What’s It Like to Be a Rose Parade Princess

The 2017 Royal Court and fans in front of the Allandale Branch Library (Photo – Garrett Rowlan).

Judging by the excitement of a few teens and pre-teens gathered at the Allandale branch of the Pasadena Public Library, prior to the arrival of the 2018 Royal Court, the concept of aristocracy is far from dead in democratic America.

By Garrett Rowlan

And while the appearance of the court was not greeted by fanfares or thrown flowers, still the faint impression of royalty gracing the commoners lingered.

Not that any of the 6 princesses (a 7^th was absent, participating in a sporting event) exhibited airs of privilege, disdain, or condescension. On the contrary, their demeanor was one of modesty and gratitude, thankful for the luck to be picked as one of the 800 applicants for the Royal Court.

In the Q and A that followed, the princesses made it clear that while they were grateful for the opportunity, still the bestowal of the honor requires a busy round of visits and events, from retirement homes to hospitals, banquets, all manners of encounters, and of course the Rose Parade itself, which required each of the princesses to get up at 1:30 in the morning on January 1 for their 2 am appointment for hair and makeup. “It was a long day,” one said.

What they made clear was that one significant result of their service was the opportunity to meet people from the 1940 Rose Queen, to Rose Bowl players, and even actor Gary Sinise, Forest Gump’s Lieutenant Dan. These were memories that would last for years, along with the blue pantsuits and other outfits that they could keep.

The Royal Court wave (Photo – Garrett Rowlan).

How to become a princess

So how to become a princess, beyond living within the domain of Pasadena City College? “Just be yourself,” said Princess Lauren. “In the interviews, don’t say what you think they want you to say, say what’s in your heart.”

What followed upon their selection was 3 ½ weeks of training, followed by public appearances that will extend a few weeks into 2018.

Beyond that, all had practical ambitions for the future, college and professions, taking into the future lessons learned in their brief reign.

After the questions were answered, they demonstrated the “wave,” the kind they dispensed from the float, and finally all involved were invited to share in a cake, provided by the library.