Princesses react to Tournament of Roses Royal Court announcement
When La Cañada High School’s Sarah Shaklan first applied for a spot on the Pasadena Tournament of Roses’ 2016 Royal Court, she was just one in a crowd of friends who thought it would be something fun to do.
But as the ranks of royal hopefuls dwindled throughout an extensive interview process — from more than 900 to 250 to 75 and then to 39 finalists last week — Shaklan kept advancing. On Monday morning, in a special ceremony held on the lawn of Pasadena’s Tournament House, the high school senior learned she’d made the cut. She was officially a princess.
“When they said, ‘La Cañada High School,’ I thought for sure it wasn’t me,” a surprised Shaklan said in an interview shortly after the announcement. “Then I thought, ‘Don’t trip.’”
An Altadena resident whose father works at JPL, Shaklan is one of three La Cañada students to be named to the seven-member 2016 Royal Court. In the coming months, the group will preside over the 127th Rose Parade on New Year’s Day and the 102nd Rose Bowl Game that will follow.
Bryce Bakewell, a senior from Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, and Flintridge Preparatory School senior Erika Winter were also named to the Royal Court and, like Shaklan, have a chance at being named Rose Queen on Oct. 22.
The other members of the court are: Donaly Marquez of Blair High School; Alverno High School’s Natalie Hernandez-Barber; Regina Pullens from Maranatha High School; and Rachelle Liu of San Marino High School.
“The Royal Court is part of our history, our present and our future,” said Tournament of Roses President Mike Matthiessen, who explained this year’s Rose Parade theme “Find Your Adventure” before naming the seven winners. “Each participant in her own way has found, or maybe endured, her adventure of sorts in this selection process. For the seven [women] whose names I am about to read ... their Tournament of Roses adventure is about to begin.”
Bakewell, a Pasadena resident who hopes to study history in college and eventually become a lawyer, said she applied because she wanted to take on a personal challenge and because she’d hoped to represent the FSHA community.
“I’m a twin, so I’m used to always having someone next to me,” she said, adding that sister Devyn applied for the Royal Court as well, mostly to keep her company. “I wanted to branch out a little.”
Shortly after Monday’s announcement, the trembling senior said she was still in shock at hearing her name called and at the thunderous response from fellow students who’d made the trip to Pasadena that morning to cheer on the Tolog candidates.
Erika Winter, a Flintridge Prep senior and Pasadena resident with an interest in business and marketing, admitted the whole experience has been “a little surreal.”
“I didn’t realize how long it would be and how intensive it is,” Winter said of the interview process. “(But) it’s been great. All the princesses are really close now.”
After the announcement, parents, students and well wishers crowded around the newly named princesses as they conducted several media interviews, the first in what will be more than 100 public appearances the Royal Court will make.
Stuart and Pam Shaklan, along with sons Jonathan, 15, and 12-year-old Andrew, were congratulated by LCHS Principal Ian McFeat following Monday’s announcement.
“She’s in for a whirlwind, I’ve got to tell you,” McFeat told the couple. “I couldn’t think of a better student for it. She just has the right countenance and the right personality. And she’s well-rounded, too — good job.”
