Miss Amanda Elaine Hiles, Queen of the Texas Rose Festival, speaks to guests at Rose Sunday. The event was held on Sunday, April 22 at the Rose Garden Center and marks the official start of rose season. (Jessica T. Payne/Tyler Paper)

As a dance captain in the Apache Belles, Tyler Junior College’s famous precision dance line that has performed throughout the world, Amanda Elaine Hiles is accustomed to the spotlight. 

But perhaps never in her life has the spotlight been so bright as during her current reign as queen of the 85th Texas Rose Festival, the annual celebration of the region’s rose-growing heritage and love of the rose as a blessing from God. 

The Texas Rose Festival begins Thursday and continues through Sunday. 

Since being announced as rose queen at the Winter Gala in January, Hiles, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Todd Matthew Hiles, has embraced her role as an ambassador for the city and the festival. 

She confidently spoke at Rose Sunday, a community celebration this spring at the Tyler Rose Garden that marks the start of the rose-growing season. She read to and encouraged children at special events this summer. She will be the primary focus at all of the events this week.

It seems like a lot to ask of a young woman in college, but Hiles is confident she is up for the challenge. 

“I just see it as another responsibility to take on,” she said. 

She said her lifelong training in dance, her experience as an Apache Belle and the support of her family have prepared her to reign as queen.

“I am used to having a very busy schedule,” Hiles said. “I take things one at a time. My dad has always told me that whatever you are doing, do it 100 percent, and that’s what I always try to do.”

The privilege of being in the Rose Festival and representing the community that she loves is “in my blood,” she said.

FAMILY TRADITION  

Participating in the Texas Rose Festival is a tradition in the Hiles family that dates back decades. 

Her mother, Stacey Hardin Hiles, was a lady-in-waiting in the Queen’s Court in 1986 when she was in college. She later served as one of the hundreds of volunteers who give countless hours to make the festival happen. She has been part of the large team that organizes and works backstage during the Queen’s Coronation ceremonies.

Amanda Hiles served as the trainbearer to Rose Queen Emily Austin in 2009. When she was in the second grade, she was one of the junior hostesses at the Queen’s Tea.

Hiles’ older brother, Nicholas, was an escort in 2016 and her older sister, Grace, was a lady-in-waiting last year.

This year, her younger brother, Preston, an eighth-grade student at Grace Community School, is the scepter bearer. During the Queen’s Coronation ceremony, he will have the honor of handing the scepter to Texas Rose Festival Association President William Curtis, who will then crown his sister rose queen. 

Ann Hardin, Hiles’ maternal grandmother, spent years serving as a festival volunteer. Her many roles during the Queen’s Coronation have included being in charge of the order of appearance and assisting the young women with putting on their elaborate costumes. For years, she helped stage the Queen’s Tea. James Hardin, Hiles’ maternal grandfather, is a member of the Order of the Rose, the volunteer organization that presents the Rose Ball, a dance held on the Saturday night of the festival. 

But the family’s most notable participation in the festival was in 1992. That was the year that Hiles’ aunt, Kristie Hardin (now Kristie Hardin Arnette), served as the rose queen.

“I am turning to them for lots of advice,” Hiles said of her family members who have been in the festival. “My aunt has been giving me tips on how to walk smoothly (onstage).”

During the Queen’s Coronation, Hiles will have to bow and pull the gown’s heavy train while gracefully walking up stairs.

Grace Hiles’ advice to her sister was more succinct but just as important. “I told her to have fun.”

BEING ASKED TO SERVE 

Hiles was caught off guard on Nov. 2, when Curtis asked her to be rose queen. The big moment took place during one of the Apache Belles’ rehearsals at TJC.

Hiles suspected nothing out of the ordinary until Curtis, other Rose Festival officials and some members of her family showed up carrying a supersized bouquet of roses. 

Curtis introduced himself to the puzzled Belles and explained that the most important role of the Texas Rose Festival Association president was to select the young woman who would reign as queen.

He then turned to Hiles and asked, “Will you be my queen?”

“It was really, really sweet,” Stacey Hiles said.

“I was just so shocked and excited,” Amanda recalled. “All my friends and teammates gave me a big group hug.”

“There were a lot of tears,” Stacey Hiles added. 

The moment made history: Hiles became the first Apache Belle to serve as rose queen. 

Roses have been part of the Apache Belles’ heritage since the dance line was formed in 1947. Yellow roses adorn the uniforms and are incorporated in the group’s logo. The Belles participate in the Texas Rose Parade and often have performed during the Queen’s Coronation ceremony.

“Mr. Curtis asked me to be his queen in front of my Apache Belles team,” Hiles said. “That could not have been more perfect and special.”  

Stacey Hiles was glad that her daughter was able to share the moment with her fellow Belles.

“We are honored and so humbled to be a part of the Texas Rose Festival and we couldn’t do this without her Apache Belle family,” Stacey Hiles said shortly after her daughter accepted the offer to be queen. “These girls are like sisters, and it was such a special moment that we wanted to include them.”

