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Ananya Pandey’s sister, Raisa, is all set to make her Le Ball debut on Saturday. Learn all about the event and previous Indian participants.
Ananya Pandey and Isha Ambani have already made their debut in Le Ball.
Ananya Pandey’s younger sister, Raisa, starred in Le Ball des Debutantes (also known as Lee Ball) in Paris. Ahead of its Saturday launch, Le Ball’s official page shared photos of Raisa trying on a stunning Elie Saab gown on its Instagram. Apart from Ananya, Risa’s friends Shanaya Kapoor and Suhana Khan commented on her look.
But what exactly is Le Ball?
English traditions often emphasized the importance of the debutante ball where young women were presented to the Queen. This tradition was very important in the 18th century. To give such an event a modern touch, Ophelia Renord came up with the idea of Le Ball in 1994.
Le Ball gathers 20 young women between the ages of 16 and 21, and introduces them to high society. The women have been selected by Reynard from fields such as arts, culture, entertainment, business and even royalty. The event is strictly an invite-only gala and the ladies are dressed in exquisite gowns from brands like Chanel, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier and more. In addition to dancing with their knights, the new players also perform a waltz with their father. Unlike traditional balls which were an event to find potential life partners, Le Ball is a networking event for members of high society.
The ball raises money for charities supporting young women. As reported by Vogue, Le Ball raises money for Enfants d’Asie, which promotes education for young girls in Southeast Asia, and the Seleni Institute of New York City, which supports teenage mothers. and provides care. Attendees make donations at their own discretion.
Which popular Indian faces attended Le Ball?
Apart from Risa, several famous faces have attended Le Ball.
Ananya Pandey
In 2017, 19-year-old Ananya Pandey made her LeBal debut. Dressed in a stunning blue Jean Paul Gaultier gown, she was accompanied by her parents – Chunky Pandey and Bhavana Pandey.
Shanaya Kapoor
In 2019, Shanaya made her debut and wore a red gown designed by French-Indian clothing label, Leconette Hemant. Her journey from Mumbai to Paris was included in the last 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 embarks on her career journey, to learn about different mindsets, perspectives and ways of thinking. It opens your mind to new ideas that you wouldn’t otherwise be aware of.”
Isha Ambani
Esha debuted in 2012 and was accompanied by Mukesh and Nita Ambani. A 20-year-old Esha wore a stunning silver gown embellished with elaborate floral appliqués for her special day.
Akshita Bhanjdev
Akshita, the modern princess of the Bhanj dynasty, wore a gold cap dress by Zaheer Murad for her debut in 2013. She was 19 at the time and was courted by Prince Chaitanya Raj Singh of Jaisalmer.
Shloka Birla
Daughter of industrialist Yash and Avanti Birla, Shloka opted for a Manish Malhotra cocktail dress for her 2018 debut. She wore jewels by Pyle New York and was accompanied by HSH Prince Jean de Croy Soleil.
Some reports also suggested that Amitabh Bachchan’s granddaughter Navya Navali Nanda was also supposed to make her debut in 2015 but dropped out due to the Paris attacks.