Best friends share the joy

It was a long way from playing runway model as children. But, as they shared the lipstick and dress-up gowns as little girls, Rose Princesses Kelsey MacDougall and Dusty Gibbs shared the glory Tuesday morning as Gibbs was proclaimed the Pasadena Tournament of Roses’ 90th Rose Queen.

“Playing runway model was kind of like preparation for this; although our faces aren’t covered with lipstick now,” Gibbs joked as she and MacDougall laughed about their shared childhood memories after Tuesday’s announcement.

“Kelsey had an amazing amount of dress-up clothes and we have some great pictures and home videos of us parading up the runway,” Gibbs said. “I’m so glad we can share this [being on the Rose Court] together now.”

Gibbs, a senior at Arcadia High School, attended school in La Cañada through 7th grade. So, she said, she feels she’s representing her friends and family in La Cañada on the Rose Court, as well as her now-hometown of Arcadia and the rest of the Pasadena area.

She and MacDougall, a senior at La Cañada High School, have been best friends since the two were both 18 months old in Kinder Gym together at the Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA with their mothers Cindy Roberts and Teryl MacDougall. The two girls attended pre-school together at St. George’s Episcopal Pre-School and then stayed best friends at St. Bede the Venerable School, and the friendship continued after Gibbs and her family moved to Arcadia.

MacDougall said her friend — whose real name is Dusty, but whom MacDougall calls “Dust,” — deserves the title of Rose Queen. “There couldn’t be a better queen,” MacDougall said. “She’s a warm, beautiful person and I’m so proud of her.”

The girls were delighted to both be selected from the more than 1,100 Pasadena-area girls who tried out for the prestigious royal court. The court was selected based on public speaking ability, poise, academic achievement and community involvement.

“Any one of you would make a wonderful queen,” said 2007 Rose Queen Mary McCluggage, as she addressed the princesses Tuesday morning before handing her title over to Gibbs. The official coronation will be at 12:45 p.m., Oct. 25, at the Tournament House in Pasadena.