Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of being a Princess on the 2026 Rose Court. Holding this position has been one of the most unique and special experiences–attending around 100 community events, riding down Colorado Blvd. in the 137th Rose Parade, becoming best friends with my fellow court members, and building a second family with our committee members in the process.
We were announced on the south lawn of the Tournament House to hundreds of people, and immediately began to have interviews with major news outlets. I was honestly still in shock, as I couldn’t believe I was one of seven girls selected from 28 talented finalists. I loved being able to speak with journalists, take pictures with my family, and speak with all the people who came out to support me!
(Sophia Ren)
We had a welcome lunch at Fogo de Chao. There, I got to meet my fellow court members, the Queen & Court Committee members, and eat delicious food! There were so many fun icebreakers set up for us, and I had such an amazing time speaking with everyone.
(Sophia Ren)
We went to Disneyland the very next day. Our call time was 4 a.m., so it was a super early morning for us. We had the privilege of being with Disney Plaids (VIP tour guides), where we got to cut every single line, and had a ton of special experiences. We went on 16 rides, and got to ride the Incredicoaster twice without stopping! On the ride back home, my entire car was sleeping (except for our driver/Queen & Court Committee Chair Mr. Rodriguez). After Disneyland, we immediately began our one month training, which included: media, etiquette, leadership, and speech training. The Tournament House became our second home.
(Sophia Ren)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson was announced as the Grand Marshal for the 2026 Rose Parade. The parade’s theme was “The Magic in Teamwork” which was extremely fitting, given his accomplishments and sportsmanship on and off the court. We actually all predicted it would be him, but were still shocked when he was announced and when he shook all of our hands. I got to ask him a question about how he balances his fame with finding time for himself and his family, and told him about the time I saw him in The Bahamas nine years prior.
(Sophia Ren)
Over the course of two months, we attended over 100 events. Riding on the Goodyear Blimp was my favorite. We spent 30 minutes above Long Beach, and I was even spotted in the blimp by my friend who was at the beach! We all had so much fun, and got to eat In-N-Out Burger after. It was definitely the perfect way to end an unforgettable day.
(Sophia Ren )
We were especially busy during Winter Break. One highlight (from our multiple events every day) was being the Grand Marshal of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. We got to ride on the biggest yacht, promote the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game to all the spectators from the shore, and eat some great food.
(Sophia Ren )
Princess Livia de Paula from Temple City High School and me on the Grand Marshal yacht! We both had so much fun and created such great memories.
(Sophia Ren )
We had tons of events leading up to New Years Day. I met one of the hosts of College GameDay, television journalist Rece Davis. I was super excited to give him a rose sticker (one of the customs the court does), and expressed my excitement for the upcoming game. He kept the rose sticker on his suit when he was live on ESPN later that day! Personally, I was rooting for the Hoosiers and Fernando Mendoza and couldn’t wait enough to watch them play.
(Sophia Ren )
The day of the Rose Parade, our call time was 1:30 AM. While we were tired, the adrenaline and excitement we had definitely kept us going. It was pouring that day, so we all wore ponchos and had umbrellas to protect our dresses and crowns. It was the first time it had rained on the parade in 20 years, so we definitely made history. We also had a fire alarm go off while we were all rushing and scrambling to get ready at the Tournament House, which has never happened before. Despite this minor setback, we were all ready for the float and fun day ahead!
(Sophia Ren )
Being on the float was a surreal experience. I couldn’t believe the number of people that were in the stands and along the street. We all tried our best to wave to every spectator, which meant we were waving to people in tents, on top of roofs, in cars, and in bleachers. Being able to see people’s faces light up when we acknowledged them was such an amazing feeling. People held up signs saying that they flew across the world to see us, while others gave us the signature princess wave. A group of people even yelled out from the grandstands that they loved my brother, Charlie (I still don’t know who they were, and neither does my brother). My favorite moment was definitely seeing my family at TV Corner (Orange Grove Blvd. and Colorado Blvd.) I completely forgot about the composure we had to contain, and waved and smiled as much as I could. That moment was caught on major streaming outlets, and it’s so fun to talk about and rewatch.
(Sophia Ren )
As soon as we reached the end of the parade route, we rushed to the Rose Bowl for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal. Our green room was in the Indiana University tunnel, and I was lucky enough to give high fives to a majority of the players. I also made direct eye contact with Fernando Mendoza! It was so fun to see all the Indiana players up close and wish them luck before the game.
(Sophia Ren )
In the Indiana tunnel, we met up with Magic Johnson. He was walking onto the field with us, and we were all introduced on the jumbotron. Being on the sidelines of such a historic game was an amazing experience, and all of us had so much fun.
(Sophia Ren )
We still had some events to attend after the Rose Parade! Float Fest was definitely a favorite. We got to see all of the floats, including our own! We sat in ours for the last time, and took a ton of photos. And of course, the day ended with some more In-N-Out Burger.
(Sophia Ren)
As my time as a 2026 Rose Court Princess comes to an end, I often find myself reflecting on this life changing experience. I became so close with the other court members so quickly, and we all learned so much about each other. Our Queen & Court Committee Members treated us like royalty, driving us across all of Los Angeles County, buying us snacks, and always making sure we were having a good time. I missed being with my immediate family due to long training days and events, but I created a second family with these new friends and incredible chaperones. I learned how to properly pass a bread basket at a formal dinner. I played a fake piano with my heels at the Jonathan Club. I had amazing conversations with industry professionals and celebrities. I was interviewed live on air multiple times. I passed out hundreds of rose stickers. I ate thousands of popcorn kernels. I established a reputation as the biggest food lover of the group. I had multiple police escorts. I held a parrot. I shared a twin-sized bed with two other court members during our retreat. I met a Michael Jackson impersonator. I was in a fashion show. I rode in a two-story horse-drawn carriage. I had more experiences than I ever could have imagined.
My role as a Princess has truly been unforgettable. Thank you to the Queen & Court Committee, my fellow Rose Court members, The Pasadena Tournament of Roses, our sponsors, and organizations we held events with, for the sense of community I felt every day, and the never ending hospitality. Thank you to my family, friends, and teachers for being understanding of my absence. This experience could not have been possible without all of you!
