Queen and Royal Court
Each year, a selection process is held in late September and early October to find out which Pasadena-area girls (ages 17 to 21) will have the honor of being crowned Queen of the Tournament, or in substitution, one of the members of her "Royal Court". Each year over 1000 girls try out. Six princesses and one queen are chosen. The winners then ride on a float in the parade, and carry out duties in promotion of the Tournament, mainly during its duration and prelude. Their duties include attending over one hundred events in the Pasadena area. They usually receive scholarship money, a 30 piece wardrobe and other benefits. During the time that they attend Tournament events, usually from October to January, each girl usually attends school a few times a week for only a few hours at a time.
The first Rose queen, Hallie Woods, was chosen by her classmates at Pasadena High School in 1905. She made her own gown and helped decorate the float upon which she rode.
Vanessa Manjarrez of Mayfield Senior School was named the 2013 queen on October 16, 2012. Members of the court includes Madison Teodo of La Canada High School; Sonia Shenoi of San Marino High School; Kathryne Benuska of Maranatha High School; Nicole Nelam of Pasadena High School; Tracy Cresta of La Salle High School; and Victoria McGregor of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.
Recent Rose Queens are: Drew Helen Washington (2012), Evanne Friedmann (2011), Natalie Innocenzi (2010)
The official Coronation ceremony was held at the Pasadena Convention Center.
Read more about this topic: Pasadena Tournament Of Roses
Famous quotes containing the words queen, royal and/or court:
“They will mark the stone-battlements
And the circle of them
With a bright stain.
They will cast out the dead
A sight for Priam’s queen to lament
And her frightened daughters.”
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)
“High from the summit of a craggy cliff,
Hung o’er the deep, such as amazing frowns
On utmost Kilda’s shore, whose lonely race
Resign the setting sun to Indian worlds,
The royal eagle draws his vigorous young”
—James Thomson (1700–1748)
“GOETHE, raised o’er joy and strife,
Drew the firm lines of Fate and Life,
And brought Olympian wisdom down
To court and mar, to gown and town,
Stooping, his finger wrote in clay
The open secret of to-day.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)