Tania Vergara-Gongora, a member of St. Bernadette Church and junior at Bellarmine University, was crowned the 2026 Kentucky Derby Festival Queen earlier this spring, according to an April 29 announcement. Vergara-Gongora said she aims to share her faith and serve as a voice for the Hispanic community during the festival’s many events.
The Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court selects its queen from among five “Derby Princesses” through a spinning wheel tradition. Each princess is chosen based on poise, community involvement, and intelligence from hundreds of applicants and receives scholarships while serving as ambassadors at various community events. The other princesses for this year are Mallory Brown of Bardstown and Vy Pham, Sydney Shouse, and Brianna Williams of Louisville.
Vergara-Gongora said she prayed during the selection process: “If the Lord allows this opportunity, let it be not for my will, but for his will.” She also recalled thinking that “this was one thing that I would love to do, and if it’s in the Lord’s plan, he’ll allow it to happen.” As queen, she strives to convey God’s love: “That’s been central to her life,” especially since receiving a message of joy from Pope Francis in 2022 when she participated in a youth delegation meeting with him.
“My faith is very much ‘cradle Catholic,’ because it’s so tied in to Mexican culture,” Vergara-Gongora said. “I don’t know how not to be Catholic. I grew up going to Mass in Mexico with my grandma every single day. My faith really is such a big part of my identity.” She added that representing the Hispanic community has been meaningful: “There hasn’t been a Hispanic Kentucky Derby Queen in like 22 years. So being able to be a voice for the Hispanic community…has also been such a cool honor.”
Vergara-Gongora described camaraderie among court members: “The girls have been amazing…Having a group of people that we’re able to experience everything together…Since we’re all students, we have to kind of balance school as well…We all share the same work ethic values.” While there are material perks like admission tickets and wardrobe items through their scholarship program, she said what matters most is “seeing community joy and light.” She noted balancing schoolwork with royal duties has been challenging but fulfilling.
This summer Vergara-Gongora will intern with EWTN in Washington D.C., before pursuing graduate studies focused on social communication and pastoral communication in Rome after graduation.
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