Here they are! Meet the 2023 Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses
It's one of the first signs The Kentucky Derby Festival and the Kentucky Derby are looming on the horizon.
On Monday, the 2023 Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Princesses were announced at an event hosted at Dillard's in Mall St. Matthews. The five members of the 2023 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.
In 2023, the court was selected after attending final judging with 23 other finalist candidates. There were nearly 100 applicants for the 2023 Royal Court Program, representing different colleges and universities from around Kentucky and the region. All the applicants went through preliminary judging in November 2022.
The 66-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.
You may like The Railbird Music Festival is back, with new dates. Here's the 2023 festival lineup
Notable previous princesses have included former Kentucky Gov. Martha Layne Collins and the late Gail Gorski, the first female pilot ever hired by United Airlines.
Here's who is on the 2023 Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court:
Meet the 2023 Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court
Hayley Benson
The 21-year-old is a junior at the University of Louisville majoring in Biology on the Pre-Medical track. Benson is from Louisville and is a Woodford R. Porter Scholar, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholar, a recipient of the Humana Foundation Scholarship Program, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and works for UofL's Resources for Academic Achievement as a General Chemistry I Structured Learning Assistant.
Lauren Carter
The 22-year-old senior at the University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College is double majoring in Management and Marketing on the Pre-Law track. The Lexington native is a Merit Scholar, Vice President of the Order of Omega Leadership and Honors Fraternity, has received the Girl Scouts Bronze and Silver Award, is involved in Best Buddies, and is the founder of Stop Throwing Stones: A Kindness Movement.
Mallory Todd Hudson
The 21-year-old, from Bowling Green is a junior at the University of Kentucky majoring in Communications and minoring in Political Science. She has served as an ambassador for Jovani Fashions and is the reigning Miss Bowling Green, as well as the founder of Inclusive Stages, which provides theatrical experiences for individuals with special needs.
Mahshad Taheri
The 21-year-old is a senior at the University of Louisville majoring in Finance. She is from Louisville and is a Jones Scholar, a SHPEP Scholar, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholar, founder of MENASA (Middle Eastern North African Student Organization) volunteer for Kentucky Refugee Ministries, mentor for College Mentors for Kids, and works for the Admissions Office and Campus Housing Department at UofL.
You may like Giddy Up! Churchill Downs unveils official 'happy' artwork for Kentucky Derby 149
Valerie Tran
The 22-year-old from Louisville is a senior at the University of Louisville majoring in Industrial Engineering. She is the Executive Director of raiseRED Dance Marathon, co-founder of the Homeland Project, a Vogt Scholar, a member of Chi Omega Sorority, and has been named Volunteer of the Year (by UofL) and Young Philanthropist of the Year (by the Association of Fundraising Professionals).
Two alternates were also chosen to step in if any member of the Royal Court is unable to fulfill her duties:
Brooke Berry of Eminence was chosen as the first alternate. She is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky.
Arushi Gupta of Louisville was selected as the second alternate. She is a senior at the University of Louisville
What's the role of the Royal Court?
The five women will act as ambassadors for the 2023 Kentucky Derby Festival, attending dozens of events between now and the Kentucky Derby which takes place May 6.
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 April 15 at the Marriott Downtown.
You may like Meet the Louisville man who ran the first KDF miniMarathon and has just kept running
What do Kentucky Derby Princesses receive for serving on the Royal Court?
Besides a lifetime of memories and an extensive wardrobe, each woman will receive a $3,000 scholarship. The scholarship includes $1,000 from the Fillies organization, $1,000 from the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation and $1,000 from Luzianne Tea, a new sponsor of the Royal Court in 2023.
The 2023 Kentucky Derby Festival kicks off April 1 with the Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade which travels around the community. 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.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 2023 Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses, Royal Court crowned
