As it has done for nearly 70 years, the Kentucky Derby Festival has selected five Derby princesses to reign over the events leading up to the historic 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

On Monday, the 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Princesses were announced at an event hosted at Dillard’s at Mall St. Matthews. The five members of the 2024 Royal Court will serve as official ambassadors for the Kentucky Derby Festival, the city of Louisville, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and will attend more than 70 springtime festival events.

The five women were selected from nearly 100 candidates for the 2024 Royal Court Program. The women represent different colleges and universities from around Kentucky and the region. All the applicants went through preliminary judging in November with final selection taking place over the weekend.

“The Royal Court Program has been a tradition for more than 60 years, and seeing the Derby Festival Princesses out in the community is one of the first signs that the Derby Festival season is around the corner,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival president and CEO. “These young women are academic scholars, leaders in their communities and have resumes packed with awards and achievements. We’re honored to have them as our ambassadors.”

The 67-year-old Princess Program is coordinated by The Fillies, a volunteer group and The Kentucky Derby Festival. The first Derby Festival Princess was crowned in 1957, the second year of the festival. Organizers say the program is not a beauty pageant, instead, the five women serve as representatives of Louisville during the two-week event leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

Candidates must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade-point average and are selected by a panel of three out-of-state judges. Criteria for selection include knowledge of the Derby Festival, poise, intelligence, personality, and campus and community involvement.

The first Derby Festival Princess was crowned in 1957, the second year of the Festival. Notable past princesses include former Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins and the late Gail Gorski, the first female pilot ever hired by United Airlines.

Here’s who is on the 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court:

Meet the 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court

Paighton Brooks

The 21-year-old from Alexandria, Kentucky is a student at the University of Louisville. Brooks is double majoring in Political Science and Criminal Justice and is a Pre-Law and Public Policy student. She is a McConnell Scholar and its DEI Chair, and a Woodford R. Porter Scholar and also serves as President of Porter Scholars. She’s a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is the 2023 University of Louisville Homecoming Queen, and volunteers with The Hope Buss.

Sarah Downs

A second-year Medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Downs is 23 years old and from Springfield, Kentucky. She is a member of the Distinction in Business & Leadership Track, the Social Chair of her class, and the Public Relations Chair of Project Heal. She is an avid pianist and has her own Kentucky Proud-certified bakery.

Ankita Nair

From Louisville, this 25-year-old, third-year Medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Biology and Society. Nair is the reigning Miss University of Louisville and was a Quality of Life finalist at Miss Kentucky. She founded the preventative health initiative “Let’s Live Kentucky” to improve state healthcare outcomes and led her school’s Medical Spanish program. 

Laurel Riggs

This Bardstown native, 22, is a senior at the University of Kentucky with a dual degree in Political Science and Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies. Riggs is Pre-Law and will be attending UK’s Rosenberg College of Law in the fall. She’s a Lunsford Scholar and Lewis Honors College student, is on the Executive Board for UK Panhellenic and Student Government Association and serves as Director of Programs at Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Kentucky.

Emma Rhodes

This 24-year-old from Louisville is a third-grade teacher at Saint Agnes School. She is in the second year of the Master’s Program at Bellarmine University focusing on Elementary Education. Rhodes was a member of the Bellarmine University Dance Team, served on the Executive Board of Phi Mu Fraternity, has taught English in Italy and Austria, is a three-time national ballroom dancing champion, and is a conservationist.

Two alternates were also chosen to step in if any member of the Royal Court is unable to fulfill her duties: 

• Abigail Willhoite of Frankfort was chosen as first alternate. She is a senior at Western Kentucky University.
• Anneli White of Shelbyville is the second alternate. She is a junior at the University of Kentucky.

What’s the role of the Royal Court?

The five women act as ambassadors for the 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival, attending dozens of events between now and the Kentucky Derby, which takes place May 4. 

One of the five Princesses will be crowned the Derby Festival Queen by a spin-of-the-wheel at the annual Fillies Derby Ball on Saturday, April 13 at The Galt House Hotel.

What do Kentucky Derby Princesses receive for serving on the Royal Court?

Each member of the Royal Court receives two $1,000 scholarships — one from The Fillies, Inc., and one from the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation. In addition to other sponsor gifts, each woman also receives a complimentary wardrobe. 

Thunder Over Louisville, the traditional opening ceremonies of the Kentucky Derby Festival is set for April 22. You’ll find information on all the 70-plus events taking place during the Kentucky Derby Festival at kdf.org.

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.