As the Tournament of Roses gears up for its 136th parade, former tennis champion and advocate for gender equality, Billie Jean King, has been announced as the grand marshal for the 2025 parade in Pasadena, according to KTLA. King, age 80, will lead the vibrant pageantry that is synonymous with New Year's traditions on January 1, 2025, upholding a legacy that not only includes her formidable achievements in athletics but also her enduring commitment to social causes.
The announcement, made on Monday, was met with enthusiasm by King who will take part in pregame ceremonies during the 111th Rose Bowl Game, "It celebrates life's best moments," King said of the parade's theme, which is aptly dubbed "Best Day Ever!" — she reflected on the parade's resonance and broader historical significance, marking an intersection of nostalgia and a public platform where she has long championed inclusivity, according to information provided by NBC Los Angeles.
King's appointment also carries symbolic weight, given her ownership stakes in organizations like Angel City FC and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and her victory in the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes," against Bobby Riggs remains a highlight of her storied career; this alongside her other achievements, including 39 Grand Slam titles — 12 in singles competition, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles, which solidified her status as a sports icon and pillar of the gender-equality movement she passionately advocates for, reiterated in reports from FOX LA.
The Rose Parade precedes the much-anticipated Rose Bowl, a staple in college football tradition, with King as grand marshal, it's expected the 2025 installment will not only spotlight a storied athletic career but will also serve as a celebration of the strides taken towards inclusivity in sports — setting the tone for what many hope will indeed be the "Best Day Ever!" As for the Rose Queen, a selection is set to be made from the seven finalists, hailing from various local high schools, the selection of whom bolsters anticipation for the grand reveal and the festivities that will envelop Pasadena on January 1, 2025, as detailed in initial coverage by KTLA.
