Rose Queen(R) Natalie Crowned at Official Coronation Ceremony

November 4, 2009

Natalie Anne Innocenzi Named 92nd Rose Queen(R) for the 2010 Tournament of Roses, Themed 2010: A Cut Above The Rest

PASADENA, Calif., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® crowned the 92nd Rose Queen, Natalie Innocenzi, today in an official Coronation ceremony at the Pasadena Convention Center presented by Citizens Business Bank. Queen Natalie was officially crowned by 17-year-old Dominic DiSano, son of recently deceased President of the 121st Tournament of Roses, Gary DiSano.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091104/LA05791)

"We were so pleased and proud that Dominic could stand in for his father on this very special day," said Tournament of Roses Acting President, Jeff Throop. "We are also honored to have Queen Natalie and the six Rose Princesses join our Tournament of Roses family. They have already proven they are a cut above the rest through the dedication, enthusiasm and poise they have exhibited as ambassadors for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses."

The seven ladies of the Royal Court also debuted the beautiful one-shouldered gowns provided by designer Tadashi Shoji. "The gowns are gorgeous," exclaimed the newly crowned Queen. "We absolutely love them and truly feel like royalty in them."

Rose Queen Natalie Anne Innocenzi, 17, is an Arcadia resident and a senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. She is captain of the junior varsity tennis team at her school and participates in track and field. She is president of the Amnesty International Club and as a member of the board for the Alzheimer's Foundation of America Teens, Natalie started an Alzheimer's Awareness week at her school. She has lived in the Pasadena-area her entire life and plans to stay in California for college where she'll study occupational or physical therapy with an emphasis in gerontology. Her parents are Robert and Jeannette Innocenzi. She has one sibling, Kevin, 14.

As an official ambassador of the Tournament of Roses, Queen Natalie will participate in approximately 150 community and media functions along with Rose Princesses Katherine Margarita Hernandez, 18, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; June Ko, 17, Arcadia High School; Lauren Samantha Rogers, 17, Blair High School; Kinsey Elizabeth Stuart, 18, Pasadena City College; Ashley Renee Thaxton, 17, John Marshall Fundamental High School; Michelle Louise Van Wyk, 17, La Canada High School.

The Rose Diaries

Today's Coronation will provide material for another online entry for The Rose Diaries. Produced for the first time this year, The Rose Diaries will give a behind-the-scenes look at the 2010 Rose Queen and her Court as they proceed from initial tryouts to the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game on New Year's Day. The Rose Diaries, which can be viewed at www.tournamentofroses.com/therosediaries, feature highlights from the Royal Court tryouts and will include footage of Rose Queen Natalie Innocenzi and her six Royal Court members as they attend a variety of social and media functions as ambassadors of the Tournament and the city of Pasadena. The first of the videos are now live on www.tournamentofroses.com/therosediaries. The Rose Diaries is also on Twitter @therosediaries.

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade® and Rose Bowl Game® presented by Citi. The 121st Rose Parade themed 2010: A Cut Above The Rest will take place Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, at 8 a.m. (PST) featuring majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands. Following the Rose Parade, the 96th Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi will kick off at 2:10 p.m. and feature an exciting match-up between two of the top teams in the country.

On January 7, the Tournament of Roses will also host the No. 1 and No.2 BCS-ranked teams in the 2010 Citi BCS National Championship Game. The Game will kick off at 5 p.m. (PST) from the historic Rose Bowl Stadium. For additional information on the Tournament of Roses please visit the official website at www.tournamentofroses.com.

The Rose Queen and Royal Court Style and Beauty Team

    --  Rose Queen and Royal Court official wardrobe is provided by Macy's.
    --  Flowers are provided by Jacob Maarse, preferred florist of the
        Tournament of Roses.
    --  Rose Queen and Royal Court gowns are provided by Tadashi Shoji.
    --  Rose Queen and Royal Court makeup is provided by Lancome.

    --  Rose Queen and Royal Court hairstyles and nail care are provided by
        Amadeus Spa.

     CONTACT:  PASADENA TOURNAMENT             HILL AND KNOWLTON, INC.
               OF ROSES ASSOCIATION            David Gordon
               Caryn Eaves or Vanessa Flores   (949) 223-2314
               (626) 449-4100

SOURCE Tournament of Roses