Cowgirls of Philippine rodeo tackle steers, stereotypes

Dozens of young women compete each year at the Rodeo Masbateno, a festival that has become synonymous with Masbate, an island province that bills itself as the cattle capital of the Philippines.

While larger provinces boast more livestock, the Masbate rodeo, begun in 1993 in a bid to boost tourism. These "cowgirls" participate in "rough and tumble" events, such as steer wrestling and lassoing, often competing against animals twice their size to prove that the sport is not just for men.