The Pasadena Tournament of Roses announced the seven members of the 2027 Rose Court on Monday, September 28, 2026, during a morning reveal attended by nearly 200 people on the south lawn of Tournament House. Selected by volunteer members of the organization’s Queen & Court Committee, the seven high school seniors will serve as ambassadors for the 138th Rose Parade and attend the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game on January 1, 2027.
Selection Criteria and Ambassador Duties
Volunteer members evaluated candidates based on academic achievement, community and school involvement, public speaking ability, and youth leadership. Tournament of Roses President Terry Madigan introduced the court during the announcement, welcoming the members to a family that has brought the tradition, beauty and grandeur of America’s New Year celebration to the world for nearly 138 years. Each member of the 2027 Rose Court will receive a $7,500 academic scholarship funded by the association. Alongside their scholarship, court members participate in personal development programs focusing on public speaking, leadership, presentation skills, self-confidence, etiquette, and community engagement.
Profiles of the 2027 Rose Court Members
The seven students selected for the 2027 Rose Court represent high schools across the Pasadena area:
- Evita Cielo Bridge, a senior at Mayfield Senior School, serves on her school’s Athletic Leadership Council and directs the dance team. She volunteers with Once Upon a Room and Club 21, and launched a banana bread business during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is the daughter of Evy and Jason Bridge.
- Tessa Rose Choi, a senior at La Cañada High School, founded the global nonprofit Hands to Heart and leads Omid for Girls. A varsity basketball and golf athlete, she advises her district superintendent on the Student Tech Council. She is the daughter of Scott and Alice Choi.
- Daniela Anaíd Guzmán, a senior at Arcadia High School, plays varsity soccer for her school and for LA Surf GA 2009. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she works with younger students through Crossage and supports mental health initiatives. She is the daughter of Diana and Jose Eduardo Guzmán.
- Irene Lim Maddox, a senior at Eagle Rock High School, serves as broadcast journalism editor-in-chief of the Eagle’s Scream, founded the Korean Culture Club, and captains the varsity swim and girls water polo teams.
- Maria Teresa Monserrat McDonald, a senior at Thurgood Marshall Secondary School, is the daughter of former Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Brian McDonald.
- Elizabeth Tabaro Kengaju Rweyemamu represents Polytechnic School as a member of the 2027 court.
- Lucy Joyce Wendling represents San Marino High School as part of the seven-member group.
Upcoming Traditions and Coronation Timeline
Following their announcement, the finalists and court members will prepare for the formal Coronation of the 108th Rose Queen and the presentation of the Rose Court, scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2026, on the front lawn of Tournament House. On January 1, 2027, the court will ride down Colorado Boulevard on the official Royal Court float for the Rose Parade, themed “Welcome,” before attending the Rose Bowl Game.
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