Speaking on a stage surrounded by the glitz and glamour of the Miss America Pageant, Sabrina Lewis stands out with her megawatt smile in her immaculate equestrian attire. Instead of displaying a conventional talent, such as dancing or singing, Sabrina is delivering a speech talking about her lifelong passion for horses.
Sabrina has spent her life championing representation, both in the horse world and on the pageant stage. As 2023-2024’s Miss California, she’s building an equine therapy program at Oakland City Stables while completing a graduate degree. It’s clear this beauty queen is just getting started.
Sabrina’s Equestrian Background
Sabrina does not come from a horse-centric family, and says equestrian is not a typical hobby for the African American community in Georgia, where she grew up. But Sabrina’s neighbor Irina was from Russia, and she kept her horses at a nearby stable. Through her, Sabrina was introduced to horses at age 5.
“After school, she picked me and her kids up from school, and other neighborhood kids, and brought us to the barn after school,” Sabrina says. “It’s funny, because she loved dressage, and her kids weren’t all that into it, but she taught me all she could on her horse. When she realized I was very into it, she encouraged my parents to enroll me in more formal lessons at the local riding school in Georgia.”
Feeling a friendship with horses, Sabrina was head-over-heels—and still is today.
“I’ve always loved all animals, and I was just drawn to horses—I think they’re beautiful, majestic creatures,” Sabrina says.
Show jumping became Sabrina’s equine sport of choice.
“I think I wanted more of a challenge than dressage, and I liked jumping over things,” Sabrina says. “After I’d gotten the basics of riding on the flat down, and caring for horses and grooming, I started jumping, and I loved it. I felt like I was flying. You can go fast around the jumps or go slower, and jump higher. It’s a rush, and it’s super exhilarating.”
Continuing with riding lessons, Sabrina competed on an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team in high school, eventually becoming captain of the team. She credits her coach, Tracy Nininger, with furthering her horsemanship education. Nininger now teaches at Ardmore Equestrian Center in Fincastle, Va.
“That experience with IEA competition and training with Tracy prepared me for the transition to going to the collegiate level with the IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association),” Sabrina says.
Journey in Education
Sabrina graduated high school with a 4.0 and a resume full of Advanced Placement classes and extracurriculars, such as volleyball and track, along with equestrian. Based on academics, she narrowed her choices of college to two on the West Coast: Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley.
“I wanted to go to a prestigious school that would challenge me academically,” Sabrina says. “I got into Berkeley, and I visited the campus and fell in love. Eighteen-year-olds don’t really think things through. I didn’t know anybody, but I figured it would be fine. So I just packed my stuff up and left for this big adventure across the country.”
Sabrina joined the IHSA team at UC Berkeley and worked her way up to becoming team captain, as well as becoming a regional-level finalist.
Sabrina went back to Georgia in the spring of 2020, her senior year, due to university protocols for the pandemic. After graduating with a degree in business administration and a minor in Spanish literature, she began pursuing her master’s degree in public administration with a specialization in nonprofits at the University of Georgia. Her schooling is online, however, so she’s back living in Los Angeles, Calif.
Pageants and Volunteer Work
Sabrina has also been competing in beauty pageants at the highest levels, and her community service initiative highlights her nonprofit work in equine therapy.
“When I competed for Miss USA in 2021, and for Miss America in 2023, my community service platform has always been equine therapy,” Sabrina says. “My end goal is to run my own therapeutic center as a nonprofit, with me as the executive director.”
Since 2012, Sabrina has volunteered with several equine therapy programs serving veterans, first responders, inner-city children, and people with disabilities. She currently volunteers as the Director of Fundraising for the Metropolitan Equestrian Preservation Society. She works on social media marketing, paperwork, funding, and grant writing.
Sabrina has also worked with the Compton Junior Equestrians in Compton, Calif. In 2024, she volunteered with the Happy Hooves nonprofit in the East Bay area of Northern California.
“I just want to make equine therapy more accessible,” she says. “I never would’ve known how much I’d love horses, or wanted to go pro and go to competitions, if no one had introduced me to them. If I didn’t have that next door neighbor, my life would look very different. So when I get to interact with kids and they tell me it’s their first time petting or riding a horse, that’s so special to me.”
