The historic 2:30 p.m. coronation ceremony, which followed a private luncheon at the Tournament House on South Orange Grove Boulevard, saw Tournament of Roses President Mark Leavens name Queen Serena as the newest Rose Queen, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1905.
Queen Serena is a senior at Arcadia High School and lives in Arcadia. She is captain of the Congressional Debate Team, member of the Arcadia Speech and Debate Team and a member of the Arcadia Varsity Volleyball Team. Serena serves as a school site leadership representative, student tutor, and community volunteer at the Arcadia Public Library and Foothill Unity Center, and she has also taken part in legislative conferences advocating directly with state representatives. She is passionate about law and public policy, having recently interned at a law firm to gain hands-on experience, and hopes to pursue a career as a lawyer working toward justice and equality. Serena enjoys training pets, drawing, crocheting, and relaxing with a good Netflix show. She plans to study public policy with a minor in biomedical engineering at Stanford University, the University of Southern Californiaor UC Berkeley. Serena is the daughter of Hui Zhou and Wei Guo and has a younger sister, Alyssa.
She will serve alongside six Rose Court Princesses: Riya Gupta, California Institute of Technology (Caltech); Keiko Rakin, Alhambra High School; Olivia Hargrove, Pasadena City College; Sophia Bai Ren, Arcadia High School; Naira Elaine Wadley, John Muir High School; Livia Amy de Paula, Temple City High School.
The seven Rose Court finalists were chosen to reflect the diverse mosaic of backgrounds and cultures that define the Pasadena community. Each Court member received a $7,500 educational scholarship and will serve as an ambassador for both the Tournament of Roses and the greater Los Angeles area.
The Tournament of Roses provides comprehensive leadership development opportunities for Court members, offering specialized training to enhance their public speaking and presentation abilities, boost self-confidence, and refine their etiquette skills.
Beyond the pageantry, the program connects these young leaders with local community figures and provides opportunities for meaningful civic contribution. The coronation marks the beginning of an intensive period of community service and preparation, with Court members actively participating in the community, making positive contributions, and discovering ways to connect with local leaders.
The newly crowned Queen and her Court will make their official grand debut on January 1, 2026, when they travel down Colorado Boulevard before a worldwide audience as part of the 2026 Rose Parade.
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
