PASADENA, Calif. – Today the Tournament of Roses named Victoria Cecilia Castellanos as the 99th Rose Queen® at the Announcement and Coronation ceremony presented by Citizens Business Bank at The Pasadena Playhouse. The announcement follows a month-long selection process with nearly 1,000 people participating in interviews. Masters of Ceremonies were Chuck Henry from NBC4 Southern California and 1988 Rose Queen Julie Myers King.
Rose Queen Victoria and the Royal Court will attend nearly 100 community and media functions, acting as ambassadors of the Association and the Pasadena community at large. Their reign will culminate on Monday, January 2nd, 2017 with the 128th Rose Parade® presented by Honda and the 103rd Rose Bowl Game® presented by Northwestern Mutual.
The Rose Queen and Royal Court were selected based upon a combination of qualities, including public speaking ability, poise, academic achievement, community and school involvement.
“The Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game are the world’ kickoff for the New Year, and Queen Victoria and the six Rose Princesses are true representatives of the valued traditions and distinct backgrounds that make Pasadena and these celebrations so special,” said Tournament of Roses President Brad Ratliff after the Coronation. “They truly are Echoes of Success coming from the cultural richness of our community. Not only will Queen Victoria and the Royal Court be wonderful ambassadors, they eagerly await to meet many in our community to exchange stories about their own Echoes of Success as they bring to January 2nd and America’s New Year’s Celebration.”
During the coronation ceremony, Ratliff presented Rose Queen Victoria with a Mikimoto crown featuring more than 600 cultured pearls and six carats of diamonds. Prior to the public event, all members of the Royal Court received a pearl necklace from Mikimoto.
Rose Queen Victoria Cecilia Castellanos, is a senior at Temple City High School and lives in Temple City. Victoria has been a part of Brighterside Singers since her sophomore year and has been in five Temple City High School musicals. She volunteers with the Pasadena Humane Society and the American Legion in Eagle Rock. Victoria enjoys writing short stories, reading, painting, collecting antiques and thrift shopping with her mom. She plans to study English, musical theater, and Japanese and would like to attend Amherst College or Smith College. Victoria is the daughter of Jesse Castellanos and Rachel Lasota; she has three siblings: John, Erika and Margarita.
The Rose Princesses are: Audrey Mariam Cameron, Blair High School; Maya Kawaguchi Khan, Arcadia High School; Shannon Tracy Larsuel, Mayfield Senior School; Autumn Marie Lundy, Polytechnic School; Natalie Rose Petrosian, La Cañada High School; and Lauren ‘Emi’ Emiko Powers, Arcadia High School.
Coronation and Royal Court Sponsors:
• Presenting Sponsor of Coronation – Citizens Business Bank.
• Royal Court cosmetics provided by Estée Lauder
• Flowers provided by Jacob Maarse
• Royal Court wardrobe provided by Macy’s.
• Rose Queen crown and Royal Court tiaras provided by Mikimoto.
• Royal Court hairstyling provided by The Spa Santé.
• Royal Court gowns provided by Tadashi Shoji.
Source: Pasadena Tournament of Roses