Simona K. Shao (L), a 17-year-old Chinese-American receives congratulations from her parents after being selected as one of the seven princesses for the 2015 Rose Parade Royal Court in Pasadena, California of US on Monday, October 6, 2014. As the only Chinese-American among the seven members, Shao was selected at the end of a month-long process that began with a total of 700 Pasadena-area girls who participated in the Tournament of Roses Royal Court tryouts. The seven were chosen from a pool of 31 finalists. The Rose Queen for the event will be announced on October 21. [Photo: China News Service/ Mao Jianjun]