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Ananya Panday’s sister, Rysa, is all set to make her debut at Le Bal on Saturday. Know all about the event and the previous Indian attendees.
Ananya Panday and Isha Ambani have previously made their debut at Le Bal.
Ananya Panday’s younger sister, Rysa, is all set to make her debut at the le Bal des Débutantes (also known as Le Bal) in Paris. Ahead of her Saturday debut, the official page of Le Bal took to their Instagram to share pictures of Rysa trying out stunning gowns by Elie Saab. Apart from Ananya, Rysa’s friends Shanaya Kapoor and Suhana Khan commented on her looks.
But what exactly is the Le Bal?
English traditions have often stressed the importance of a debutante ball where young ladies were presented before the Queen. This tradition was of utmost importance in the 18th century. To give an event like this a modern touch, Ophelie Renouard came up with the idea of Le Ball in 1994.
Le Ball brings together twenty young women, in the age group of 16 to 21, and introduces them to the high society. The women are handpicked by Renouard from fields like arts, culture, entertainment, business, and even royalty. The event is a strictly invite-only gala and the women are dressed in fine gowns from brands like Chanel, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, and more. Apart from dancing with their cavaliers, the debutants also perform a waltz with their fathers. Unlike the traditional balls which were an event to look out for potential life partners, Le Ball is more of a networking event for high society members.
The ball raises money for charities that support young women. As reported by Vogue, the Le Bal raises money for Enfants d’Asie which promotes education for young girls in South East Asia, and the Seleni Institute of New York City, which provides support and care to teenage mothers. Attendees make the donations at their discretion.
Which popular Indian faces have attended Le Bal?
Apart from Rysa, many popular faces have attended Le Bal.
Ananya Panday
Back in 2017, 19-year-old Ananya Panday made her debut at the Le Bal. Dressed in a stunning blue gown by Jean Paul Gaultier, she was accompanied by her parents – Chunky Panday and Bhavana Panday.
Shanaya Kapoor
In 2019, Shanaya made her debut and wore a red ruffled gown designed by the French-Indian couture label, Lecoanet Hemant. Her journey from Mumbai to Paris was covered in the previous season of Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives. Speaking to Vogue India, she remarked, “It’s a wonderful experience for any young girl, especially before she sets out on her journey in her career, encountering different mindsets, perspectives, and ways of thinking. It opens your mind to new ideas that you wouldn’t otherwise be aware of.”
Isha Ambani
Isha made her debut in 2012 and she was accompanied by Mukesh and Nita Ambani. A 20-year-old Isha wore a stunning silver gown that was adorned with elaborate floral appliqués for her special day.
Akshita Bhanj Deo
The modern princess of the Bhanj Dynasty, Akshita, wore a dress by a golden caped dress by Zuhair Murad for her debut in 2013. She was 19 years old then and was escorted by Prince Chaitanya Raj Singh of Jaisalmer.
Shloka Birla
Daughter of industrialists Yash and Avanti Birla, Shloka opted for a cocktail dress by Manish Malhotra for her debut in 2018. She wore jewels from Payal New York and was escorted by HSH Prince Jean De Croy Solre.
Some reports also mention that Amitabh Bachchan’s granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda was also set to make her debut in 2015 but she skipped it because of the attacks in Paris.