PASADENA, Calif. (October 21, 2014) – The Tournament of Roses today named Madison Elaine Triplett as the 97th Rose Queen in an official ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Plaza.  Presented by Citizens Business Bank, the announcement concludes a month-long process that began with more than 700 Pasadena-area young women who participated in the Royal Court tryouts.  The ceremony was emceed by KTLA Rose Parade® host and television personality, Stephanie Edwards.

Rose Queen Madison and the Royal Court will make as many as 100 community and media appearances, culminating with the 126th Rose Parade presented by Honda and the 101st Rose Bowl Game® serving as the first College Football Playoff Semifinal presented by Northwestern Mutual on New Year’s Day.

“Leading up to America’s New Year Celebration®, Rose Queen Madison Elaine Triplett and the six Rose Princesses will serve as ambassadors for the Tournament of Roses and the City of Pasadena,” said Tournament of Roses President Rich Chinen, who presented the crown to the queen.  “We are eager for Rose Queen Madison and each member of the Royal Court to share their inspiring stories with others and for the court to hear first-hand from the community about other meaningful stories.”

The Rose Queen and Royal Court were selected based upon a combination of qualities, including public speaking ability, poise, academic achievement and community involvement.

During the coronation ceremony, Chinen presented Rose Queen Madison with a Mikimoto crown featuring more than 600 cultured pearls and six carats of diamonds. Prior to the public event, all members of the Royal Court received a pearl necklace from Mikimoto.

Rose Queen Madison Elaine Triplett, 17, attends Marshall Fundamental High School and lives in Altadena.  Madison is the chair of the Pasadena City Youth Council and president of the Black Student Union.  She also is active with the student government at her high school.  Madison is part of the varsity volleyball and track and field teams and enjoys watching movies and tumbling in her free time.  She plans to attend college to study economics with a minor in French and aspires to develop a non-profit organization that educates minorities on financial literacy.  Madison is the daughter of Reggie Triplett and Jouslynn Griffin and has two siblings:  Reggie Jr. and Paige.

The Rose Princesses are Mackenzie Joy Byers, 18, Pasadena City College; Gabrielle Ann Current, 18, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy;  Veronica Sara Mejia, 19, Pasadena City College; Bergen Louise Onufer, 17, Mayfield Senior School; Simona K. Shao, 17, Westridge School; and Emily Alicia Olivas Stoker, 17, Temple City High School.

PASADENA, Calif. (October 21, 2014) – The Tournament of Roses today named Madison Elaine Triplett as the 97th Rose Queen in an official ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Plaza.  Presented by Citizens Business Bank, the announcement concludes a month-long process that began with more than 700 Pasadena-area young women who participated in the Royal Court tryouts.  The ceremony was emceed by KTLA Rose Parade® host and television personality, Stephanie Edwards.

Rose Queen Madison and the Royal Court will make as many as 100 community and media appearances, culminating with the 126th Rose Parade presented by Honda and the 101st Rose Bowl Game® serving as the first College Football Playoff Semifinal presented by Northwestern Mutual on New Year’s Day.

“Leading up to America’s New Year Celebration®, Rose Queen Madison Elaine Triplett and the six Rose Princesses will serve as ambassadors for the Tournament of Roses and the City of Pasadena,” said Tournament of Roses President Rich Chinen, who presented the crown to the queen.  “We are eager for Rose Queen Madison and each member of the Royal Court to share their inspiring stories with others and for the court to hear first-hand from the community about other meaningful stories.”

The Rose Queen and Royal Court were selected based upon a combination of qualities, including public speaking ability, poise, academic achievement and community involvement.

During the coronation ceremony, Chinen presented Rose Queen Madison with a Mikimoto crown featuring more than 600 cultured pearls and six carats of diamonds. Prior to the public event, all members of the Royal Court received a pearl necklace from Mikimoto.

Rose Queen Madison Elaine Triplett, 17, attends Marshall Fundamental High School and lives in Altadena.  Madison is the chair of the Pasadena City Youth Council and president of the Black Student Union.  She also is active with the student government at her high school.  Madison is part of the varsity volleyball and track and field teams and enjoys watching movies and tumbling in her free time.  She plans to attend college to study economics with a minor in French and aspires to develop a non-profit organization that educates minorities on financial literacy.  Madison is the daughter of Reggie Triplett and Jouslynn Griffin and has two siblings:  Reggie Jr. and Paige.

The Rose Princesses are Mackenzie Joy Byers, 18, Pasadena City College; Gabrielle Ann Current, 18, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy;  Veronica Sara Mejia, 19, Pasadena City College; Bergen Louise Onufer, 17, Mayfield Senior School; Simona K. Shao, 17, Westridge School; and Emily Alicia Olivas Stoker, 17, Temple City High School.