HomeCity NewsSan Marino High School Royal Princess Holds Court

San Marino High School Royal Princess Holds Court

By Stacy Lee

San Marino High School senior Rachelle Chacal Renee Liu had a whirlwind two weeks since her name was announced earlier this month to be on the prestigious seven-member Tournament of Roses Royal Court.

“It’s been fun,” the 17-year-old said. “It’s been really busy.”

She said the princesses have had a lot of time together to bond.

Rachelle said she always watched the Rose Parade when she was growing up.

“We always looked up to the princesses,” she said. “My interest was really sparked around two years ago when I was friends with one of the former princesses Elyssia Widjaja. She would talk to me a lot about it. She told me it was really an incredible leadership opportunity and it’s an incredible way to give back to the community. It’s really awesome to represent the Tournament of Roses.”

Rachelle said she was surprised when her name was called.

“They first announced our school and we had five girls as finalists,” she said. “At that point, I was happy because I thought, ‘Someone from our school is going to make it.’ But I didn’t really expect for it to be me.”

Rachelle lives in Arcadia and is the daughter of Daniel and Chacal Liu. She is president and founder of the LEO (Leadership, Experience, Opportunity). Rachelle is captain of both the Speech & Debate Team and the Mock Trial Team. She is director of Kids Play for Kids and the music group Holiday Angels. Rachelle’s pasttimes include hiking and singing as well as playing the Chinese harp. She aspires to become a doctor and work with Doctors Without Borders.

Rachelle and other past princesses are not the only San Marino connection to the Tournament of Roses. The 2015-16 Tournament of Roses President Mike Matthiessen went through the San Marino School District and his wife Ann works at Carver Elementary. The 2014-15 Tournament President Richard Chinen is a former San Marino resident and 2013-14 Tournament President Scott Jenkins was former president of the San Marino School Board.

Rachelle was one of seven young women chosen from a group of 39 finalists, which was narrowed down from more than 900 Pasadena-area teens. The Tournament of Roses Queen and Court Committee chose candidates based on poise, speaking ability, academic achievement, and community and school involvement.

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