Carter Webb is a Kentucky Alpha and native Louisvillian who has been performing since the age of four. She danced through childhood (including years in the Louisville Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker") and performed with competitive and all-star dance teams through college. After grad school, she continued to dance as a professional cheerleader and in modern dance companies until she discovered pole and aerial arts. This discovery changed her life and she dove head-first into training then performing, coaching and competing in circus arts. Her primary disciplines include pole, aerial pole, aerial silks/fabric, aerial rope/Spanish Web and aerial hoop/lyra. Over her career in pole and aerial arts, Carter has performed in 14 states and 5 countries, and she has accumulated 15 gold medals and 8 silver medals. This includes 6 national titles between 2021 and 2024 and two world titles in October 2024: gold in aerial silks art (and silver in aerial hoop art) at the World Aerial Arts Championships in Greece and gold in artistic aerial pole at the World Pole and Aerial Championships in Sweden.
Carter will perform at Thursday’s Convention Kickoff at Churchill Downs.
Pi Phi is proud to partner with Derby Diana’s—a Louisville-based, Black-owned business founded by designer Diana Heron—as an opportunity to recognize Juneteenth (June 19), which takes place during convention. Born and raised in Louisville, Diana comes from a criminal justice and paralegal studies background and currently works for a private ambulance company alongside her fascinator business.
The idea for Derby Diana’s began after Diana attended the Kentucky Oaks in 2011 and made her own hot pink fascinator to compliment the annual breast cancer survivor theme. Her design garnered lots of interest, empowering Diana to teach herself how to make fascinators in a variety of styles and textures, eventually launching her successful business.
With creative inspiration stemming from childhood vacations to visit family in Jamacia, Diana has since created stunning, handcrafted fascinators that have been featured in Ebony Magazine, Essence Magazine, Kentucky Tourism and on Bravo TV’s official site for Olympic gold medalist and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Sanya Richards-Ross. Looking ahead, Diana hopes to expand her brand by adding more collections and business partnerships, as well as clothes for men and children.
We are excited to support Diana—our official milliner for convention—and celebrate local businesses like Derby Diana’s that bring creativity and craftsmanship to the community!