Kentucky Derby Festival opening applications for 2025 Royal Court

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Kentucky Derby Festival is opening applications for the 2025 Royal Court.

Young women from Kentucky and southern Indiana who are full-time college students in at least their second year of school are encouraged to apply. Applications open Aug. 1 and will be accepted through Oct. 13.

Each year, five women are selected as Derby Festival Princesses to represent the Kentucky Derby Festival, The Fillies, Louisville and Kentucky as official ambassadors for the springtime tradition.

2024 Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court.jpg — 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. (*Photo courtesy of Kentucky Derby Festival*)

"Being part of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Royal Court is more than wearing a crown, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience with leadership and professional development opportunities," Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival president and CEO, said in a news release Monday. "The young women who are selected will represent the Festival, as well as Louisville and the Commonwealth. We look forward to seeing who will reign over our 2025 celebration."

In 2024, Ankita Nair was crowned Derby Festival Queen after a traditional spin of a wheel at the annual Fillies Derby Ball on April 13 at The Galt House.

"You learn so much about leadership, community service, civic engagement, and get to be at the helm of one of the most festive seasons in Kentucky," Nair said in a news release. "It is all about believing in yourself and being passionate about the community. I would encourage anyone interested in serving the Commonwealth of Kentucky to apply."

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.

To submit an application, click here.

According to a news release, the Royal Court selection process is a self-nominating procedure. Applicants must be residents of Kentucky or the Louisville Metro area, including Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties. The full-time college students has to have a minimum accumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

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