Why are you running for Rose princess?

I want to be a Rose princess because I’ve looked up to them all my life, and I think it would be a really great experience before I leave for college to give back to the city. They’ve got a really extensive travel schedule, and it would be a really cool experience to get before leaving.

What do you hope to get from running/being a Rose princess?

I hope to become more articulate, be more comfortable with myself, talk to all different kinds of people, and then be able to relate and give back to the community.

What does the Rose Festival mean to you?

Personally, the Rose Festival has been a part of my life even before I moved to Portland; my grandma lived here, so I had always gone to the Rose Festival and had a good time and it’s a great way to hang out with friends and family in a new setting and all of Portland comes together, which is really cool.

What has been your favorite part so far about the process?

I think the best part was the dress selection. We got to pick a free dress out of Abby’s Closet, and it’s kind of like a “Say Yes to the Dress.” All the other girls were there, saying, “Oh, I like that one,” “I don’t like that one,” and that was really fun. And I came out with a free dress.