LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival Queen was named on Saturday.
Ankita Nair was crowned after a traditional Derby Festival Queen by a spin of a wheel at the annual Fillies Derby Ball on April 13 at The Galt House.
Nair is a third-year medical 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.
Nair was the 2023 Miss University of Louisville. She also founded her own preventative health initiative "Let's Live Kentucky" to improve state health care outcomes.
The other members of the court include Paighton Brooks, Sarah Downs, Emma Rhodes and Laurel Riggs. The court will reign over the Derby Festival and attend nearly every official KDF event.
Each royal court member receives $2,000 in scholarship money. One $1,000 scholarship comes from The Fillies, Inc. while another $1,000 scholarship comes from Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation. The first Kentucky Derby Festival Princess was crowned in 1957.
More Derby 150 coverage:
- Kentucky Derby Festival unveils 2024 Royal Court ahead of 150th Kentucky Derby
- 'Once in a Lifetime' Kentucky Derby package offered by Louisville hotel includes private jet
- Churchill Downs releases official Mint Julep glass for 150th Kentucky Derby
- KDF unveils 2024 Pegasus Pegasus Pin celebrating Derby 150
- Preparations for Kentucky Derby 150 to ramp up at Churchill Downs following fall meet
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