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Each September, some 1,000 young women (and a few young men) between the ages of 17 to 21 interview for the honor of serving as a member of the Tournament of Roses Royal Court. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses administers a selection process to determine which greater Pasadena-area young women will have the honor of being crowned Queen of the Tournament of Roses, or more commonly known as "Rose Queen." In addition to one Rose Queen, six Rose Princesses will also be selected to make up the Royal Court. To be eligible for the Royal Court, applicants must be an unmarried, female resident of the Pasadena City College district, be a senior in high school or enrolled as a full-time student in any accredited school or college in the Pasadena City College district, possess at least a 2.0 grade point average, and be at least 17 years of age by December 31 of the current year and not more than 21 years of age before January 5 of the next year.
The Royal Court will then ride on a specially-designed float in the Rose Parade, and become ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses, mainly during its duration and prelude. The Royal Court members will attend over one hundred events in the Southern California area and preside over the Rose Bowl Game. In celebration of their achievements, Royal Court members receive scholarship money, wardrobe, and other benefits. The crown, provided and exclusively created by Mikimoto, is valued at $100,000. It is adorned with 600 cultured pearls and 6 carats (1,200 mg) of diamonds.
Victoria Cecilia Castellanos (Temple City High School) was selected as the 2017 Rose Queen during the 99th Rose Queen Announcement and Coronation Ceremony on October 20, 2016. Members of the 2017 Royal Court are Maya Khan and Lauren Emiko Powers (Arcadia High School), Audrey Cameron (Blair International Baccalaureate School), Natalie Petrosian (La Canada High School), Autumn Marie Lundy (Polytechnic School) and Shannon Larsuel (Mayfield Senior School)
Erika Karen Winter (Flintridge Preparatory School) was selected as the 2016 Rose Queen during the 98th Rose Queen Announcement and Coronation Ceremony on October 22, 2015. Members of the 2016 Royal Court are Princess Bryce Marie Bakewell (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy), Princess Donaly Elizabeth Marquez (Blair High School), Princess Natalie Breanne Hernandez-Barber (Alverno High School), Princess Rachelle Chacal Renee Liu (San Marino High School), Princess Regina Marché Pullens (Maranatha High School), and Princess Sarah Sumiko Shaklan (La Cañada High School).
Madison Triplett (John Marshall Fundamental High School) was selected as the 2015 Rose Queen during the 97th Rose Queen Announcement and Coronation ceremony on October 21, 2014. Members of the 2015 Royal Court are Princess Mackenzie Byers (Pasadena City College), Princess Gabrielle Current (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy), Princess Veronica Mejia (Pasadena City College), Princess Bergen Onufer (Mayfield Senior School), Princess Simona Shao (Westridge School) and Princess Emily Stoker (Temple City High School), who were announced on October 6, 2014 at the Tournament House.
Ana Marie Acosta of Polytechnic School was crowned 2014 Rose Queen during the 96th Rose Queen Announcement and Coronation Ceremony on October 24, 2013. Members of the 2014 Royal Court are Princess Sarah Hansen (Pasadena City College), Princess Kayla Johnson-Granberry (Pasadena High School), Princess Jamie Kwong (La Salle High School), Princess Katherine Lipp (La Cañada High School), Princess Elyssia Widjaja (San Marino High School), and Princess Elizabeth Woolf (La Cañada High School).
Vanessa Manjarrez of Mayfield Senior School was named the 2013 Rose Queen on October 16, 2012. Members of the 2013 Royal Court include Princess Madison Teodo (La Cañada High School), Princess Sonia Shenoi (San Marino High School), Princess Kathryne Benuska (Maranatha High School), Princess Nicole Nelam (Pasadena High School), Princess Tracy Cresta (La Salle High School), and Princess Victoria McGregor (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy).
Drew Helen Washington of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy was crowned 2012 Rose Queen. Members of the 2012 Royal Court are Princess Sarah Nicole Zuno (Benjamin Franklin High School), Princess Cynthia Megan Louie (La Salle High School), Princess Morgan Eliza Devaud (La Cañada High School), Princess Kimberly Victoria Ostiller (Flintridge Preparatory School), Princess Hanan Bulto Worku (Pasadena High School), Princess Stephanie Grace Hynes (Maranatha High School).