Queen Natalie and the six Rose Princesses were selected based upon a combination of qualities, including public speaking ability, poise, academic achievement and community involvement.

"2010 Rose Queen Natalie Innocenzi and our six princesses are perfect ambassadors for the Tournament of Roses, and the city of Pasadena. They are talented, graceful and stellar examples of what it is to be A Cut Above the Rest," said Tournament of Roses Acting President Jeff Throop. "We are delighted to have Queen Natalie lead our court and reign over the 121st Rose Parade and 96th Rose Bowl Game."

Rose Queen Natalie Anne Innocenzi, 16, is an Arcadia resident and a senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. She is captain of the junior varsity tennis team at her school and participates in track and field. She is president of the Amnesty International Club and as a member of the board for the Alzheimer's Foundation of America Teens, Natalie started an Alzheimer's Awareness week at her school. She has lived in the Pasadena-area her entire life and plans to stay in California for college where she'll study occupational or physical therapy with an emphasis in gerontology. Her parents are Robert and Jeannette Innocenzi. She has one sibling, Kevin, 14.

As an official ambassador of the Tournament of Roses, Queen Natalie will participate in approximately 150 community and media functions along with Rose Princesses Katherine Margarita Hernandez (#352), 18, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; June Ko (#427), 17, Arcadia High School; Lauren Samantha Rogers (#218), 17, Blair High School; Kinsey Elizabeth Stuart (#469), 18, Pasadena City College; Ashley Renee Thaxton (#92), 17, John Marshall Fundamental High School; Michelle Louise Van Wyk (#341), 17, La Canada High School.

Queen Natalie will officially receive her crown from Tournament of Roses Acting President Jeff Throop at the Coronation Ceremony on November 4 at the Pasadena Convention Center.

The Rose Queen and the six princesses are carried down the parade route on a float built by Fiesta Parade Floats and sponsored by Macy's. "Presenting the Royal Court" features a representation of the queen's crown at the front of the float and a Roman colonnade at the rear. Queen Natalie Innocenzi presides, joined by Princesses Katherine Hernandez, June Ko, Lauren Samantha Rogers, Kinsey Elizabeth Stuart, Ashley Renee Thaxton and Michelle Louise Van Wyk.

The 121st Rose Parade came to a peaceful, sunny close at 11:47 a.m. at Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards in Pasadena, capping an extravaganza that featured snowboarding dogs, soul-eyed military mules and an estimated 18 million flowers and 5,000 gallons of glue.

The parade was led by grand marshal Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, the hero pilot who guided a US Airways plane to a safe landing in the Hudson River last January after a bird strike knocked out its engines.

After a tough year that left many wishing for uplifting news and more heroes, spectators said they appreciated the choice of "Sully."

"How wonderful to have someone as grand marshal who saved lives. It goes right along with the theme of the parade," said Margo Bishop of San Clemente, who comes to the parade every year with her friend Jan Horner of Altadena.

The 2010 parade, with the theme of "A cut above the rest," honored "everyday heroes."

The lineup offered plenty of other champions to admire, some in the flesh and some made of plants.

The Subway Restaurants float presented portraits of famous athletes, crafted of onion and poppy seed. The West Covina entry honored the Tuskegee Airmen and featured 15 veterans from the original World War II fighter group of African American military men -- as well as airplanes made of carnations and eucalyptus.

Perched atop China Airlines' float was "Nezha," aka "The Third Prince," a character from Chinese mythology who subdued demons.

Not to mention the hundreds of horses and tuba players who marched with the 41 floats, 22 marching bands and 23 equestrian units.

This year, the parade and the Rose Bowl game that follows honor the late Gary J. DiSano, the president of the Tournament of Roses who died Sept. 20, just three months before he would have presided over the parade. His wife and children travelled the parade route in the president's car.