Nicole Bonilla

Nicole (Carson) Bonilla was born and raised in North Hollywood, California and grew up performing in the Carson Family Western Show. The show began in the early 1930’s with Nicole’s Grandfather, Buss Carson, who was a peer to some of the great cowboys like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. At that time, the Carson Stuntcapade, which consisted of roman riding, trick riding & roping, liberty drill, and dog acts, toured the United States, Mexico, and Canada performing at large fairs and rodeos. Buss Carson also had the honor of riding in the Pasadena Rose Parade on his beautiful Bohlin sterling silver saddle for 35 consecutive years. Nicole’s Father, Merrill Carson, decided to continue the family business and transformed the show into an after-school fundraising extravaganza for elementary schools around Southern California. Nicole started singing in the show at the age of 3. A few years later she began performing with her four sisters and one brother doing trick-roping, can-can, clogging, singing, and a dog act with poodles and dalmations. At the age of 15, Nicole took over the main horse act with her beautiful palomino stallion, Majestic (great-grandson of Roy Rogers’ horse Trigger). The ‘high school’ act showcased various stunts and tricks set to music.

Nicole graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelors degree in Graphic Design with an emphasis in Advertising. Nicole and her husband, Gabe (who is also a designer from So. Cal.), now own Bonilla Design & Advertising. Nicole is also the Creative Director for an online digital scrapbooking website called Pixelbooking. Nicole has enjoyed designing promotional materials for CHF.

Nicole and Gabe moved to Chandler, Arizona from Orange County, California in 2004. Nicole feels truly blessed to be a member of the Cowgirls Historical Foundation—a group that celebrates the same values, traditions, and heritage that are so dear to her heart and part of her own family's legacy she hopes to pass on to her six children.