Every Girl IS A Princess

Cookies made for Once Upon A Prom by the Washington Post’s Roxanne Roberts

It was the Saturday morning AFTER the First Amendment Party and in the middle of the impending White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner as well as onslaught of parties and brunches, so you can imagine how hungover tired and sluggish I was feeling.  As I made my way through the crowded Eastern Market on that warm sunny day before noon, wandering through the vendors and artisans stands, I pondered just how many girls would turn out on such a beautiful weekend day, to be inside trying on dresses?  Granted, they would be in the process of finding their dream prom dress from the racks and racks of donated dresses, but still … didn’t they want to be outside?  What if not enough young ladies showed up? I knew that Once Upon A Prom had hundreds upon hundreds of dresses to distribute for free to area high school girls.  Would hundreds upon hundreds appear?

They did.

As I walked up to the North Hall brick building, I took in the line of young women waiting to get in.  “Is this the dress drive give away?” I inquired of one of the girls.  “Yes,” she answered politely. She was shy, but had the anxious look of a nervous and excited teenager.  “That’s the door,” she pointed out.  “Thanks, wow,” I acknowledged the group of about 20 with a smile and pulled open the door, almost ripping off the arm of Gabrielle, who had been holding the door shut.  I could tell it was a one in-one out scenario, very well run.  The line of girls waiting to try on their potential dream prom dress wound all the way around the space.  The young women came from all parts of DC’s public high schools where OUAP co-Founder and Chair, Ashley Taylor, had reached out to counselors and principals alike, alerting them of the annual dress give away.

As the motto of the 4 year old 501 (c) (3) states, “Every Girl is a Princess” and every high school young lady deserves to have the prom dress of her dreams because it is a special night and formal dresses are well, let’s face it: expensive.  When the shout out on the radio from MiX 107.3FM’s Tommy McFly was delivered that women from all over the area could drop off their gently used formal attire to Zips Drycleaners, that was fantastic, but even more so, the word has been spreading that Washington/VA/MD ladies who dine and dance could deliver these designer frocks to someone who really appreciates them.  “It’s better than leaving them in my closet,” a friend shared with me.  “I have so many cocktail and formal dresses!  I never will wear them again. If I give them to Once Upon A Prom, I know they will be loved, cared for and even more so, it’s such a great cause.  I remember my own prom and believe me, I wish there was something like that back then for me.  I had to work overtime shifts in high school to buy my own dress!” another friend said.

The girls, many with their mothers, were so excited and waited patiently in line, anticipating trying on one of the beautiful, colorful, bright, or black, or red, or metallic gowns to soon be called their own.  The OUAP volunteers were easily spotted with their pink CrookedMonkey “Every Girl is a Princess” tees.  They scooted all over the dressing areas, helping the girls zip up, take off, find a better fit, wrap the dresses in plastic, and wish them well.  In the middle of the room, Althea Simpson (below in magenta tee), a make up artist who in her spare time volunteers to do complimentary make up sessions yearly, was putting the finishing touches on a student.  She told me that this was something she enjoyed doing.  She knew that make up was just as important on that special night as the dress was for the entire experience.

Miss Teen DC, Hope Wiseman (below) and I walked around, taking photos with the girls and their moms in line, chatting, asking where they went to school.  Hope herself is a senior at Bishop McNamara High School and knew some of the girls waiting to try on their dresses.

It was a heartwarming experience to be a part of.  I learned later that over 200 dresses were given out that day between the hours of 9am and 5pm.  The girls had started lining up at 6:30AM.  Thank you to the ladies of Once Upon A Prom, the volunteers, Miss Teen DC, the Eastern Market, Tommy McFly, Zips and of course everyone who donated their own special dresses in order to make every girl who came through, a princess.

More photos from the Once Upon A Prom Dress Give Away