The world of the debutante is one of wealth and privilege. Debutante is derived from the French word debut, or “a first performance or showing,” and refers to a young woman of aristocratic or upper-class family background who has reached maturity and is about to make her first appearance in fashionable society, usually at a debutante's ball. It's a tradition that dates back to the mid-16th century when the British queen would choose her ladies-in-waiting from prominent and well-educated families. The debutante's ball remains an important event on the social calendar in many countries around the world, a glamorous and prestigious occasion that's celebrated in much the same way as it was 400 years ago.
Click through and take a peek into the privileged world of the debutante.