LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Derby Festival announced its 2025 Royal Court, consisting of five young women who will serve as princesses for the 70th annual festival and ambassadors for the city of Louisville and the entire state. 

"Crowning new Kentucky Derby Festival royalty is our favorite way to start the new year and a sign that the Derby season is just around the corner," said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival president and CEO. "This year and every year, we're honored to have these accomplished young women represent the Festival and serve as our ambassadors."

Each woman receives a $2,000 scholarship, the Derby Festival said. The Fillies Inc., a volunteer group that works closely with the festival, will donate $1,000 while the Derby Festival covers the other half.

The festival said there were nearly 100 applicants for the program representing 15 area colleges and universities. All applicants went through preliminary judging in November. Five princesses and two alternates were chosen from among 32 finalist candidates. 

The members of the 2025 Court are:

Lilly Deljoo of Louisville is a 24-year-old, second-year medical student at the Univeristy of Louisville School of Medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science in psychobiology from UCLA, where she was named to the dean's honors list, served as secretary of a student-run clinic in Mexico and was president of Persian Sorority — Sigma Pi Sigma Psi. Deljoo volunteers with Rescues and Roses to support the Animal Care Society and Operation Smile, participating in global surgical programs in Peru and China. She also serves as a leader within the newly founded Kentucky Human Rights Collaborative.

Madeline (Maddie) Duff of Prestonsburg is a 21-year-old senior at the University of Kentucky, where she studies neuroscience and Appalachian studies. She is the first woman from eastern Kentucky to be elected UK Student Body president, chairs the Southeastern Conference Board of Student Presidents and is a Lewis Honors College ambassador. Duff has served as president of both ACTION (Appalachian Career Training in Oncology) and the Appalachian Health Initiative (AHI), organizations dedicated to improving health care access in Appalachia. She is also a member of Alpha Phi sorority, the Apollo Society, Phi Delta Epsilon and Neurocats.

Elizabeth King of Georgetown is a 21-year-old senior Presidential Scholar at the University of Kentucky. She is pursuing dual degrees in finance and flute performance. King is a Gatton College of Business ambassador, UK Homecoming Queen, principal flutist of the UK Wind Symphony and preliminary talent winner at Miss Kentucky. As Miss Danville, she partners with Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass to promote the service initiative she founded, Mind Your Money – Investing in Financial Literacy, bringing financial education to Kentucky’s classrooms.

Erica McPheeters of Louisville is a 21-year-old senior at Kentucky State University, where she majors in political science and is a John Henry Scholar. She serves as Miss Kentucky State University and is a Vogt and Whitney M. Young Scholar. McPheeters is a Human Rights Campaign consultant student leader, serves as a volunteer mentor for Franklin County Schools and interned for the Fayette County Prosecutor's Office and Princeton University's Achive, Research and Collaborative History Program. 

Hannah Rager of Bremen is a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Louisville, where she is pursuing a double major in marketing and sports administration with a certificate in sales. She is a Vogt Scholar, honors student and has interned with the PGA of America. She is also vice president of Kappa Delta Sorority, vice president of Member Development of Order of Omega and a staff member of raiseRED Dance Marathon. 

Chloe Ralston of Stanford, a sophomore at Western Kentucky University, was chosen as the first alternate. Kendra Ford of Louisville, a graduate student at the University of Louisville, is the second alternate. They will become princesses if one of the women cannot serve.

One of the princesses will be crowned Derby Festival Queen at the annual Fillies Derby Ball Saturday, March 22 at the Omni Louisville Hotel. Candidates for the Princess Program must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade-point average and are selected by a panel of three out-of-state judges. Factors that go into judging include knowledge of the Derby Festival, poise, intelligence, personality and campus and community involvement, the Derby Festival said.

The first Derby Festival Princess was crowned in 1957, the festival's second year. Some previous princesses include former Kentucky Gov. Martha Layne Collins and the late Gail Gorksi, the first female pilot ever hired by United Airlines.

The 2025 Derby Festival kicks off Saturday, April 12, with Thunder Over Louisville. It will feature more than 70 events leading up to Kentucky Derby 151, set for Saturday, May 3.