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

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