by Dot Cannon

“It’s a little scary, but it’s really magical,” said Rose Princess Victoria Cecilia Castellanos.

Princess Victoria and her six sister Rose Princesses were walking the red carpet to the Pasadena Playhouse.   It was just after six on Friday evening.

Within approximately two hours, one of these Princesses would become the Tournament of Roses’ ninety-ninth Rose Queen®.

2005 Rose Queen Ashley Moreno had just introduced Princess Victoria to the waiting audience in the plaza area–and asked her about her experiences  as a Rose Princess, so far.

Princess Victoria had no idea that things were about to get a lot more magical.

White Suiters escorted each Rose Princess into the Playhouse for the coronation ceremony.

Inside the Playhouse, the coronation ceremony began with hosts Chuck Henry, of NBC4, and 1988 Rose Queen® Julie Myers King.  The audience laughed and applauded as Henry and King reminisced about their previous Rose Parade® experiences.

“Obviously, big hair was in,” Henry commented, as a slide of King as 1988 Rose Queen® appeared on the screen.

“I’ll bet we can find a photo of you from that era,” King countered.  The audience erupted in laughter as the technical crew complied.

“Well, that was when the flat hair look was really good,” Henry said.

The past–and the future

A short video showed the audience some of the Royal Court’s activities since their October 4th selection.   In addition to training and community functions, clips showed them playing soccer on a beach–and taking “the world’s longest Ferris wheel ride”.

Then, Henry and King introduced each of the seven members of the Royal Court, in turn.   All seven Rose Princesses are high-school seniors, with a wide range of interests and goals.

“Astrophysics is an incredible subject, so I look forward to it,” said Princess Natalie Petrosian, who will be starting JPL’s Space Academy training session in January.

“This year’s really special, because we were invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in the springtime,” said Princess Victoria Castellanos, of her varsity-level show choir the Brighter Side Singers.

“I went through a phase, about a year ago, where all I baked was cupcakes,” said Princess Audrey Cameron.  Princess Audrey, who plans to become an obstetrician, lists baking among her hobbies.

“Don’t ever lose that phase,” Henry said, as the audience laughed.

Each Royal Court member would introduce family members and friends, who had come with her.   The audience applauded–as they did when Henry and King asked former Rose Queens in the audience to stand and be acknowledged.

A standout star

After the 2017 Royal Court had all been introduced, another former Rose Queen® practically stole the show.

“We have a special treat for you tonight,” King said.  Earlier, she and Henry had acknowledged all the former Rose Queens® in the audience–except one.

“We left one out–because we wanted to give her a moment that was long overdue,” Henry said.

Margaret Huntley Main, the oldest living Rose Queen®, came onstage.  Main, who served as Rose Queen® in 1940, shared the story of a Rose Parade® tradition she had started.

“For a long time, January 2nd was a terrific letdown for the Tournament Court,” she said.  “I watched some of my sister Queens get really sick.  And with (1941 Rose Queen) Sally Stanton Rubsamen,…we conceived the idea of a Queen’s Club.  We would have a party to welcome the new Queen, and that would be something special…to look forward to.  And so we did, and it really eased…that January 2nd letdown.”

Main recalled New Year’s Day, 1940, and the Rose Parade®.

“It rained.  Only a little bit…and they brought us little cellophane raincoats with hoods.  We put them on.  By that time, we were kind of in East Pasadena, and the crowd yelled, ‘We’ve been here all night, looking for you.  Take ’em off!'”

So, she said, she and her Royal Court complied.  “(I asked them,) ‘is anyone worried about getting a little damp?  And they said ‘no’.  So we took ’em off.”

Asked what advice she’d give the soon-to-be announced 99th Rose Queen®, Main said, “Never give advice unless it’s asked.”

The audience roared with laughter–more so when Main said, “I’m not finished.  I’m so retiring, I know.”

“When you accept (the Queen’s crown or the Princess’s tiara) you’re automatically an ambassador of goodwill for the city of Pasadena and the Tournament of Roses for the rest of your life.    You’re going to be recognized (wherever you go), so always be well-groomed, clean, behave yourself, so the Tournament and your mother will be proud of you.”

Main made several other remarks, which included advising the new Rose Queen® to write “lots of thank-you notes” and get well-acquainted with her sister Rose Queens.  She concluded, “Never, never, never go down to Pasadena with two runny-nosed toddlers.”

Laughter and applause followed her time in the spotlight, as Henry commented, “I don’t know, I think Margaret kind of likes the stage.”

The moment arrives

Then, the time had come.

“We’ve kept these young women waiting long enough,” King said.

2017 Tournament of Roses® President Brad Ratliff took the stage.

“Seven hundred seventy-one.  That’s the number of young people that went through our interview process this year,” he said.   “Less than one percent is represented here onstage tonight…

“The late actor Peter O’Toole once said, “I can now tell from the envelope whether it’s a good script.  Well, the envelope that we have tonight has a script that will change a life forever.”

A dramatic pause…

“Ladies and gentlemen, the 2017 Rose Queen® is…Victoria Castellanos!”

Squeals, hugs and applause followed.   Escorts took the new Rose Queen® and her Royal Court backstage to prepare for the coronation ceremony.

As they prepared, La Canada nonprofit community chorus The Towne Singers entertained the audience.  Founded in 1987, the group has sung in venues including Carnegie Hall, New York’s Lincoln Center, and toured internationally.

Their voices blended seamlessly as they sang standards including “Seventy-Six Trombones”, “Over the Rainbow”, and–appropriately–“Before the Parade Passes By”.

A Rose Queen®’s perspective

After the performance, the new Queen and her Royal Court returned, each with a parent.

Former Rose Princesses gave each young woman a bouquet of roses.

Last year’s Rose Queen®, Erika Karen Winter, did the honors for the new Queen.

Then, President Ratliff crowned Victoria Cecilia Castellanos Pasadena’s ninety-ninth Rose Queen®…

…and administered the Queen’s Oath.

Following the coronation ceremony, reporters had the opportunity to speak briefly with Queen Victoria and her Royal Court.

“It’s still surreal and amazing and wonderful, but I just–I can’t process it at the moment, honestly,” the new Rose Queen® said.

Asked what advice she might give a future Rose Queen®, decades from now, she said, “I would tell them to just be themselves.  Always be yourself.”

Congratulations, Queen Victoria!  See you on January 2, 2017.