On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Irene Maddox, a 17-year-old student at Eagle Rock High School, was officially crowned as the 108th Rose Queen. The coronation was presided over by Terry Madigan, the president of the Tournament of Roses, and marked the conclusion of a months-long selection process that began with the opening of applications in August. The event took place on the front steps of the Tournament House and served as a significant moment in the history of the annual celebration.
The ceremony was attended by 19 past Rose Queens, adding a layer of historical continuity to the proceedings. As Madigan announced Maddox's name, the new queen displayed visible emotion, gasping and covering her mouth before placing the Mikimoto crown on her head. This distinctive headpiece features more than 600 cultured pearls and six carats of diamonds, symbolizing the prestigious nature of the role.
Maddox becomes the first Rose Court member to represent Eagle Rock High School since the 1960s. She expressed hope that her selection would inspire more students from her school and the broader Los Angeles Unified School District to participate in future selection processes. During the ceremony, she noted that she felt a strong sense of connection to the city, recalling her experiences growing up attending summer camps, swimming lessons, and visiting the local library in Pasadena.
The 2027 Rose Court was fully announced last month and includes seven members from various Pasadena area schools. In addition to Maddox, the court consists of Evita Bridge from Mayfield Senior School, Tessa Choi from La Cañada High, Daniela Guzmán from Arcadia High, Maria Teresa McDonald from Thurgood Marshall Secondary School, Elizabeth Rweyemamu from Polytechnic School, and Lucy Wendling from San Marino High School. Applicants from 41 different schools in the Pasadena area had participated in the interview and selection process.
Each member of the 2027 Rose Court has received a $7,500 academic scholarship. They will serve as ambassadors for the Tournament of Roses in the period leading up to the parade, participating in various community events. Maddox, who will lead the court in these duties, described her fellow members as close friends and looked forward to the preparation period as a cherished memory.
Maddox is a senior at Eagle Rock High School with a diverse set of interests. She serves as the editor-in-chief of broadcast journalism for her school's newspaper, the Eagle’s Scream, and is the founder and president of the school's Korean Culture Club. Her athletic background includes competition in figure skating, as well as participation in swimming and volleyball. Fluent in both English and Korean, she cites reading as her primary passion.
The ceremony featured musical performances by the Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets, who played from a second-floor balcony. The group will also march ahead of the Rose Court float on parade day. The event was streamed live on the Tournament of Roses YouTube channel, allowing a wider audience to witness the crowning.
A special highlight of the ceremony was the appearance of Mary Rutte Wallace, the oldest living Rose Queen at age 98. Crowned in 1945, Wallace was escorted down the steps by her daughter and received cheers from the crowd. Her presence underscored the long-standing heritage of the title, which dates back to 1905.
The upcoming parade, scheduled for Friday, January 1, 2027, will be the 138th edition of the event. The theme for this year's parade is 'Welcome,' a choice made by Madigan. While the grand marshal has not yet been announced, Maddox expressed pride in representing a city that has been welcoming to her throughout her life. She aims to serve as a welcoming figure for young people as she and the court ride their float down the parade route.
