As summer draws to a close in 2025, two queens—one of salsa, the other of roses—are being celebrated on opposite ends of the United States, their legacies and journeys offering a unique window into the ways tradition, culture, and ambition shape communities. In Bloomington, Indiana, the centennial birthday of Celia Cruz, the legendary “queen of salsa,” is being marked with a vibrant series of events at Indiana University. Meanwhile, in Portland, Oregon, Ava Rathi, the city’s newly crowned Rose Queen, prepares to embark on a transatlantic adventure, carrying her hometown’s spirit to new shores.
Indiana University’s celebration of Celia Cruz’s 100th birthday is more than just a tribute to a musical icon—it’s an invitation to the entire community to join in honoring a woman whose influence transcended borders, genres, and generations. According to the Indiana University News, the festivities are open to everyone, regardless of background or connection to Latin culture. “One needn’t be Latino to watch or participate in these free-of-charge celebratory days honoring the late Celia Cruz, on her 100th birthday. Everyone is welcome—townie, gownie, everyone,” wrote the Indiana University News.
Celia Cruz, born in Cuba in 1925, would go on to become one of the bestselling Latin music artists of all time. Her story is one of resilience and reinvention: after relocating to Mexico and then to the United States in 1961, she became a naturalized citizen and a global ambassador for Latin music. Her unmistakable voice and infectious energy helped bring Cuban guaracha, son, and salsa to international prominence. As Indiana University News notes, Cruz became the face of these musical styles, her performances with groups like Sonora Matancera and the Fania All-Stars turning salsa into a worldwide phenomenon during the New York music explosion of the 1970s.
To mark her centennial, Indiana University has organized an array of free events—film screenings, lectures, exhibits, and live performances—designed to immerse attendees in Cruz’s world. The celebration kicked off on September 3 with a film screening of “Fania All Stars in Africa” at the McCalla Media Gallery. On September 4, the Fine Arts Plaza will come alive with a live music and dance demonstration, featuring La Salsoteca, Beatriz Capote, and Paso A Paso. Capote, a Cuban American dancer and choreographer, will lead participants in salsa dancing, blending traditional Cuban movement with modern dance—a fitting homage to Cruz’s own role in shaping the genre.
The festivities continue on September 5 with workshops and lectures by renowned scholars Rosa Marquetti and Frances Aparicio, whose expertise in salsa and Latino studies promises to deepen the community’s understanding of Cruz’s impact. These events, hosted in locations like the Global and International Studies Building and the Indiana Memorial Union, are designed to be as inclusive as possible, reflecting the spirit of unity that Cruz herself embodied. “Celia Cruz brought different kinds of people together. She also helped create salsa (dancing). This is an opportunity for all people to learn,” said Solimar Otero, Indiana University professor and director of Latino studies, in Indiana University News.
Adding to the celebration’s allure, Cruz’s estate has lent significant memorabilia—including the Celia Cruz Barbie doll, a U.S. quarter featuring her likeness, and record covers—to Indiana University for display. The Barbie, released by Mattel in 2021 to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, is a collector’s item, while the American Women Quarters program immortalizes Cruz with her signature saying, “¡AZÚCAR!,” inscribed alongside her image. These items, on exhibit at the Herman B Wells Library and LAMC Cook Music Library, serve as tangible reminders of Cruz’s enduring legacy, both as an artist and as a cultural icon recognized by the highest honors, from Grammy awards to the Presidential Medal of Arts.
“IU and the Latino studies department really want people to attend this,” Otero emphasized. “I’m an academic. I do like a good lecture, but this is for everyone and provides multidimensional experiences.” The university’s approach highlights the importance of making cultural celebrations accessible, ensuring that Cruz’s story continues to inspire new generations.
While Indiana celebrates a queen of music, Portland, Oregon, has crowned a queen of its own—one whose journey is just beginning. Ava Rathi, a recent graduate of Lincoln High School, was named Portland’s Rose Queen in June 2025, becoming the latest in a 103-year-old tradition that honors the city’s best and brightest. As reported by KPTV, Rathi spent her summer serving as Portland’s ambassador, participating in parades and cherished local events like the Milk Carton Race. “It has been a whirlwind,” she reflected to KPTV, looking back on a season filled with community engagement and recognition for her academic achievements and volunteer work as a civics tutor.
Rathi’s time as Rose Queen was more than ceremonial. She received a $3,500 scholarship alongside the other Rose Court seniors, met her senator and representative, and even visited the capitol in Salem—experiences she believes have prepared her for the next chapter of her life. In just two weeks, she will leave Portland for Dublin, Ireland, to study economics and politics at Trinity College. “I just want to experience something so new and just like I’ve been doing throughout the Rose Festival, just meeting a bunch of new people, which I’m sure I’ll do a continent away,” Rathi told KPTV.
For Rathi, the Rose Court was a way to say goodbye to her hometown, immersing herself in the city’s traditions before heading abroad. “This was a great way to get super involved in my community before I leave and kind of just say goodbye by experiencing all different parts of our city,” she shared with KPTV. She plans to return for next year’s Rose Festival, carrying with her a trove of Portland memorabilia and memories. Her advice to future Rose Court members is simple but heartfelt: “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just be yourself and you’ll make so many friends and you’ll learn a lot. So just embrace it all.”
These parallel stories—of Celia Cruz’s centennial celebration in Indiana and Ava Rathi’s Rose Queen farewell in Portland—remind us that queens come in many forms. Whether through music that bridges cultures or community service that inspires the next generation, their legacies are woven into the fabric of the places they touch. As autumn approaches, both Cruz’s enduring rhythms and Rathi’s hopeful journey offer a stirring reminder of the power of tradition, ambition, and the joy of bringing people together.