“I’m crying, this is amazing, I have so many emotions right now,” said Stillitano, holding back tears
Naomi Stillitano of Arcadia, center, is crowned 2024 Rose Queen at the Tournament House in Pasadena, Oct. 27, 2023 Naomi Stillitano, center, and her Rose Court react to her being chosen for the 2024 Rose Queen at the Tournament House in Pasadena on Friday, October 27, 2023.
The 2024 Rose Queen Naomi Stillitano and the Rose Court pose on the steps of the Tournament House in Pasadena on Friday, October 27, 2023 after her crowning. The 2024 Rose Queen Naomi Stillitano and the Rose Court pose on the steps of the Tournament House in Pasadena on Friday, October 27, 2023 after her crowning. Naomi Stillitano — an Italian-American senior at Arcadia High School with a love for dance, theater and swimming — was named the 135th Rose Queen on Oct. 27.
When asked how she plans to make her mark as queen, Stillitano said by ensuring her court maintains their close-knit bonds. As in years prior, participants in this year’s Royal Court were chosen based upon a combination of qualities, including public speaking ability, youth leadership, academic achievement, and community and school involvement.Rose Parade Rose Court crafts goodies for Pasadena Humane cats and dogs
“I woke up about two o’clock in the in the morning, tapped my wife to wake her up and I said the ‘theme is celebrating a world of music’ and then I said ‘please write it down,’ and thank God we did because neither one of us remember what I said in the morning,” he told amused audience members during the coronation ceremony.