2015 Rose Parade royal court chosen; see some of the first Rose princesses

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The seven members of the 2015 Tournament of Roses Royal Court laugh and react with joy after their names were read. From left are Alicia Olivas Stoker, Veronica Sara Mejia, Mackenzie Joe Byers, Gabrielle Ann Current, Simona K. Shao, Madison Elaine Triplett and Bergen Louise Onufer. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Mackenzie Joy Byers, 18, left, and Alicia Olivas Stoker, 17, two of the seven Tournament of Roses Royal Court members. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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The seven members of the 2015 Tournament of Roses Royal Court smile and pose for photos after their names were read at the Tournament of Roses house in Pasadena. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Simona K. Shao, 17, right, is congratulated by some of the finalists after her name was read as one of the seven members of the Tournament of Roses Royal Court. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Alicia Olivas Stoker, 17, left, and Veronica Sara Mejia, two of the 2015 Tournament of Roses Royal Court members, are all smiles after their names were read at Tournament House in Pasadena. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

By Matt Stevens

Oct. 6, 2014 11:32 AM PT

Joyous shrieks, wide grins and bouquets of blossoming roses marked the selection Monday morning of seven young women as royal court princesses at the Tournament of Roses house in Pasadena.

Selected from a group of 31 finalists who waited nervously on a carpet-lined staircase, the young women will act as ambassadors for the 2015 Tournament of Roses and attend as many as 100 community and media functions in the run-up to the 126th Rose Parade. (See a gallery of vintage royal court photos below.)

Before naming the princesses, a tournament official told the hundreds of friends and family in attendance to “breathe,” then he read the names from envelopes, one at a time.

They are:

Mackenzie Joy Byers, 18, of Pasadena City College; Gabrielle Ann Current, 18, of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; Veronica Sara Mejia, 19, of Pasadena City College; Bergen Louise Onufer, 17, of Mayfield Senior School; Simona K. Shao, 17, of Westridge School; Emily Alicia Olivas Stoker, 17, of Temple City High School; and Madison Elaine Triplett, 17, of John Marshall Fundamental High School.

The “coronation” of the 97th Rose queen will be held on Oct. 21.

Louis Zamperini -- the Olympic athlete turned World War II hero – was chosen as grand marshal earlier this year but died in July at age 97. At the Tournament of Roses house Monday, officials said Zamperini’s family will attend in his absence.

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