In June 2017, Kristi Noem attended a meeting with doctors and students from the American Optometric Association at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Noem was all about business from the knees up in a round-neck, short-sleeved orange fitted dress with a flared skirt. However, from the knees down, she was ready to rodeo in a pair of well-worn leopard-print Old Gringo cowboy boots. According to the manufacturer’s website, the $310 Yippee Ki Yay Leopartido boots are “sure to be an attention drawer” and are “perfect to pair with jeans or shorts.” No mention of orange dresses.
Noem’s ensemble made for an unusual combination, especially as the other attendees wore regular shoes, sandals, and pumps. But one thing’s a given about Noem: she loves to stand out from the crowd. And another thing’s for sure — she loves her cowboy boots.
The South Dakotan loves them so much she’s even willing to risk being sued — again. On March 12, Travelers United slapped Noem with a lawsuit for allegedly violating the Consumer Protection Procedures Act by creating a bizarre advertorial video for Smile Texas, which she posted on X, formerly Twitter. Still undeterred, she was right back in the advertorial saddle again just two days later. “We are at Fit My Feet in Rapid City and these guys are amazing. They have totally built me inserts for running, separate ones for my cowboy boots,” Noem announced in an Instagram video.
