Question re NPHC debutantes

[crescent&pearls]

Last night my local cable aired a debutante ball hosted by a NPHC sorority. I've never seen something like this aired before, but I got sucked in to watching to see if knew any of the girls (I didn't but I did recognize a few of the parents) There must have been about 50 girls! They ranged in age from 16-19. They were so cute, and so nervous. Unfortunately I missed the beginning so this was probably explained but I'm just curious now...does participating in a cotillion like this obligate the girls to pursue membership in that particular organization? Are they selected to participate because they are legacies or are they sponsored to be debs by friends, teachers etc.?

The other thing that stood out was when each girl was first introduced she was described as "Miss First Name Last Name" and after she did the big curtsy the announcer re-introduced each girl as "Misses First Name Last Name." Was I hearing that right? At first I thought, well some of the girls could possibly be married but then I thought probably not. Can anyone shed some light on all this, I'm totally intrigued.

In any case, great PR for the org, their crest and badge was front and center through the whole thing!

[sweetmagnolia]

Originally Posted by crescent&pearls

Last night my local cable aired a debutante ball hosted by a NPHC sorority. I've never seen something like this aired before, but I got sucked in to watching to see if knew any of the girls (I didn't but I did recognize a few of the parents) There must have been about 50 girls! They ranged in age from 16-19. They were so cute, and so nervous. Unfortunately I missed the beginning so this was probably explained but I'm just curious now...does participating in a cotillion like this obligate the girls to pursue membership in that particular organization? Are they selected to participate because they are legacies or are they sponsored to be debs by friends, teachers etc.?

The other thing that stood out was when each girl was first introduced she was described as "Miss First Name Last Name" and after she did the big curtsy the announcer re-introduced each girl as "Misses First Name Last Name." Was I hearing that right? At first I thought, well some of the girls could possibly be married but then I thought probably not. Can anyone shed some light on all this, I'm totally intrigued.

In any case, great PR for the org, their crest and badge was front and center through the whole thing!

You are not obligated to pursue membership in that organization if you participate in their cotillion/debutante ball. (At least the way mine worked) is that you are invited/asked by an alumna if you would like to participate. You fill out an application of your accomplishments, some short answers, and then they take you on the for the (months of) preparation and such. When the event is over, there's really no mention of "Now that you've debuted with the XYZ's, your next step is to pursue membership with us" (just BTW, I'm now in a NPC sorority)

I don't think you were hearing it right- the announcer may have stumbled over their words a bit, but I don't know why one of the young women would go from Miss to Misses after her bow.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by crescent&pearls

Last night my local cable aired a debutante ball hosted by a NPHC sorority. I've never seen something like this aired before, but I got sucked in to watching to see if knew any of the girls (I didn't but I did recognize a few of the parents) There must have been about 50 girls! They ranged in age from 16-19. They were so cute, and so nervous. Unfortunately I missed the beginning so this was probably explained but I'm just curious now... 1. does participating in a cotillion like this obligate the girls to pursue membership in that particular organization? 2. Are they selected to participate because they are legacies or are they sponsored to be debs by friends, teachers etc.?

The other thing that stood out was when each girl was first introduced she was described as "Miss First Name Last Name" and after she did the big curtsy the announcer re-introduced each girl as "Misses First Name Last Name." Was I hearing that right? At first I thought, well some of the girls could possibly be married but then I thought probably not. 3. Can anyone shed some light on all this, I'm totally intrigued.

In any case, great PR for the org, their crest and badge was front and center through the whole thing!

1. NO!!!!! That is a big misconception some girls have. Every now and then this question will pop up in one of the NPHC sorority forums. Most recently this same question has been asked in the DST forum. The answer is no.

2. They are selected for a variety of reasons. Mom is involved in the chapter, it is a scholarship pagent, etc. They are sponsored by family, friends and church members. Case in point - I was a ZPB deb, was asked to be a SGR deb (but declined), but I ended joining SGR anyway. The reason I declined being a SGR deb was when I was asked I was a senior in hs, getting ready to go college. My parents sat me down and said "We can either pay for you to be a deb, or put this money towards your down payment for your dorm room in college." I chose my dorm room.

3. I really don't know why this happened.


From time to time the Houston Alumnae Chapter of DST will take out a big ad in the Lifestyle section of the Houston Chronicle with a picture and short description of their debs. They usually have it around this time of year.

What is really funny to me is when sometimes the DSTs will have their debs in the paper on one page and the Confederate debs are on the next page.

[crescent&pearls]

^^^ Thanks! I'm so perplexed about the miss to misses thing. It wasn't like he said it just once. Maybe he just flubbed up or something.

Anyway, the kids and the parents were adorable. One dad totally stepped on his daughter's dress, she kept smiling through the whole deal. I love this kind of stuff!