BENTON, Ill. (WSIL) -- A 22-year-old from Du Quoin was crowned the 2025 Princess Flame in front of a large crowd on Saturday.
Raylee Carroll of Du Quoin, was crowned the 2025 Princess Flame on April 12, at the Old King Coal Festival Princess Flame Scholarship pageant at the Civic Center in Benton.
Raylee is attending SIU Carbondale and will be graduating in May with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She also plans to pursue a masters degree in administration.
1st runner up was Addison Osman of Anna while 2nd runner up was Emma Shick of Carbondale.
The Old King Coal Festival also crowned Noa Potts of Rosiclare, as Teen Princess Flame with Harper Johnson of Marion crowned as Pre-teen Princess Flame.
John Smith of West Frankfort was crowned as the 2025 Old King Coal.
Smith was an underground miner at Old Ben #21 and Old Ben #24 and has been working as a State Mine Inspector and Mine Rescue Supervisor. He has spent 46 years in the mining business.
Smith will also appear at the 2025 Old King Coal festival from May 9 - May 12 in West Frankfort.
For more information about the festival, you can find it .