It’s not easy to think of a hashtag for all of this, she says, motioning to the façade of the historic Tournament of Roses House on Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena.
But applicant No. 372, Eden of La Salle High School, said she is just #happy to be at the preliminary tryouts for the 105th Rose Queen and Court on Saturday.
“My family has lived in Pasadena for a long time, and it’s a tradition to try out,” she said. “The city is beautiful and historic and I’d love to showcase that. Also, I know this experience will teach me a lot.”
The 300 hopefuls get 15 seconds to answer one question from the selection committee. They are called only by their candidate number throughout the four rounds of interviews continuing in the next four weeks. Seven among their ranks will make it to the 2024 Royal Court, with their names announced on Oct. 2.
If you grew up in the San Gabriel Valley, this is a rite of passage, many candidates said.
To be eligible, applicants must identify as a female, be at least 17 years old by Dec. 31 and not older than 21 before Jan. 5, 2024. They must be a full-time resident of the Pasadena Area Community College District and hold at least a 2.0 grade point average. Candidates must be seniors in high school or enrolled as full-time students in an accredited school or college in the Pasadena Area Community College District.
Most of the young women in line Saturday said the audition process was exciting and stomach-turning at the same time. They admired each other’s shoes and dresses and wished each other luck as they moved along the process.
Since the judging continues beyond Saturday, we agreed not to publish the applicants’ full names to preserve anonymity until the winners are selected.
In the mansion’s library, the applicants met former Rose Court members, who gave advice, answered questions and soothed nerves.
Rose Queen Camille Kennedy of Pasadena, who wore the crown in 2020, said she still remembers her applicant…
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