In New Orleans, Louisiana, Carnival season runs from January 6 (Three King’s Day) until the day before Ash Wednesday, Fat Tuesday—or in French “Mardi Gras.” This special time of the year is also when debutantes, young ladies who have come of age, are presented into society by Carnival Krewes. This year I was honored to have the opportunity to be presented by the oldest Black debutante presentation organization in the country, the Young Men Illinois Club, which was created 130 years ago.
The men who started this organization worked at the Illinois Central Railroad, which traveled between New Orleans and Chicago. Many of these men were also butlers in New Orleans when they were on a layover in town at the mansions in uptown New Orleans. These men experienced what was done for the young white girls who were presented and decided to start an organization to present their young black girls into society.
Each year, the Young Men Illinois Club chooses between 15-20 girls to present. All of the young women participate in etiquette workshops, waltz lessons, high tea luncheons, society parties hosted by the girls presented as higher-ranking maids to the queen, the queen-elect’s party, and a final ball where the queen-elect officially becomes the new queen and begins her year-long reign.
This year’s ball was held at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 31, 2025. The theme for the 88th annual ball was Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro. The event celebrated the Brazilian celebration of Carnival that dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries when Portuguese colonizers introduced this celebration to South America. On the night of the ball, each of the debutantes was surprised with a custom, sparkling headpiece. Each headpiece was a different color, had large feathers protruding from it, and represented an important element of Brazilian culture. My headpiece represented soccer, or football, and the extreme contributions of Pele, one of the best soccer players of all time. The bright green feathers on my headpiece were the color found on the Brazilian flag and the green featured on the uniforms of the Brazilian football team.
After the presentation, all of the debutantes and their guests celebrated this grand and momentous occasion. I was lucky enough to have Liliane Leclercq ‘25 from the SJB senior class as one of my guests. The party lasted into the wee hours of the morning, and breakfast was served.
I was not the only person in my family presented this year. My cousin Natalie was also a debutante and my little cousin—Natalie’s little sister—Gianna was a princess to the queen. I love that we were able to go through this experience together and create memories that will last a lifetime. Debutante presentations are a rite of passage for the women in my family. I am beyond honored to walk in the footsteps of my mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. I am so proud to be a part of this rich New Orleans history and culture in my family.