Rose princess Dusty Gibbs has been given a royal promotion.
The Arcadia High School senior was awarded the regal title of Rose Queen during a ceremony on the manicured lawn of the Tournament House in Pasadena Tuesday morning October 16, 2007. Gibbs, who will be the 90th queen to reign over the Rose Parade Jan. 1, 2008, said she was in shock when she heard her name announced by Tournament President CL Keedy.
"It's one of those things, you can't hear anything around you except for the voice on the microphone," Gibbs said, as she was surrounded by the six Rose princesses, wearing identical black-and-white checkered skirts, green turtlenecks and black blazers.
"I just love my girls, my sisters that are here next to me. It's been amazing going through this together."
Lance Tibbet, Chair of the Queen and Court Committee, said Gibbs emerged as a natural leader during the previous week of non-stop princess activities.
"Dusty has a personal magnetism that draws people to her. She's the consummate team player and cheerleader," he said. During an all-princess game of volleyball at a retreat to Balboa Island over the weekend, the varsity softball player spent just as much time encouraging her less-athletically inclined teamates than anything else.
The 90th Tournament of Roses Queen was announced at Tournament House in Pasadena Tuesday morning Oct. 16, 2007. Left to Right: Princesses Courtney Rubin, Chloe Ghoogassian, Zena Brown, Rose Queen Dusty Gibbs, Princesses Katie Merrill, Gaelen Stanford-Moore and Kelsey MacDougall.
The 2008 Tournament of Roses Royal Court was announced last week. The six princesses are: Zena Brown, 18, Alverno High School; Chloe Ghoogassian, 17, Pasadena High School; Kelsey MacDougall, 17, La Canada High School; Katie Merrill, 17, Pasadena High School; Courtney Rubin, 17, San Marino High School; and Gaelen Stanford-Moore, 17, South Pasadena High School.
The 119th Rose Parade themed Passport to the World's Celebrations will take place Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008 at 8 a.m. Following the Rose Parade is the 94th Rose Bowl Game.