Regal Rose Court Emerges From the Pre-Dawn Chaos

Rose Queen Kristina Kaye Smith and her six princesses straggled sleepily through the early morning darkness into the ornate Tournament House in rumpled jeans and shirttails.

In five hours they would glide down Colorado Boulevard before a million onlookers and more than 100 million television viewers.

And now the seven giggling young women, bemoaning their chipped nail polish and lack of sleep, were about to undergo a four-hour transformation into a gown-clad, perfectly manicured regal court.

As they ascended the stairs to the Queen and Princesses Room, with gold walls and carpet and mini-chandeliers, the scene became chaotic. The court, three hairdressers, two makeup artists and myriad tournament officials and their wives milled about.

“I look awful,” groaned Princess Suzanne Walter, 19, a Pasadena City College coed. “Can you put some more coverup on my zits?”

Tournament officials--all men in white suits--bustled in and out of the room, searching for seven matching post-parade outfits to be taken to the Rose Bowl.

In two director’s chairs, Hollywood makeup artists applied layer upon layer of foundation and blush to highlight the women’s features for the television cameras.

Blow dryers droned in the background.

“My hair looks retarded,” grumbled 17-year-old Princess Stephanie Engler. The La Canada High School senior poked at her lacquered coif: “I don’t know what they (the hairdressers) did to it.”

Queen Kristina struggled with her four-pound crown.

“I’m trying to get my bangs to puff up,” she said, one hand on the tottering five-inch tiara and the other pushing at her curls. “It’s so heavy, I’m going to have a headache by the end of the parade.”

After repeated requests from tournament officials to hurry up, Princess Amanda Hendrickson, 17, a San Marino High School student, plopped in a chair and sighed. “This is too confusing. I can’t handle this.”

After three months of “protocol training,” non-stop tours and many nights of little sleep, the court was about to make its most celebrated appearance.

The girls are accompanied on all official appearances by “the men in white,” as they call the tournament officials, and are drilled for weeks on the proper walk, talk and dress that befits the Tournament of Roses Royal Court.

“We were given a whole list of do’s and don’ts,” Smith confided with a grin. “Don’t chew gum, don’t point, don’t gossip. I looked at it once, I think. And I laughed.”

Remember to Wave

All that purebred behavior was taxing, they say, and for some the Rose Parade was the simplest part of their reign.

“We don’t have to speak, we don’t have to walk. All we have to do is wave,” said Christine Gillins, a 17-year-old senior at La Canada High School.

Being a member of the Royal Court is an incomparable honor to these young women, a once in a lifetime Cinderella story come true, complete with furs, a new wardrobe and national television coverage.

“It’s really special, especially if you live around here,” said Karen Sanchez, a 19-year-old sophomore at Pasadena City College. “I tried out two years ago and made it to the finals. So many girls try out and I really didn’t think I had a chance this time.”

The Giggles

As daylight approached, their makeup and hair done, the young women joked among themselves.

“Glide, girls, glide,” mimicked Walter, parodying their protocol training. “Keep your knees bent so your head doesn’t bob.” She demonstrated a slightly bow-legged walk for the giggly court.

Gillins and Sanchez amused themselves by break dancing. “I don’t think this has ever been done on this carpet before,” said Gillins, her legs flailing as she tried to spin on her bottom.

Their silliness was interrupted by one of the “men in white.” “You’ve got seven minutes to the first interview,” he announced.

Then, in a flurry of white, purple and blue, the women scrambled into their gowns and the court was ready. Queen Kristina, in solid white, led the flock, with the princesses in gowns of blue and purple, roses in hand, to meet the press.

After 45 minutes of posing for photographers and talking to reporters, the queen and her court glided down Orange Grove Boulevard to their float, where they were helped aboard and fastened in with seat belts.

They were picture perfect in their sweeping gowns. As long as no one saw the long underwear and sweat pants carefully tucked above their satin pumps.