For the past 25 years, photographer Jonathan Becker has documented one of the world's most exclusive coming-of-age celebrations: le Bal des Débutantes in Paris. This November, as the prestigious event returns to the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel, Becker reflects on how this centuries-old tradition has evolved into what many now call "The Met Gala for teenagers," attracting global attention and social media buzz while maintaining its elegant European traditions.
Le Bal des Débutantes serves as a formal introduction to society for young women from prominent families worldwide. The event takes place annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, creating an unusual fusion of American and French traditions as expatriate families in Paris celebrate with turkey and stuffing before attending the grand ball. The three-day affair begins with a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Ophélie Renouard, the event's patroness, followed by intensive rehearsals and preparations at the historic Shangri-La Hotel.
The 2024 edition featured an impressive roster of young debutantes from diverse backgrounds, showcasing the global nature of today's elite circles. Apple Martin, daughter of Coldplay's Chris Martin and actress Gwyneth Paltrow, attended alongside her grandmother, actress Blythe Danner, and was escorted by Count Leo Henckel von Donnersmarck. Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou's children, Daniel and Angel, generated over 500 million views on Chinese social media, while Rysa Panday, daughter of Indian actor Chunky Panday, drew significant attention from South Asian audiences.
Other notable participants included Lucia Ponti, granddaughter of legendary actress Sophia Loren, and several members of European nobility such as H.R.H. Princess Eugénia de Bourbon, who charmed guests with Imperial and Royal Archduke Karl-Konstantin Habsburg-Lothringen serving as her cavalier. The British contingent was represented by Oona Finch, daughter of businessman Charles Finch, and Poppy Halard, whose parents are architect Bastien Halard and renowned landscape designer Miranda Brooks.
The carefully orchestrated event follows strict protocols that have remained largely unchanged for decades. Friday mornings begin with rehearsals and formal portrait sessions, where debutantes don their haute couture gowns and jewelry, including some family tiaras. The evening waltz class provides an emotional moment as fathers savor their final dance with their daughters before their official debut, often extending the instruction time to prolong these precious moments.
Saturday's main event begins with an eight o'clock dinner in one of the Shangri-La's ballrooms, where the debutantes dine privately with their escorts until dessert. The grand presentation follows amid fanfare, music, and applause as the young women parade through the tables, first in pairs with their cavaliers, then individually. The ceremonial ballroom waltz begins after digestifs and coffee, with daughters dancing first with their fathers or senior family friends to Johann Strauss's "Blue Danube" before a DJ takes over for more contemporary dancing.
The 2025 edition promises to be equally spectacular, welcoming major families from an increasingly diverse range of countries. For the first time, the event will feature a Bahamian debutante, Eliza Lindroth, alongside European royalty including Lady Araminta Spencer-Churchill, daughter of the 12th Duke of Marlborough, and German Princess Eugenia von Hohenzollern. Italian nobility will be represented by Gabrielle Janssens de Balkany, great-granddaughter of the last King and Queen of Italy, and her royal cousins H.R.H. Eulalia d'Orléans Bourbon and H.R.H. Isabelle d'Orléans.
Hollywood's presence continues to grow with Bronwyn G. Vance, daughter of actors Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, and Ruby Kemper, granddaughter of Kirk Kerkorian, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's former owner. The fashion industry will be represented by Carolina Lansing, granddaughter of designer Carolina Herrera, while Asian business dynasties include Alice Wang, whose father founded BYD, the world's top electric-car company, and Ella Wadia from India's oldest conglomerate family business.
The fashion element of le Bal has become increasingly important, with this year's ball gowns featuring creations from the world's most prestigious couture houses. The roster includes designs by Carolina Herrera, Dior, Elie Saab, Stéphane Rolland, Guo Pei, Schiaparelli, Georges Hobeika, Armani Privé, Antonio Grimaldi, Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang, Chrome Hearts, and Rick Owens, creating a runway-worthy display of haute couture.
Perhaps the most significant change in recent years has been the role of social media in transforming the event's reach and impact. A decade ago, le Bal prohibited cell phones and unauthorized photography, tightly controlling press exposure with exclusive coverage arrangements. Now, social media postings have become essential to the debutantes' identities, with the young women sharing images instantly with their followers, making the concept of "coming out" more alluring than ever in the digital age.
This evolution reflects a broader cultural transformation where an old-world ritual is being reinterpreted through contemporary modes of communication, driven by the debutantes themselves. The event has successfully bridged the gap between centuries-old European traditions and modern global connectivity, creating what observers now recognize as a unique cultural phenomenon that continues to grow in influence and prestige while maintaining its core purpose of marking young women's transition into adulthood.
