LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- This year's Kentucky Derby Royal Court begins its reign this week.
Five young women were selected to serve as princesses for this year's Kentucky Derby Festival. Four of them are from Louisville, and the fifth is from Bardstown.
- Brianna Williams, Louisville
- Tania Vergara-Gongora, Louisville
- Sydney Shouse, Louisville
- Vy Pham, Louisville
- Mallory Brown, Bardstown
The court will serve as official ambassadors for the festival, as well for Louisville and the commonwealth.
"Each year, exceptional young women become ambassadors for the festival and the community, and we're honored to welcome the 2026 Royal Court as they begin their reign," Matt Gibson, KDF president and CEO, said Monday in a news release.
The court was selected after a final judging with 27 other finalists out of a pool of 100 applicants. KDF said applicants represented more than 15 colleges and universities from the region, including Indiana. All five women on the court receive a $2,000 scholarship.
One of the five princesses will be crowned queen by a spin of the wheel during the Fillies Derby Ball in March.
The KDF tradition spans nearly 70 years. The first princess was crowned during the second year of the annual festival in 1957. Several Miss Kentucky winners were KDF princesses, including Katie Bouchard Wilkerson (2018), Hannah Edelen (2022) and Mallory Hudson (2023), as well as several community leaders.
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