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Philippine debutante Emily Madrigal lives every young woman’s fantasy as she is introduced to society on an enchanting night of haute couture dresses, stunning

jewellery, and handsome cavaliers, writes Mitch Tizon-dela Paz

What

Made OfDreams Are

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family affair Emily Madrigal with parents Ann and Vincent and sister Alice

Photography: tim griffithsMake-Up: latifa BlONDEaU Of maC COsmEtiCs

Hair: alEXaNDrE DE Paris Jewellery: BUChErEr

Shoes: ChristiaN lOUBOUtiNLocation: hÔtEl raPhaEl

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aving been born to a prominent and wealthy family, with most of her childhood spent living in the glamorous city of Paris, Emily Madrigal is no stranger to a life of privilege; but receiving the invitation to Le Bal des Débutantes in November last year still made her heart skip a beat. “When I found out I would be part of this fabulous event, which also happens to be for a wonderful cause, I was overjoyed,” says the 19-year-old daughter of Ann and Vincent Madrigal. Le Bal, also known as the Crillion Ball, was named after the grand Hôtel de Crillon in Paris where the annual event always took place until it closed for renovation in 2013. It is the most exclusive debutante ball and one of high society’s biggest events in the world.

HYoung women representing their home countries are introduced to society. Each one is dressed in haute couture gowns designed by the world’s biggest fashion houses, wears stunning jewellery, and is escorted by her handsome cavalier. “I have never participated in a debutante ball before. This was my first, so it was really exciting for me,” says Emily. “Plus, knowing that only 25 girls were invited, and that I was one of the select few who got the golden ticket to the prestigious ball added to the thrill.”

Princess in TrainingLe Bal happened on Thanksgiving weekend in Paris, but Emily’s own personal fairy tale started a month before that, in New York City. Gown fittings, a series of photo shoots, and dance lessons marked the beginning of a very memorable adventure for the young lady. “The designer of my gown was J Mendel, and I had a few fittings at his boutique in New York,” she says. “He is famous for his furs and his exquisite dresses which are perfect for grand balls like Le Bal, and the one I chose for this special event was, I thought, the best suited for the Parisian ball and my introduction to society—my ‘coming out’ as they say.” Emily’s dress, a pale pink and black asymmetrical ball gown, fitted her delicate frame perfectly. “It looked like a gown for a modern-day princess,” she gushes. This modern-day princess had to learn how

sittiNg PrEtty Emily Madrigal in a J Mendel gown, photographed at the Raphael Suite

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magiC mOmENts (Counter clockwise from top far left) Emily and escort Theodore Oliver Rubin; Picture of elegance; In a green J Mendel (Photography by Troi Santos); Emily dancing with her father Vincent; Fathers wait to dance with their daughters; In a royal blue J Mendel (Photography by Troi Santos); Annette Bening and Yvette Warnod; Pat Cleveland and Antonio Manlio Nieto

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Everything was lovely. The ballroom was a beauty itself with its gilded stucco ceiling, the exquisite art that decorated its walls, and the faint glow from the Eiffel Tower streaming in through the windows that added a touch of romance to the magical atmosphere. The whole venue looked like a page from a fairy tale, and as the beautiful young ladies swept the dance floor and waltzed the night away, the grand ballroom of Palais de Chaillot sparkled with magic and grandeur. It was a picture that will stay with Emily, one she will never forget. “Being part of Le Bal is important to me for a number of reasons,” she says. “First, I met people whom I never would have been friends with otherwise. Second, it was a truly wonderful opportunity to introduce myself to society. And lastly, Le Bal raises money for charity. Proceeds from the ball benefit its partner, Children of Asia, a foundation which is partly based in the Philippines, and provides care for underprivileged children in the region.” Having her family and her boyfriend by her side throughout the whole experience, all proud and supportive, was also a memory she will always cherish. “My family really supported me from start to finish. In New York, they helped me with the pre-preperations for the ball. Then, they went to Paris and attended the ball with me,” says Emily. “My boyfriend, Theodore Oliver Rubin, was also with me, and it was very reassuring to have him there by my side, supporting me during this very important event.” At 19, Emily has seen the world and has gone on countless unforgettable adventures. “I have waded through floods in forgotten villages in the Philippines to deliver relief goods. I have taken classes on metaphysics and epistemology at Princeton. I have won the level 7 New York state gymnastics championships, and trained and competed with a French gymnastics team in Paris. I have attended classes at the École du Louvre in Paris, and I have gotten lost in the Moroccan Souks…” The list goes on. Emily thinks of herself as a “sum of all these extremely diverse experiences,” and being a debutante at the most important debutante ball in the world is another addition to the significant experiences that make her youth extremely extraordinary.

“It was a once in a lifetime event, so it was only natural to be anxious, but everyone managed to contain their nerves and look calm and absolutely gorgeous”

to waltz with her father Vincent; so after much fuss about her gown, and pictorials here and there, she and her dad went on to brush up on their dancing skills. She enjoyed every minute of it. “It was my most favourite part,” says Emily. “My dad is my best friend in the entire world, and dancing with him during practice and at the ball was an exceptionally precious moment.” The father-daughter dance is an old Le Bal tradition, but for Emily, it’s more than that. “My ultimate source of inspiration is my dad. He has taught me everything I know and for that I am very grateful.” Having her father as part of this very special event in her life makes the experience so much sweeter.

A Paris To RememberEmily arrived in the City of Light a week before the ball, and she was instantly caught in a whirlwind of activities. “The beginning of Le Bal was sort of a glamorous chaos,” she says. “We, the debutantes, were rushed from one photo shoot to the next, and bodyguards followed us wherever we went because Le Bal lent us very expensive jewellery from Bucherer.” It was all a mad frenzy but Emily found herself enjoying every experience and making a lot of new friends. “It was so much fun meeting all these girls, and it’s amazing how we all had so much in common,” she says. “During our breaks, we chatted about our lives, exchanged Facebook accounts, and laughed. It’s incredible to be able to feel at home with complete strangers.” Amidst all the crazy and exciting Le Bal episodes, the Princeton University freshman also managed to squeeze in a little bit of school work into her schedule, finishing a photography assignment that involved Paris’ old architecture and neighbourhoods just a few days before her big debut. Talk about multitasking. The excitement that brewed around the ball throughout the week heightened on the actual Le Bal night as the debutantes headed to the Palais de Chaillot, the venue for this year’s grand ball. “Everyone had butterflies in their stomach,” Emily remembers. Well, everyone except her. The former competitive gymnast is used to having thousands of eyes trained on her during competitions, and this night was no different; so she just walked gracefully into the grand ballroom of the hotel and dazzled everyone. “The aura surrounding Le Bal was a mix of anxiety, excitement, glamour, and fun,” she recalls. “It was a once in a lifetime event, so it was only natural to be anxious, but everyone managed to contain their nerves and look calm and absolutely gorgeous.”

PErfECt sEttiNg Hôtel Raphael made a fitting backdrop for the debutante and the family