It was a packed house for the 88th Kentucky Mountain Laurel Princess Coronation in Pineville on Friday. Each year beautiful young ladies come to Pineville to proudly represent their high schools as contenders for the KMLF Princess Pageant crown.

The judges selected Pineville High School’s Sarah Elizabeth Combs as the 2018 KMLF Princess. She was crowned with a glowing smile on her face. Her escort was Ryan Tucker Woolum.

The other 11 contestants included: Barbourville High School’s Lydia Claire Smith, Bell County High School’s Taylor Olivia Thomas, Corbin High School’s Ellie Jane Carloftis, Harlan County High School’s Allison Nicole Cook, Harlan High School’s Mackenzie Grace King, Hazard High School’s Haley Turner, Knott County High School’s Eden Isabella Slone, Knox County High School’s Anna Beth Callihan, Middlesboro High School’s Brenna Lynn Voges, North Laurel High School’s Layleigh Jayne Hauser, Pulaski County High Shool’s Hannah Marie Shawen, Somerset High School’s Zoe Donyelle Stinson, South Laurel High School’s Scotland Stewart and Whitely County High School’s Katelynn Hope Johnson.

Past princesses were honored also and took the stage for a round of applause.

The evening ended with the annual fireworks display downtown.

The first KMLF was held in 1931 making it the oldest continuous festival of its kind in the United States. Betty Baxter of Eastern State College was the first queen that year. The first princess was Marty Blair of Barbourville High School, crowned in 1950.