Coming of Age

Up front as the social event of global high society is le Bal des Débutantes, an exclusive ball that marks the debut of daughters of the international elite into society.

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With its long history of dazzling and dizzying flurry of splendour and grandeur shining through a coveted crowd of royalties, A-listers and glitterati, le Bal still holds the most precious invitation of the year.

Raising the bar is le Bal’s philanthropic backdrop, predicating all its pomp and pageantry. This year, it raised funds for the Association of Cardiology Research from Fetus to Adult (ARCFA) and its American counterpart, the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. Both fund pioneering medical research and care for children with congenital heart defects.

Over the years, le Bal has welcomed the young daughters of huge global names, including those from the Philippines. Our debutantes who added lustre to le Bal included Atasha Muhlach, Rocio Zobel, Dominique Cojuangco and Paloma Urquijo Zobel. This year’s roster was as illustrious as ever.

One of the debutantes was Apple Martin, daughter of actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Her understated Valentino gown belied the weight of her Hollywood pedigree.