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Five young women from Kentucky selected as princesses in 2024 Royal Court

Three of the princesses are students at the University of Louisville, one is attending Bellarmine University and another is a University of Kentucky student.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The five bright, young women chosen to represent the Bluegrass State during the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby have been announced.

On Monday, the Kentucky Derby Festival introduced its 2024 Royal Court during an event at Dillard's in Mall St. Matthews. The five women selected will serve as official ambassadors of the Commonwealth and attend more than 70 events this spring.

Each woman will receive a $2,000 scholarship and the chance to be crowned Derby Festival Queen by a spin-of-the-wheel at the annual Fillies Derby Ball on Saturday, April 13 at The Galt House Hotel.

“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,” Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO, said. “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.”

Paighton Brooks of Alexandria, KY

Credit: Kentucky Derby Festival

Paighton Brooks, 21, is a senior at the University of Louisville with a Double Major in Political Science and Criminal Justice and is a Pre-Law and Public Policy student. She is a McConnell Scholar and their 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 of Springfield, KY

Credit: Kentucky Derby Festival

Sarah Downs, 23, is a second-year Med student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. 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 of Louisville, KY

Credit: Kentucky Derby Festival

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

Emma Rhodes of Louisville, KY

Credit: Kentucky Derby Festival

Emma Rhodes, 24, is in the second year of her Master’s Program at Bellarmine University focusing on Elementary Education, and is a third-grade teacher at Saint Agnes School. She 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.

 

Laurel Riggs of Bardstown, KY

Credit: Kentucky Derby Festival

Laurel Riggs, 22, is a senior at the University of Kentucky with a dual degree in Political Science and Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Studies. She 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.

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