The Search for the 100th Rose Queen and 2018 Royal Court is On

Hundreds of hopeful young women between the ages of 17 and 21 are expected to gather at the Tournament of Roses House on S. Orange Grove Blvd. this Saturday and on Monday, September 9 and 11, as they pursue their dream of becoming part of history by being the 100th Rose Queen or a Princess of the 2018 Royal Court.

This most special of Pasadena traditions will see the nervous applicants line up outside Wrigley Mansion for their first, initial interviews before the Royal Court Selection Committee.

The tryouts will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Tournament House.

Seven young women will be named to the Royal Court on October 2, and one will be crowned the Rose Queen on October 18.

Upon arrival at the Tournament House, applicants will be assigned a badge number to retain anonymity, and will receive a brief orientation session before they are directed to make an introduction to the selection committee. One or more former Royal Court members will be available to help answer questions, and tours of Tournament House will be offered.

The Tournament of Roses says applicants should plan to spend two to three hours at the initial interview.

During the interview, each applicant will have 15 seconds in front of the Queen and Court Committee to state her badge number and tell them why she wants to be on the Royal Court. The selection committee will not ask any questions at this stage.

Following the initial interview sessions, the Queen and Court Committee will meet and determine who to invite for the second round of interviews.
Approximately 250 young women are asked to return. Third round interviews are then narrowed to about 75 participants, and then to approximately 25 Royal Court Finalists, from whom the seven Royal Court members are selected.
Participants are notified by email shortly after each round of interviews, if they are invited to participate in the next round of interviews.
All individuals who take part in the initial interview sessions will receive a ticket for two people to attend the Royal Ball, a semi-formal dance hosted by the Tournament of Roses at the Pasadena Convention Center on September 22.

On January 1, 2018, the Rose Queen and her Royal Court will ride on a float in the 129th Rose Parade presented by Honda, and attend the College Football Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual.

To be eligible for the Royal Court, an applicant must be an unmarried, female resident of the Pasadena Area Community College District and able to provide verification of residence; be a senior in high school or enrolled as a full-time student (minimum 12 units) in any accredited school or college in the Pasadena Area Community College District; possess at least a 2.0 grade point average in both the current and previous years’ course work and able to provide verification of same; be at least 17 years of age by December 31, 2017, and not more than 21 years of age before January 5, 2018, with no children; be available to participate in all scheduled interview sessions; and should register and complete the official Royal Court online application.

The Application form can be accessed online through www.roseparaderoyalcourt.com .
For more detailed information about the Royal Court tryouts, visit https://www.tournamentofroses.com/rose-parade/royal-court .