Following a month-long process that included more than 900 young women, seven of the 39 rose queen finalists were named to the 2016 Tournament of Roses Royal Court during a ceremony at the Tournament House in Pasadena Monday.
Donaly Marquez, of Blair High School, Sarah Shaklan, of La Canada High School, Natalie Hernandez-Barber, of Alverno High School, Rachelle Liu, of San Marino High School, Regina Pullens, of Maranatha High School, Erika Winter, of Flintridge Preparatory School, and Bryce Bakewell, of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, were named as the Royal Court princesses for 2016.
“The 2016 Royal Court is comprised of seven impressive young women who, starting today, will be ‘finding adventure’ as we build up to America’s New Year’s Celebration on Jan. 1,” chair of the Tournament of Roses Queen and Court Committee Ed Morales stated in a news release following the event.
The Royal Court will reign over the 127th Rose Parade, themed “Find Your Adventure,” and will attend the 102nd Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1, 2016.
The court will also make nearly 100 other media and community appearances.
The Rose Queen will be announced on Oct. 22 during a coronation ceremony at the Pasadena Convention Center.