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:
““Speak when you’re spoken to!” the Queen sharply interrupted her.
“But if everybody obeyed that rule,” said Alice, who was always ready for a little argument, “and if you only spoke when you were spoken to, and the other person always waited for you to begin, you see nobody would ever say anything, so that—””
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832–1898)
“Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump,
The spirit-stirring drum, th’ ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“You don’t need to know who’s playing on the White House tennis court to be a good president. A president has many roles.”
—James Baker (b. 1930)