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Although Hiles was asked to serve in November, the official announcement of her selection took place in January as part of ceremonies before the Winter Gala, the annual event that raises money for the Tyler Rose Museum.

During a news conference, Curtis revealed that Hiles was the new rose queen, that Ann Caswell Ferguson was the festival duchess and the selections of the attendants and ladies-in-waiting. He also announced that the theme would be “Rock the Rose.”

“It is an absolute honor to be chosen as the 2018 rose queen,” Hiles said at the news conference. “I am very humbled to represent the festival and the city of Tyler. My family has lived here over 100 years and we all love Tyler.”

She added that she wanted to be a great ambassador for Tyler, the festival and the Apache Belles and a positive role model for little girls.

SERVICE AS ROSE QUEEN

As queen, Hiles has had the opportunity to take part in community-service activities.

In March, she read “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” to group of children at Sylvan Learning Center of Tyler in celebration of Read Across America Day.

“Even though you may have struggles, you can move mountains — just like the book said,” she told the children.

During Rose Sunday, a ceremony that was held in April at the Rose Garden Center to mark the rose-growing season, Hiles spoke of how Tyler benefits from its association with the rose and having the rose garden.

“People come from all around the country to see the largest rose garden in America,” she said. “The city of Tyler’s rose garden is famous and has been a Tyler staple since 1952. I have enjoyed the beauty of the rose garden throughout my life.”

She thanked those who maintain the garden and work behind the scenes to make the festival a success.

“I’ve heard stories over the years from my mom and nana (grandmother) about what it takes to make such a special event happen,” she said. “The legacy of the Texas Rose Festival, the exciting traditions and the impact on our community is due entirely to your service.”

Preparation for the festival picked up during a week of rehearsals this summer involving members of the court. The week began with the “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” luncheon hosted by Friends of the Rose. 

Hiles praised the luncheon and summer rehearsals as a time to better get to know the young women from the region who take part as the out-of-town duchesses.

“It’s just a really special way for us to start off the week,” she said. “It’s awesome that all the young ladies could spend time with their parents and … connect with everyone.”

At the end of rehearsal week, Hiles spoke of her activities as queen over the summer. She said a highlight was taking part in an event in which a gravely ill little girl was made to feel as if she too was a queen.

“I crowned her Queen of Hearts. (It was) a moment I will cherish forever,” Hiles said.

Stacey Hiles said she and her husband are thankful that their daughter and others in their family have had opportunities to give back to the community through volunteering.

“The city is so precious to us and holds so many cherished memories,” Stacey Hiles said. “I watched my mom give back throughout her life at church and different nonprofit organizations. My dad was always doing things to help people secretively. … Todd had the same example of community service through his parents (Dave and Judy Hiles). They both were heavily involved in their community in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

“The seed was planted into my soul that giving back and doing what you can to help others is highly important. It has been an honor and blessing in my life to have had opportunities to serve our community of Tyler through volunteering,” she continued. 

Added Todd Hiles, “Understanding all the history of the festival, I am so proud that all our children have had the opportunity to participate. Watching my daughter shine in the spotlight has been and will be unforgettable moments.”

THE FESTIVAL 

This year’s festival continues a tradition that began in 1933. Back then, city and civic leaders wanted a way to draw attention to the rose-growing industry. Until the early 1900s, peaches were the primary cash crop in Tyler. However, after a blight wiped out acres of peach orchards, many farmers turned to growing roses. At one point, nearly half of the rose bushes sold in stores were grown and processed in the area. 

Successful flower festivals in other parts of the United States also served as inspiration for the creation of Tyler’s very own rose festival.

Since the beginning, a young woman from the community has been selected to serve as rose queen and spread the word about Tyler’s roses and hospitality.

As rose queen, Hiles will be front and center at almost all of the Rose Festival events. 

She will be crowned during the lavish Queen’s Coronation ceremonies at the Cowan Center, the University of Texas at Tyler’s performance hall. She will take the stage in her coronation attire — a breathtaking gown with a long train covered with crystals and jewels, a golden crown and a scepter. 

Queen Amanda also will be a star attraction the next day riding atop the largest float in the Texas Rose Parade and under a pavilion in the middle of the Rose Garden during the Queen’s Tea, an event hosted by the queen’s parents that is open to all. 

Hiles said she is looking forward to the unveiling of her coronation gown. Throughout the summer, she worked with the festival’s longtime dress designer Winn Morton of Dallas on a gown that incorporates symbols that are meaningful to her family.

“My eyes are full of tears every time I see her in the gown,” Stacey Hiles said. “They are tears of joy, pride and thankfulness. Joy and pride of my daughter who has grown into such a beautiful young lady so full of grace.”

Hiles said she has been overjoyed by being able to share the experience of being queen with her friends and family.

“I’m so thankful for everyone’s excitement and encouragement. This still feels like I’m walking in a dream.”

– Augusta Robinson and Tyler Junior College media contributed to this report.

A commemorative magazine featuring the Tyler Morning Telegraph’s coverage of the 2018 Texas Rose Festival can be purchased online here.