by Dot Cannon
“You ready?” asked 2020 Tournament of Roses® President Laura Farber.
The capacity audience gathered in the Pasadena Playhouse, Tuesday evening, cheered their assent.
“OK! Here we go,” said President Farber.
She directed the seven members of the 2020 Royal Court, standing onstage, to step forward.
The time had come for one of them to be announced as Pasadena’s 102nd Rose Queen®, The new Queen would preside over both the 131st Rose Parade® and the 106th Rose Bowl Game, which would happening on New Year’s Day.
Opening the envelope which Queen and Court Committee Chair Ruth Martinez-Baenen had handed her, President Farber announced, “Our 102nd Rose Queen®…is…”
A dramatic pause followed. The audience chuckled.
The suspense builds
Prior to the announcement, the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, KTLA Morning News anchor Lynette Romero, had introduced the audience to the members of the Royal Court.
She’d briefly interviewed each of the young women, giving the audience some insight into their interests and personalities.
At the close of her remarks, Ms. Romero had said,”I just look at them all and I think, every single one of them could be Queen. But we know, there’s only one crown. There’s only one Queen.”
So–which one?
A leader and educator
Might the next Rose Queen be Arcadia High School senior Rukan Saif? Rukan is a Captain of the Speech and Debate Team, President of the My Friend and I Club and an online teacher with JAAGO Foundation, which teaches English to underprivileged kids in Bangladesh.
When Ms. Romero asked about the latter, Rukan explained that she had been affiliated with the JAAGO Foundation “since about middle school”.
“‘Jaago’ means, ‘wake up and arise’, in Bangla,” she said. “…We are committed to providing educational opportunities for underprivileged youth, in Bangladesh. (My work as an online teacher means) I videochat with about 100 of our 3500 students, once a week.
“I familiarize them with English through original short stories, and this past summer I actually got to fly out to Bangladesh and meet some other JAAGO students, and collaborate with the heads to create a developed curriculum.”
A future doctor and current Girl Scout
Would it be South Pasadena high school senior Cole Fox, who aspires to become a dermatologist? Among her accomplishments, Cole is both a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, and Head of Design for her high school yearbook.
“A lot of people think (being a Girl Scout) is all about Girl Scout cookies, but it’s so much more,” Ms. Romero said.
“But the Girl Scout cookies are very good, and we very much enjoy selling them,” Cole said.
Challenged to name her favorite, she admitted, “Before I went vegan, Samoas. Now I can’t eat them!…So, Thin Mints.”
A storyteller extraordinaire
Or, perhaps Mia Thorsen would wear the crown?
Mia, a senior at Marshall Fundamental School, is President of the Girls Soccer Club, manager of Varsity Girls Soccer, and Vice-President of the Storytellers Club.
“Can you tell us a story?” Ms. Romero asked, during their conversation.
Mia rose to the occasion.
“Once upon a time, there were seven beautiful girls–right? Not to be biased or anything. But there were seven beautiful girls, and they came to a beautiful playhouse, in the beautiful city of Pasadena.
“And then tonight, a team captain, or a Rose Queen®, is picked, from one of these beautiful girls. But we all know that it’s not (going to) affect our friendship and our love for each other, and we all are going to live happily ever after.”
A Rose Princess’s perspectives on Japan
Or…possibly the new Rose Queen® would be La Salle College Preparatory senior Camille Kennedy? Camille’s biography mentioned that she had played the lead role in her school’s spring 2019 musical, and had lived for a year in Japan during our sophomore year of high school.
“Tell us about (your time in Japan),” requested Ms. Romero.
Camille launched into fluent Japanese. The audience laughed.
“In Japanese, that means, ‘it was the best year of my life’,” Camille explained. “And truly, that is the only way I can sum it up.”
An academic definition
Or, perhaps, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy senior Emilie Risha would reign? Emilie’s accomplishments include serving as a school admissions Ambassador, and her performances in Saint Francis High School Theatre.
Ms. Romero asked her about her college plans. Emilie plans to study linguistic anthropology.
“Can you tell me what that is?” Ms. Romero asked.
“A lot of people think anthropology is just like archeology, studying…past civilizations, and there is a little bit about that,” Emilie explained. “But what most interests me is how language has influenced society and continues to influence society, throughout history and up to this day.”
A future M.D.
Or, would Princess Michael Wilkins become Queen? Michael, a senior at Maranatha High School, loves to play tennis and is a member of the Advanced Speech and Debate Team. She wants to study medicine, and her goal is to become a pediatrician.
Michael shared the background of her unusual first name.
“My mom had a friend in high school, named Michael, and that really stuck to her,” she said. “And my dad and my mom made a deal. If it was a girl, my mom got to choose the name, and if it was a boy, my dad got to choose the name.
“So–I’m Michael.”
A future lawyer–who likes giraffes
Would the new Rose Queen® be Marshall Fundamental School senior Reese Rosental Saporito?
Among her accomplishments, Reese is a member of the varsity soccer team and International Thespian society. She aspires to become an attorney, and she has participated in Moorpark Teaching Zoo’s Junior Safari Program.
“That’s a summer camp at the (zoo, where my aunt works as an animal trainer),” Reese explained.
Reese said she had been attending the program for two years.
“So, is a safari in your future?” Ms. Romero asked.
“I hope so. I like giraffes, so that would be cool,” Reese replied.
Ms. Romero asked Reese if she thought she might be nervous, as a future attorney in front of a judge or jury.
“After the six-and-a-half minutes of Royal Court interviews, I can maybe do anything,” Reese answered, to laughter from the audience.
The announcement
Making her announcement, President Farber added a dramatic pause.
Eight seconds, then…
“Camille Kennedy.”
Squeals and applause, from the audience.
Escorts appeared, to take the new Queen and her court backstage, where they’d prepare for the coronation.
A conversation with the Queen
About an hour later, we had the opportunity to chat briefly with the newly-crowned Rose Queen®. What, we wondered, had her time in Japan (to which she wants to return for college) taught her, about leadership, that stands her in good stead in her new royal role?
Queen Camille’s response: both independence, and trusting and relying on others.
“It sounds a bit odd, because those two things contrast (with) each other,” she said. “But during my time I needed to learn how to work and rely with others, so I hope to apply that with my six other Court members as we journey forward.”
And what was the new Rose Queen®’s perspective on the evening?
“Oh my gosh, it’s been a dream, absolutely,” she said. “I had no idea that I would be standing up here tonight, but it is such an incredible honor. And I cannot wait for the next three months with the rest of my Court members.”
Congratulations, Queen Camille! And congratulations, 2020 Royal Court, on all your amazing accomplishments. We’re looking forward to seeing you on January first, 2020.