Rose Parade 2019: Meet a perfectly composed Royal Court
Thoughtfully join together a set of uniquely different notes and you can create a wonderful melody — and so it is with the seven young ladies of the 2019 Royal Court.
Each uniquely accomplished in their own lives, together they bring smiles everywhere they go, and their actions and words inspire young and old alike.
The Court — six princesses and the Rose Queen — represent their community as ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses and Pasadena during their reign. Starting soon after they were selected, they will attend more than 100 events until their float ride on New Year’s Day during the 130th Rose Parade. They also will attend the 105th Rose Bowl Game.
The experience bonds each Court together for life, and this 2019 group even has their own musical album building for the journey. Since the 2019 Rose Parade theme is “The Melody of Life,” each admitted they sing and enjoy music together. One of their theme songs is Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”
“At our retreat, where we first got to bond together, we had karaoke one night, and the Tournament board members chose ‘Sweet Caroline’ as our last song. We all got up and sang it together, that was really exciting,” said Princess Micaela McElrath.
“During our (Tournament of Roses) photo shoot, we all started singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ to loosen up,” said Princess Lauren Baydaline.
“We were playing the piano; it had been a long day,” adds Princess Helen Rossi. “At our coronation, we also played ‘Upside Down’ (by Jack Johnson), because it reminded us of our childhood and how things are changing, but at the same time it will be okay because we are all together.”
Each court member enjoys being involved with their community, both in and out of school, hoping to make a difference for those around them.
Lauren Michele Baydaline
Westridge School senior
The South Pasadena resident is secretary of the Associated Student Body, founder and head of Every Body Affinity, a Reading Rocks program volunteer at Hillsides and camp counselor at YMCA Glendale. She hopes to study biology in college.
Favorite family tradition: My family is Russian and we celebrate Russian Easter. Every year we go to my grandfather’s house and we fast all day. At midnight, we go to the Russian church and they bless the Russian cakes, and we eat Rus- sian food (at my grandfather’s). That’s something that my grandfather has been doing since he first came here from Syria and Russia, so that’s been a huge part of my family and my childhood, and a tradition that I really value.
Life theme song: “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles. Life has all these twists and turns and you never really know what’s going to happen, but knowing that there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel is really assuring. That song has really meant a lot to me, because my parents always told me things will always get better. I remember listening to it when I was 8 years old and dancing around the house with my mom. It’s such a crucial part of my childhood, but kind of like the life model that I carry with me, that things will always get better.
Ashley Symone Hackett
John Muir High senior
The Pasadena resident is a member of the Black Student Union, Pasadena Panthers Youth Cheer and Dance, John Muir Pep Squad, secretary of the Associated Student Body, as well as a dance trainer with Los Angeles County Tiny Tots, activities leader with the VA of Greater Los Angeles, and youth leader at Metropolitan Baptist Church. She plans to study human biology.
Favorite family tradition: On Christmas, my siblings and I will see who can sleep in the longest without being harrassed. Whoever sleeps in the longest gets dragged out of bed and they have to dance. We’re a dancing family. Even though this tradition is little, it was so much fun to spend time with family, especially now that my brother is in college and is moving out soon, so spending that quality time with my brother is really important.
Life theme song: I grew up in a Baptist church so I heard Gospel music a lot. Gospel music is my theme song. My favorite is “Jesus Can Work it Out.” I listened to that song throughout the whole Royal Court tryout process for good luck. Now I’m sticking to it, because if it’s in God’s will, it will happen, and if I have any problems, like the song says, Jesus will work it out.
Rucha S. Kadam
La Cañada High senior
The La Cañada Flintridge resident is member of her school’s varsity soccer team, Assistance League of Flintridge, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Space Academy, Local Control Accountability Plan Board, treasurer of Associated Student Body, Hackademia Director and LCUSD Technology and Computer Science Intern. She also is on the 2018 Miss La Cañada Flintridge Royal Court. She plans to study computer science or medi- cal science
Favorite family tradition: Both of my parents are from India. While we celebrate all of the traditional American holidays, we also celebrate some Indian holidays. One of my favorites is Diwali, which is the Festival of Lights. We light candles all around the house, and make lots of food and eat a lot. And we do Rangoli, which is colored powder that we make shapes and art from. It’s a very fun time of year.
Life theme song: “Pink and White” by Frank Ocean. In the song, not only is it absolutely beautiful, but he talks about realizing that there are some things in life that you just can’t control, and appreciating them, and understanding the beauty in the little things in life and in the world around you. I love that song.
Sherry Xiaorui Ma
San Marino High senior
The Temple City resident is editor-in-chief of her school’s Titanian yearbook, and president and founder of the school’s Make-A-Wish Club. She plans to study communication and media studies.
Favorite family tradition: I have an Asian background, so my family would celebrate Chinese New Year. We would spend the entire day making homemade dumplings. Our tradition was we would hide one clean penny in one of the dumplings and a candy in another one. When we ate that night, whoever ate the dumpling with the penny in it has luck in business and wealth, and whoever ate the one with the candy in it would have good luck. My mom has gotten the dumpling with the candy in it every single year. One year I told her she’s not allowed to eat any dumplings until (after dinner). … I ate plates and plates of dumplings and I didn’t get it. It wasn’t until all the guests went home and she finally sat down and had dumplings, the first one she ate had the candy in it, which felt crazy. It just showed me how blessed we are, whether it was real or not (that she would have luck).
Life theme song: “New York” by Alicia Keys. I was born in New York. My mom was a single mother. She struggled while trying to support me and my sister there. (The lyrics) are so inspiring.
Micaela Sue McElrath
Westridge School senior
The Pasadena resident is an after-school volunteer tutor with Stars, vice president of her 12th grade class, third-year peer to peer counselor, and a teacher assistant in a fourth grade classroom. She plans to study psychology, education and English.
Favorite family tradition: My mom’s side (of the family) is Mexican and they have a lot of traditional holidays such as Dia de Los Muertos. Just after Christmas, there is Three Kings Day, for the three kings who came to see Jesus when he was born. You leave your shoes outside (your home), and maybe hay for the donkeys, and supposedly there will be gifts in (the shoes) from the kings. In my case, I always expected dollars and it always happened to be just a quarter or two, and then some candy. My family doesn’t do it as much for me and my siblings anymore, just for our younger cousins. It was a fun, exciting thing to grow up with.
Life theme song: “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey. (My dad) always tells me with all my dreams, never give up on them. I have crazy ideas, whether it’s a service project or a goal, he always says, “Don’t stop believing.” I can do anything, with the support of my family.
Helen Susan Rossi
Flintridge Preparatory senior
The La Cañada Flintridge resident is a member of the cooking club, diversity club, Flint Leadership club, and a Flintridge Prep senior leader. She also is a senior Girl Scout (Troop 7331), Hathaway Sycamores tutor, Arthritis Foundation intern and Arthritis Foundation 2018 Youth Honoree. She plans to study business and psychology.
Favorite family tradition: I have a huge Italian family. Over the years we’ve spread out around the country and the world, and at Christmas it’s kind of our reunion to come home. One of our traditions, one of my favorites, is we teach each other different cuisines that have been learned from different parts of the world where they are coming from. From the Ukraine, someone came back and taught us how to make latkes. It’s exciting to see what we learn every year.
Life theme song: “Paradise” by Coldplay. The message of the song is about a young girl who at a young age thinks she can conquer the world one day, and as she grows up, she realizes that maybe that’s not too feasible, but every little thing that you do makes a difference. That has been the theme song of my life, as I’ve gotten
a little bit older, that the little things you do are the most important sometimes.