By Hannah Barricks
Photography by Crystal Wise
What began as a shared love of horses — and a well-timed move to Texas — has grown into Miss Cowboy, a multi-faceted brand redefining how women engage with Western culture.
Co-founded by Lacey Szczepanik and Ella Kernkamp, Miss Cowboy is part podcast, part apparel line and part community builder, rooted in the belief that the Western lifestyle is not exclusive, performative or trend-driven, but deeply connective. Through thoughtfully crafted clothing, candid conversations and immersive outdoor experiences, the duo is creating a space where women from all backgrounds can find common ground — even if they don’t yet own a horse.
The two women met years ago while living in California, staying loosely connected through social media, until a coincidence changed everything. Both relocated to Texas on the same day, landing in Weatherford without realizing the other was making the same move. That shared leap quickly turned into a partnership — and eventually a business.
Lacey, who spent years in California working with horses at a ranch-style riding operation, and Ella, an in-demand fashion model, both internationally and with popular Western brands in the states, found themselves navigating a new place with few connections but a shared vision. They rode together, talked often and noticed something missing in the Western world they loved.
“The horse world can feel surprisingly divided,” Lacey says. “By discipline, background, experience level — even by whether or not you own a horse at all.”
Miss Cowboy was their answer.
The brand launched simply, with a single hat bearing the Miss Cowboy name — intended as a signifier, not a statement piece. The idea was subtle: if you saw someone wearing it, you’d know you shared something in common. The response was immediate. The first run sold out in an hour, followed by months-long waitlists, signaling a hunger for connection that went far beyond merchandise.
From there, the brand evolved intentionally. Apparel expanded to include shirts and sweatshirts, all made in the United States with an emphasis on quality and longevity. But Lacey and Ella are quick to clarify that Miss Cowboy is no longer about “merch.”
Instead, the line is becoming a functional wardrobe designed for how women actually live — pieces that move from the barn to daily life without losing purpose or style. Drawing from Ella’s background in fashion and Lacey’s hands-on experience navigating the daily operations of a ranch, the brand blends West Coast ease with Texas practicality.
“We wanted to take the durability and purpose of traditional Western wear and refine it through our own lens,” Lacey says.
That lens also shaped the Miss Cowboy podcast, which grew organically from conversations the pair were already having — and questions they were receiving daily from their audience. Listeners wanted to know how to buy their first horse, where to start in the Western world and how to engage with the culture without feeling out of place.
Rather than answer questions one by one, Lacey and Ella created a platform to share knowledge openly. The podcast now spans two seasons, blending personal conversations with guest interviews featuring trainers, photographers and industry voices, all while keeping the tone approachable and unpretentious.
“We wanted to make the Western world feel more approachable without oversimplifying it,” Ella says.
But Miss Cowboy extends far beyond digital space.
Community gatherings — which Lacey and Ella refer to as ranch meetups — have become one of the brand’s most defining elements. The first was held at Lacey’s ranch in Malibu, intentionally low-key and unproduced. There was no influencer list, no rigid programming — just horses, conversation and shared experience.
For many attendees, it was their first time stepping onto a ranch.
“If you don’t have a horse or a best friend with a horse, you’re not getting invited into that world often,” Lacey says. “We wanted to give people access.”
Since then, Miss Cowboy events have expanded across Texas and beyond, including gatherings in Fort Worth — a city the founders describe as both deeply authentic and quietly magnetic.
“I think Fort Worth is still an undiscovered gem for a lot of non-Texans,” Lacey says. “It has this balance of deep roots with a little extra sparkle.”
That balance mirrors Miss Cowboy itself — grounded yet aspirational, traditional yet evolving. As Western aesthetics continue to influence fashion, media and lifestyle nationwide, the founders are careful not to frame their work as a trend. For them, the appeal is deeper and more enduring.
“Horses create community in a way you can’t replicate,” Ella says. “You can have nothing else in common, but that one thing is enough to build a relationship.”
Looking ahead, Miss Cowboy plans to release new apparel this spring, expand podcast programming and continue hosting immersive gatherings designed to foster connection — not spectacle. Growth, they say, is guided by listening closely to the community they’ve built.
“We don’t pretend to know everything,” Lacey says. “We’re learning alongside the people who support us.”
In an era when authenticity is often marketed rather than lived, Miss Cowboy stands out by doing the quieter work: inviting people in, honoring tradition and building something lasting — one conversation, one garment and one shared experience at a time.