Take a Bow (Or a Texas Dip): Inside the World of Debutante Balls - 27 East

Take a Bow (Or a Texas Dip): Inside the World of Debutante Balls

Scenes From a Debutante Ball
icon 1 Video & 18 Photos

Scenes From a Debutante Ball

Young women from all over the country and even the world attended the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on December 28. Kelli Chambers Ford, right, is a part-time Southampton resident. CAILIN RILEY

Young women from all over the country and even the world attended the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on December 28. Kelli Chambers Ford, right, is a part-time Southampton resident. CAILIN RILEY

Sisters Ciara Wilson Carroll and Fiona Grace Carroll of Illinois greeting attendees on the receiving line. CAILIN RILEY

Sisters Ciara Wilson Carroll and Fiona Grace Carroll of Illinois greeting attendees on the receiving line. CAILIN RILEY

The escorts were there to attend to the debutantes, including bringing them water as they stood on a receiving line for more than an hour. CAILIN RILEY

The escorts were there to attend to the debutantes, including bringing them water as they stood on a receiving line for more than an hour. CAILIN RILEY

Young women from all over the country and even the world attended the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on December 28. CAILIN RILEY

Young women from all over the country and even the world attended the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on December 28. CAILIN RILEY

Samara Kothari represented India at the ball. CAILIN RILEY

Samara Kothari represented India at the ball. CAILIN RILEY

Isabella Kelani Grossman was representing Mexico at the ball. CAILIN RILEY

Isabella Kelani Grossman was representing Mexico at the ball. CAILIN RILEY

Each debutante had an escort--either a brother, family friend or someone they had met at the

Each debutante had an escort--either a brother, family friend or someone they had met at the "Bachelors Brunch" in the lead up to the ball. CAILIN RILEY

Alix Drummond, representing Scotland, was accompanied by an escort and a bagpiper when she was introduced. CAILIN RILEY

Alix Drummond, representing Scotland, was accompanied by an escort and a bagpiper when she was introduced. CAILIN RILEY

Ciara Wilson Carroll of Illinois was escorted by her brother, who her father joked would've probably rather been home

Ciara Wilson Carroll of Illinois was escorted by her brother, who her father joked would've probably rather been home "gaming."

Cameron Lena Meijer of Michigan. CAILIN RILEY

Cameron Lena Meijer of Michigan. CAILIN RILEY

Kelli Chambers Ford, a part-time Southampton resident, at the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel on December 28. Her older sister, Electra, had

Kelli Chambers Ford, a part-time Southampton resident, at the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel on December 28. Her older sister, Electra, had "bowed" at the same ball back in 2022. CAILIN RILEY

Kelli Chambers Ford, a part-time Southampton resident, at the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel on December 28. Her older sister, Electra, had

Kelli Chambers Ford, a part-time Southampton resident, at the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel on December 28. Her older sister, Electra, had "bowed" at the same ball back in 2022. CAILIN RILEY

Kelli Chambers Ford, a part-time Southampton resident, at the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel on December 28. Her older sister, Electra, had

Kelli Chambers Ford, a part-time Southampton resident, at the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel on December 28. Her older sister, Electra, had "bowed" at the same ball back in 2022. CAILIN RILEY

Jane Margaret Reyes of New York. CAILIN RILEY

Jane Margaret Reyes of New York. CAILIN RILEY

A total of 31 debutantes were introduced individually and did a ceremonial bow before the attendees at the ball. CAILIN RILEY

A total of 31 debutantes were introduced individually and did a ceremonial bow before the attendees at the ball. CAILIN RILEY

Debutante Kelli Chambers Ford, center, with her mother, Kelli Ford (left). CAILIN RILEY

Debutante Kelli Chambers Ford, center, with her mother, Kelli Ford (left). CAILIN RILEY

Each debutante was accompanied by an escort. Some of the escorts were brothers of the debutantes, but many had only met the young ladies they were paired up with at a recent event dubbed the

Each debutante was accompanied by an escort. Some of the escorts were brothers of the debutantes, but many had only met the young ladies they were paired up with at a recent event dubbed the "Bachelors Brunch" over Thanksgiving weekend. CAILIN RILEY

Kelli Chambers Ford, a part-time Southampton resident, posing for photos while standing on the receiving line at the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on December 28. CAILIN RILEY

Kelli Chambers Ford, a part-time Southampton resident, posing for photos while standing on the receiving line at the 70th anniversary International Debutante Ball at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on December 28. CAILIN RILEY

authorCailin Riley on Jan 9, 2025
Margaret Hedberg remembers the heyday of debutante balls. In the early decades of the 1900s and into the 1950s, young women who belonged to a certain upper echelon of society... more

You May Also Like:

Federal Funding for Public Media Is Close to Becoming a Thing of the Past | 27Speaks Podcast

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on May 1 instructing the Corporation for Public ... 10 Jul 2025 by 27Speaks

Let's Make a Deal

Since his swearing-in in January 2023, U.S. Representative Nick LaLota hasn’t faced a series of votes that rivaled the recent domestic spending package, which he played a significant role in pushing through Congress and onto President Donald Trump’s desk. It gave him a notable win: He proudly says he delivered on his promise to 1st District voters that he would get a reprieve on the federal government’s cap on the state and local tax deduction, or SALT. Ultimately, that’s true, with an asterisk. But it’s fair for voters to ask: At what price? Did a single-minded focus on this goal ... 9 Jul 2025 by Editorial Board

Stony Brook Medicine, UnitedHealthcare Reach New 3-Year Deal To Maintain Coverage

Stony Brook Medicine and UnitedHealthcare have inked a new three-year contract that will maintain coverage of visits to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and Meetinghouse Lane Medical physicians for those with UnitedHealthcare or Oxford insurance plans. The agreement was announced just a day before the expiration of a temporary extension of the previous agreements announced in June, when the state’s largest insurer began notifying its customers that Stony Brook’s hospitals and doctors would be out of network coverage soon. “There will be no interruption in coverage for any of our United/Oxford patients,” Stony Brook announced in a statement this week. “We ... by Michael Wright

Sag Harbor Preparing Next Phase of Sewer Line Extension Project

The Sag Harbor Village Board, in its first meeting of the new fiscal year, reaffirmed ... by Stephen J. Kotz

Push for Donations To Complete North Haven's Lovelady Park

The North Haven Village Parks and Trails Association, the nonprofit organization set up by the ... by Stephen J. Kotz

HCBL Stars Set to Battle ACBL’s Finest in Sag Harbor Showdown

The Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League will play its 12th All-Star Game this Saturday, July 12, ... by Drew Budd

The HCBL's Best Kept Secret: Its Announcers

On a sun-soaked evening at Sag Harbor’s Mashashimuet Park, amid the familiar ambient noises of ... by Drew Budd

Tom Rickenbach Celebrates 40 Years at Apple Bank in Sag Harbor

In the summer of 1985, Tom Rickenbach, a recent graduate of the University of Delaware, ... by Stephen J. Kotz

Has the Market Peaked for Older Pickleball Players?

Pickleball used to be referred to as the “geriatric Sun Belt sport.” Most of its ... 8 Jul 2025 by Scott Green

Sag Harbor Little League's 10U Baseball All-Stars Fall to North Shore in District 36 Playoffs

A 7-5 loss to the North Shore National Little League All-Stars eliminated the Sag Harbor ... by Drew Budd