It’s almost New Year’s—and for many Americans, that means the beloved Pasadena Rose Parade is very close.
This year marks the 133rd anniversary of the California Rose Parade tradition, and the theme is “Dream. Believe. Achieve.” It has inspired some stunning floating designs that are sure to amaze any show-goer.
But for Torrance, which celebrates 66 years since the introduction of Rose Parade, 2022 is very special: Melanie Perez, a recent graduate of Torrance High School, is responsible for the city’s extravagant design.
When 18-year-old Perez heard at the last minute from her college career advisor that submissions for floating concept art were open—with only one week left to visualize, draft, and draw her letter, Perez got together and created the art that would ultimately be the winner.
Each year, the Torrance Rose Float Association launches a citywide float design competition at all five high schools in the city. Perez, according to Carol Giles, a TRFA secretary, is the fifth Torrance history student to design the city’s Rose Parade buoy.
“We really try to encourage our young people to engage in different ways,” Gill said in an interview. “He was excited. That is the goal every year.”
Perez, who is now a first-year student at UC Berkeley majoring in chemical biology and art, was inspired by her floating design from an art project she did when she was a freshman at Torrance High School.
The project required each student to research and paint an endangered species—Perez chose a black panther—and from watching her classmate’s art, she realized that most people aren’t aware of the amount of endangered animals around the world.
Perez’s final float design, titled Personification of Nature, features a wide range of colors, a majestic African elephant, black-footed ferrets, scaly anteaters, and Lear’s Macaw – all at risk of dying due to habitat destruction, pollution, and rainforest destruction.
“From the buoyancy, I hope everyone knows about the endangered species and forgets nothing about it,” Perez said in an interview. “We as people on this earth must do at least something to contribute to their assistance.”
The float also contains a huge tree, which Perez says is meant to show the beauty of the animals’ habitat. There is also a waterfall on the front of the buoy, which Perez said is meant to remind of the beauty and importance of nature conservation.
TRFA, which took over the Rose Parade’s floating and building offerings for the city of Torrance 50 years ago, says the Perez flotation is an embodiment of this year’s Tournament of Roses theme.
“The majestic African elephant and colorful toucan highlight the warmth and beauty of the animal kingdom while promoting awareness of endangered species, the dangers they face, and the realities of habitat destruction,” TRFA wrote. “This inspiring show encourages everyone that if we believe this, we can realize the dream of providing protection and safety to animals and the places they call home.”
Perez will spend the next several days recreating her drawing with the help of the Fiesta Parade Floats – a team of talented, award-winning, veteran Rose Parade designers based in Irwindale. FPF boasts an “impressive track record with the highest award winning rate in the Rose Parade floating construction industry,” according to their website.
“I remember just getting the shock of the stars,” Perez said of the first time she saw the buoy in the early stages of its construction. “It’s so amazing, I don’t know how to describe the feeling. I get goosebumps just knowing that something I drew on paper is being created.”
But, the Torrance Rose Parade Association still needs volunteer interior designers. Giles said the recent surge in coronavirus cases has caused some volunteers to drop out.
She encourages those interested in helping Perez see her vision of floating Torrance through to the end to visit the TRFA website and sign up to volunteer.
But despite the hiring challenges, Gill remains confident this year’s rollout will be a success. Gill noted that each student-designed wagon has won awards in the past.
Perez, who will be riding her catwalk on Colorado Street, is confident Torrance has a chance of winning this year’s award as well.
“I think so,” Perez replied when asked if she thought her buoyancy would win any awards. “A council member told me that every time a student designs a buoy, he wins. So, I hope I do.”
The 2022 Rose Parade, The Rose Parade, will be broadcast live on January 1, at 8 AM PST. The broadcast will be broadcast on ABC, NBC, KTLA-5, Hallmark Channel, RFD TV and Univision. Still, TRFA has tickets — which include a round-trip bus ride to the show from Charles H. Wilson Park — still available for purchase, Giles said. Ticket information can be found on the association’s website.