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

Sag Harbor Express

East Hampton Press / News / Neighborhood / News / Southampton Press / Neighborhood / News / Sag Harbor Express / 2330918

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

Related Stories

You May Also Like:

Penalties, Missed Opportunities Cost Bonac Football in Its Season-Opening Loss at ESM

“Watch the ball!” It was yelled out repeatedly on Saturday afternoon in Manorville, particularly from ... 17 Sep 2025 by Drew Budd

Pierson Graduate Lignelli Will Represent U.S. at Nations Cup Equestrian Event in Belgium

The past few months have been a period of change and transition for Alexa Lignelli. ... by Cailin Riley

Venetia Satow and Ava Kenny Win JY-15 Atlantic Coast Championships Hosted by Breakwater Yacht Club

Sag Harbor’s Breakwater Sailing Center & Yacht Club hosted the JY-15 Atlantic Coast Championships this ... by Michael Mella

Bridge Show Is Special Treat for Car Buffs

I’ve been telling people who ask me about the annual car show at The Bridge ... by Stephen J. Kotz

Weekly Roundup: Bridgehampton Boys Soccer, Hampton Bays Boys Volleyball Picks Up First-Ever Victories; East Hampton Girls Soccer On Fire

Bonac Boys Cross Country
Defeats Harborfields The East Hampton boys cross country team defeated Harborfields, 17-38, in its season opener on its home course on school grounds on September 9. According to head coach Kevin Barry, it’s only the second dual meet loss for the Tornadoes in the last five years. The Bonackers swept the top four placements to win the meet outright. Senior Sean Perez, in his first-ever cross country race, won the 2.5-mile race in 13:52, followed closely by senior Liam Knight (13:59) and sophomores Jasper Samuelson (14:09) and Watts Comly-Bolick (14:13). East Hampton Girls Soccer
Stays Undefeated The Bonackers ... by Staff Writer

Voters Approve Hampton Library Budget; Sag Harbor Vote Is Next Week

Bridgehampton and Sagaponack voters approved the Hampton Library’s $1,979,243 budget by an overwhelming 37-2 tally ... by Staff Writer

'Montauk Mary' Cold Case Murder From 1978 Spotlighted by Suffolk DA

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney’s office this week released a newly created sketch of ... by Michael Wright

Three Problems

The days since the September 10 murder of Charlie Kirk, an influencer and activist on the right, at a Utah college campus have brought an avalanche of reactions. Observers on both sides have tried to use the event to score political points, which is simply ghoulish. Political violence is an American reality, but it can never be an American principle — it is indefensible. Period, full-stop. Among the reactions, a few have been standard, but there are three points that deserve special consideration as we try to find a path forward after the death of the 31-year-old father of two, ... by Editorial Board

Mistakes Pile Up in Pierson Boys Soccer’s Defeat to Port Jeff

There’s work to be done. That was the takeaway after the Pierson boys soccer team ... 16 Sep 2025 by Drew Budd

Pickleball Lingo Decoded

Many pickleball players ask me: Where did the name “pickleball” for the game we love ... by Vinny Mangano