Photo by Brandon Sullivan

Western Model/Stuntwoman/
Real Estate Agent

Bobbi Jeen Olson is bringing femininity back to the “Wild West.” For this former rodeo queen, it’s a way of life – and a career.

Olson, 36, began modeling at age 18 and has since been in commercials, films such as The Hi-Lo Country and television shows such as Walker, Texas Ranger. With an extensive knowledge of horse handling, Olson specializes in Western modeling, acting and stunt doubling.

Olson lives just south of Phoenix with her husband and son on a ranch that once was owned by John Wayne. The couple also raises beef and owns a real estate company that buys and sells ranches in Arizona and New Mexico.

Have you always been a cowgirl?
I grew up in a small town and I was so much a tomboy. I was very involved in 4-H [Club] and FFA [Future Farmers of America]. They were just huge in my life in creating the person I am today. I graduated from high school, then I decided to get involved in the rodeo queen contest. We lived on a ranch in New Mexico at this time, and we worked cattle all the time.

How did you get involved in modeling?
I wanted to do something a little bit different, so I got involved in the rodeo queen contest, and I won. I just kept going up into the different levels. While I was there modeling one of my Western outfits, a lady came up to me and said, “I want you to come in and talk to us about being involved in our agency.” I asked her, “Well, what kind of agency?” and she said, “Well, it’s a modeling and talent agency.” I thought, “Oh my gosh, you have to be 6 feet tall and beautiful.” It started taking off. I modeled, I did print work, fashion shows, my first commercial.

So how did your career progress?
They could see that I rode very well. In New Mexico, there was a lot of stuff going on at that time like Walker, Texas Ranger – a lot of  Western stuff. At first I was an extra, and then I was a stand-in, and from there I was a photo double, and then a stunt double. I did a couple of films, like The Hi-Lo Country; Walker, Texas Ranger; and Scattering Dad.

Where did you learn to be a stunt double?
I went and worked with one of the biggest names in stunts at the time, the Lundeen family, and started learning how to work with horses and how to be on film. It was such an exciting adventure. I went to California and worked with Robin Lundeen, and she taught me how to train long-horned steers, rearing them, getting them to stay in one place. We saddled and bitted them up and rode them down the streets of Los Angeles.

Have you ever broken any bones?
Yes, I broke a bone. Actually, I cut off my thumb while I was team roping. I was in the practice pen on my old yellow horse with a big, old, worn-out roping steer – you add those two together, and sometimes you end up having to subtract something in the end. I was very lucky, though: I had a wonderful doctor in New Mexico who was convinced that a pretty girl like me could not go without a thumb, so in about nine months and three operations, he [attached] a great looking thumb. It is quite longer than the other and doesn’t bend, but I can feel it now and even use it to rope with.

What has your career been like in Arizona?
I actually decided I was going to quit for a while. I got married and had a phenomenal son. I just decided, as my son was getting older, to do it again. I wasn’t sure, being in a whole different state, not having the connections I had before. So I’ve been starting over again. Having the ranch, we have it set up kind of like a Western town. I’ve been doing modeling photo shoots there for jewelry. I have people coming in from Baltimore, Maryland, who want to see the Western way of life. I probably do a photo shoot at my place at least once a week.
Looking back, would you ever have expected to become a model?
The modeling I did not expect at all. I’m just your everyday cowgirl. I’m not your typical 5 feet, 9 inches; I’m 5 feet, 7 inches. I’m not the norm. It’s magical. It’s kind of like giving someone a second chance. This is something everyone dreams about. I had said from the time I was a little girl that I wanted to be a movie star. And not so much the fact that I want to be a movie star as much as I want to work on some fun projects and meet some phenomenal people.

Will you stay in Arizona?
I picture myself here forever. I love it. I feel like I’m living in a fairytale.  I don’t ever want to leave.