Ja'Dayia Kursh
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Ja'Dayia Kursh (born 1999) is Arkansas' first Black rodeo queen and an influencer in the Western fashion industry.
Kursh grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas, born to a 16-year-old mother; her father was in prison when she was 5–13 years old. She first rode a horse at the age of six as part of a therapy recommended by her counselor following a sexual assault.[1] At age 13 she got involved with rodeo, initially riding with a group of all-Black riders called the “Arkansas Seven” but later joining the "Old Fort Days Dandies”, only the second Black female to join the drill team.[2] She also played high school football starting in ninth grade at Fort Smith Northside, the only girl on a team of 110 guys which she says gave her the discipline she needed. She played line backer and defensive end through her junior year. She transferred to Hackett High School for her senior year where she was the only black girl at the school and participated in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H.[1]
She is a first generation college graduate from Fulbright College at the University of Arkansas earning a B.A. degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2022.[3]