A thousand hopefuls vie for Royal Court

1/15

Pasadena-area young women line up to participate in the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

2/15

Annalis, of Altadena and La Salle High School, walks the red carpet towards the judges in the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

3/15

Pasadena-area young women, including Mady, from Sierra Madre at a senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, center, line up to participate in the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa /Staff Photographer)

4/15

Amira (no last name allowed to be given), from Arcadia High School, strikes a pose as she stands in line for the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

5/15

Pasadena-area young women move through the line while participating in the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

6/15

Dalon, of Pasadena and a student at Pasadena City College, center, practices his 15-second speech he will give to the judges at the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

7/15

Hannah, of Sierra Madre and a student ar Pasadena City College, was the first one in line to participate in the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

8/15

9/15

Abigail, from PAsadena and a student at Pasadena City College, participated in the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

10/15

11/15

Casey, from San Gabriel and a senior at Gabrielino High School, cracks a smile after she spoke to the judges in the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

12/15

Some of the few young men who came to participate in the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts are, from left Dalon, Marcvin and Christopher, all from Pasadena and attending Pasadena City College, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / StaffPhotographer)

13/15

Natalie, from La Ca–ada Flintridge and a senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, smiled as she headed to the judges in the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

14/15

Alyson, from San Gabriel and a senior at La Salle High School, is all smiles after participating in the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / StaffPhotographer)

15/15

Paulina, from Pasadena and a senior at Marshall High School, participated in the annual Tournament of Roses 2017 Royal Court Tryouts, at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Saturday, September 10, 2016. About 150 young ladies and 4 young men had showed up for the try-outs in the first two hours. Officials expect about 1,000 to go through the try-outs over the course of two days. (Raul Roa / StaffPhotographer)

By Sara CardineStaff Writer

Sept. 14, 2016 4:26 PM PT

A parade of royal contenders lined up outside Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses Tournament House on Saturday and Monday, each poised and ready to make an unforgettable impression in the contest for 2017 Rose Queen and Royal Court.

Tryout interviews were held over a two-day period to allow selection committee members to individually consider applications, photos and resumes for some 1,000 candidates hailing from Pasadena, La Cañada and surrounding area schools.

Participants had just 15 seconds to shine in individual appearances before judges. The 2017 Rose Queen and Royal Court will reign over the 128th Rose Parade the morning of Jan. 2 and attend the 103rd annual Rose Bowl game that follows. Those appearances will be among more than 100 made by the Royal Court in its one-year tenure.

Finalists will be announced in a Sept. 28 press event and photo opportunity. The seven young women selected to the Royal Court will be named on Oct. 4, while the Tournament’s 99th Rose Queen will be announced in an Oct. 20 coronation ceremony at the Pasadena Playhouse, according to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses.

Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine