Honored Anew

Michelle Jacobs woke up sleepy-eyed, just your average American teenager Monday morning who had to get out of bed a bit earlier than usual because she had something to do.

But when she showed up for her appointment, the 17-year-old from La Canada Flintridge became a one-of-a-kind: the 2001 Rose Queen.

Jacobs will reign over the 112th Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. She edged out six court princesses, who threw their arms around her in a congratulatory hug on the Tournament House lawn in Pasadena.

Jacobs was trembling with excitement as her name danced off the tongue of Lorne Brown, president of the Tournament of Roses Assn., who announced her selection as the parade’s 83rd queen.

“The thought of all those millions of people watching me go down Colorado Boulevard flashed through my mind. . . . I was shaking. I’m still shaking,” said Jacobs, as photographers swarmed her like moths around a lightbulb.

Her biggest fan--and dad--George Jacobs, a racehorse and restaurant owner, was unable to contain his emotions at the moment of truth. He yelled out his daughter’s name for everyone to hear just moments after Brown’s announcement.

A short time later he declared, “She’ll have a horse named after her.”

Rose Queen or Queen Michelle? He doesn’t know yet.

The new queen reciprocated the admiration. “He’s so sweet,’ Jacobs said of her father, who owns Georgee’s Pizza in La Canada. “He works very hard every day and took today off.”

A senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Jacobs is a National Honors Society vice president and plans to pursue a career in public relations after studying at either USC or a UC campus. Jacobs also volunteers at Verdugo Hills Hospital.

The theme of the parade she’ll reign over is the “Fabric of America.” As for Jacobs, she said the fabric of her life is family--her father; stepmother, Lynn Jacobs; mother, Janet Jacobs; two brothers and one sister.

Her sister, she said, will be particularly thrilled by Monday’s announcement. “My 5-year-old sister wants to ride on the float,” Jacobs said.

The latest Rose Bowl queen said she needs to pinch herself to make sure she isn’t dreaming that she was chosen from nearly 1,000 young women from the Pasadena area.

“This is a lifelong dream,” she said.

The life of royalty is tough, though. Jacobs was up since 4 a.m. to be coiffed and primped at a Pasadena spa, along with the rest of the royal court. She recently had a fitting for 44 combinations of outfits that she’ll wear at more than 150 community and media events before the parade Jan. 1.

Somewhere in between, she said, she’ll fit in her studies. Monday was a school day and the new queen said she’s facing some less than regal duties.

“I have to take a bunch of tests today,” she said. “I missed them last week. I think the teachers will understand.”