2016 Tournament of Roses Royal Court, click to enlarge. Image courtesy of Tournament of Roses
Press Release posted 10/5/15 – The seven members of the 2016 Tournament of Roses Royal Court were announced today at Tournament House. Selected from a group of 39 finalists, the Royal Court will attend nearly 100 community and media functions, acting as ambassadors of the Tournament and the Pasadena community at large. Their reign will culminate with the 127th Rose Parade® presented by Honda and the 102nd Rose Bowl Game® presented by Northwestern Mutual.
The announcement follows a month-long process in which more than 900 Pasadena-area young women participated. The Tournament’s Queen and Court Committee made its selections based on a number of criteria including poise, speaking ability, academic achievement, and community and school involvement.
The seven Royal Court members are (in alphabetical order): Bryce Marie Bakewell (#171), 17, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; Donaly Elizabeth Marquez (#22), 17, Blair High School; Natalie Breanne Hernandez-Barber (#673), 17, Alverno High School; Rachelle Chacal Renee Liu (#337), 17, San Marino High School; Regina Marché Pullens (#466), 17, Maranatha High School; Sarah Sumiko Shaklan (#443), 17, La Cañada High School; Erika Karen Winter (#562), 17, Flintridge Preparatory School.
“The 2016 Royal Court is comprised of seven impressive young women who – starting today – will be ‘finding adventure’ as we build up to America’s New Year’s Celebration® on January 1,” said Ed Morales, chair of the Tournament of Roses Queen and Court Committee. “Over the next few months, the Royal Court will participate in a wide variety of events and experiences that will be memorable ones for years to come.”
Rose Princess Bryce Marie Bakewell, 17, is a senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and lives in Pasadena. Bryce serves as the president of the Black Student Union and volunteers within a daycare for disabled children. She enjoys yoga, volunteer work and spontaneous trips with her family. In college, she hopes to work on a pre-law track majoring in Unites States History and minoring in Spanish. She would like to eventually become a criminal justice attorney. Bryce is the daughter of Danny Jr. and Tana Bakewell; she has three siblings: Taelor, Danny III and Devyn.
Rose Princess Donaly Elizabeth Marquez, 17, is a senior at Blair High School and lives in Pasadena. Donaly enjoys soccer, writing poems, singing and dancing. She currently works for the Ambassador Youth Program, is on the prom committee and is active with her church. In the future, she wants to study criminal justice or enter into the medical field. Donaly is the daughter of Ignacio and Sara Marquez; she has six siblings: Alicia, Silvia, Sara Marie, Emily, Abraham, and Elijah.
Rose Princess Natalie Breanne Hernandez-Barber, 17, is a senior at Alverno High School and lives in Pasadena. Natalie serves as an Alverno Ambassador, works with the Campus Ministry, plays varsity volleyball and is the recipient of the Carol Ladere Memorial Scholarship. She enjoys cooking, graphic design, outdoor activities and sports such as track, basketball and karate. Natalie would like to study broadcasting and communications in college and hopes to become a radio or television host. She is the daughter of Jeffrey Barber and Rebecca Hernandez; Natalie has two siblings: Sydney and Madison.
Rose Princess Rachelle Chacal Renee Liu, 17, is a senior at San Marino High School and lives in Arcadia. Rachelle serves as the president and founder of the LEO (Leadership, Experience, Opportunity) Club and captain of the both the Speech and Debate team as well as the Mock Trial Team. She is the director of the Holiday Angels musical group and Kids Play for Kids. Rachelle enjoys playing the Chinese harp, hiking and singing. In college, she would like to study biology and hopes to become a doctor who works with Doctors Without Borders helping people world-wide. Rachelle is the daughter of Daniel and Chacal Liu.
Rose Princess Regina Marché Pullens, 17, is a senior at Maranatha High School and lives in Altadena. Regina founded the Glam Girl Club and is a teacher’s assistant for the science department. She has traveled to the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua on mission trips and has served as a counselor for vacation bible school at the Altadena Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Regina enjoys reading, writing, and playing both the piano and clarinet. She would like to study pre-medicine in college and hopes to become an anesthesiologist. Regina is the daughter of Reginald and Renita Pullens; she has three siblings: Teneka, Reece and Reid.
Rose Princess Sarah Sumiko Shaklan, 17, is a senior at La Cañada High School and lives in Altadena. Sarah volunteers frequently at Huntington Memorial Hospital and The Ronald McDonald House in Pasadena. She participates in AYSO Soccer, works on the yearbook and is a member of the Sierra Madre Interact Club. Sarah enjoys photography, reading and babysitting. She hopes to study criminal justice and pre-law in college. Sarah would like to become a lawyer who works in the non-profit sector helping people and organizations that lack finances to hire defense attorneys. Sarah is the daughter of Stuart and Pamela Shaklan; she has two siblings: Jonathan and Andrew.
Rose Princess Erika Karen Winter, 17, is a senior at Flintridge Preparatory School and lives in Pasadena. Erika is part of the cheer and dance team, student senate and is a middle school commissioner. She is the president of the Hip Hop Club and Craft Club. Erika serves as a peer counselor and a volunteer instructor for autistic dance classes and captured the lead role in her school’s spring musical. Erika enjoys singing, acting, spin-cycling and watching hockey. She would like to study marketing and psychology in the future and hopes to work in marketing and communications within the fashion industry. Erika is the daughter of Tim and Kristine Winter.
The members of the Royal Court receive wardrobe and accessories for their busy schedule of media events and community appearances from Macy’s, formal gowns from Tadashi, hair styling from The Spa Santé, cosmetics and consultation from Estée Lauder and crowns and tiaras courtesy of Mikimoto.
The Announcement and Coronation of the 98th Rose Queen® and Presentation of the Royal Court is on October 22 at the Pasadena Convention Center; the event is sponsored by Citizens Business Bank. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase from Sharp Seating Company.
About the Tournament of Roses®
The Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade®, the Rose Bowl Game® and a variety of associated events. Nine hundred thirty-five volunteer members act as ambassadors of the organization and contribute upwards of 80,000 hours of manpower each year. The 127th Rose Parade presented by Honda and themed “Find Your Adventure,” will take place Friday, January 1, 2016, followed by the 102nd Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual. Learn more at www.tournamentofroses.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.