Fame has its perks, and for Gina Torres, one of those came in 2021 when she was named a Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. Equal parts a New Year’s celebration and a lead-in to the Rose Bowl, the parade has been happening in various forms since 1890. Every year, a Grand Marshal is named by the president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association — the group that organizes the event.
In 2020, as has happened on several rare occasions over the decades, multiple Grand Marshals were named. Torres held the honor alongside Hollywood legend Rita Moreno and Olympic gold medalist gymnast Laurie Hernandez, with the theme of the parade that year being “The Power of Hope.” Speaking with the Los Angeles Times, Torres shared how pleased she was to be selected as Grand Marshal. “As I’ve learned more and more and more about the Rose Parade, and the 936 volunteers that commit themselves every year for … decades, it’s a team,” she said. “I am so honored to be part of this team.”
Indeed, earning the title of Rose Parade Grand Marshal put Torres in quite illustrious company. Over the years that the event has been running, past Grand Marshals have included Shirley Temple, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Pelé, Carol Burnett, George Lucas, and, in 2022, LeVar Burton.
