. "I've tried to set an example, not just riding, but academically and spiritually."

She's certainly accomplished that, from her involvement in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to making the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her first three semesters at Baylor. A pre-med major, Miller has also jumped headfirst into a number of community service initiatives, from the NCAA's Stay in Bounds Program to the Boys & Girls Club of Waco.

"I focus a lot on kids, doing mentoring programs. I read a lot to the elementary schools. It keeps you humble, and I really enjoy being able to hang out with the kids and say, 'Hey, you can do this.'"

Miller makes a good role model, as one who's been able to do just about everything she's put her mind to--from riding in an arena to walking down a pageant stage.