With Happy Hooves, Sabrina helps bring Miniature Horses to places like children’s hospitals, where kids can interact with them and be introduced to equine therapy.
“The work and the possibilities really are endless,” she says.
Chasing Dreams
Sabrina did not grow up competing in pageants. But in high school, her Spanish teacher, Paige Galt, Ed.D., thought Sabrina would make a good role model for younger students because she was involved in school, was a multi-sport athlete, and participated in community service organizations.
“She thought that would be a great platform to do pageants, especially since being an equestrian was unique,” Sabrina says. “She recommended that I go to her pageant coach, Kim Vaughn, in Atlanta. And the rest is history.”
Sabrina competed in teen pageants throughout college. Her senior year, she tried for Miss California USA. She didn’t win the first time, but the second time, she was crowned with the title.
Many little girls dream of becoming Miss USA or Miss America someday. But for Sabrina, while pursuing these titles, she’s shared her own dreams of competing in Olympic equestrian events.
“For Miss America, my talent is ‘Her Story,’ a monologue that I wrote myself,” she says. “I talk about being an equestrian and wanting to compete at the highest level, maybe trying out for the Olympic team in 2028. It’s going to be in Los Angeles, California.”
Sabrina has a unique opportunity in her role as Miss California. Choosing equestrian as a talent for national pageant competition is highly unusual. And Sabrina is only the third Black woman to receive the title of Miss California; the last Black woman to win was 25 years ago.
A Place for Athletes & Animal Lovers
“I’m hoping to break barriers in a lot of different facets,” she says. “I’m being authentic to myself, wearing my naturally curly hair, and not pretending to be someone I’m not. I’ve had people say, ‘Why don’t you just learn to dance or sing something for your talent?’ I have to politely say no. That’s not me. I’m not a singer, I’m not a dancer; I’m an athlete. The thing that is most authentic and true to me is my passion for horses and how much I love animals. So that’s what I want to bring to Miss America.”
A little girl told Sabrina once that she didn’t think she could be Miss California because she didn’t sing or dance and she wasn’t a performer. But seeing Sabrina wear that crown opens doors for girls like her.
“It’s nice to hold space with Her Story, saying you can be an athlete, you can be an animal lover, you can be unique, and you can still be successful,” she says. “That’s very important to me. No matter what your skin color, no matter what you’re interested in, I think it’s important. It’s hard to fathom accomplishing something if you’ve never seen someone else do it.”
What’s Next
Being both an equestrian and Miss California has intertwined in surprising ways, according to Sabrina. As Miss California, she’s encouraged to connect with her community at the state and especially the local level. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., hosted Sabrina’s Miss America sendoff party, and named one of the races at the track the Miss California Invitational.
Sabrina competed at Miss America in January 2024, and although she didn’t win the title, she completed her reign as Miss California. Now, she hopes to compete at the professional level in equestrian competition, with Olympic-level dreams.
In January 2023, Sabrina placed second in her division at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla. For 2024, she’s looking to get a horse sponsored and move up to a higher jumping division.
“I want to keep competing to the highest level and to the best of my ability,” she says.
Her mom, Sylvia Allen Lewis, says Sabrina’s devotion to horses and pageants have shaped her character. She and Sabrina’s dad, Richard, are proud of the path she’s pursuing.
“I think the whole experience, from the very beginning, has taught her compassion and patience with herself and with people and with animals,” says Sylvia. “She’s intuitive with animals, and with the pageants, she just gives away her knowledge so freely. She has a sweet spirit, and a strong work ethic. She’s always willing to help people.”
When asked what guidance she’s taken to heart over the years, Sabrina says the best advice came from her parents.
“They tell me to never let anyone tell me I can’t do something,” she says. “They’ve always encouraged me to dream big and follow my dreams, and I’m very grateful for that.”
If you’re interested in supporting or learning more about Sabrina’s journey, reach out via Instagram @bribrisweet.
This article about Sabrina Lewis appeared in the April 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!
