7 Links Debutantes Are Belles of the Balle

Prettied up in floor-length, full-skirted white gowns and their hair meticulously coiffed, seven young women were presented Saturday during the 11th annual Debutante Charity Ball staged by the Orange County Chapter of the Links Inc., an organization of professional black women.

Themed “La Balle Mascarade,” each of the debutantes, wearing a string of cultured pearls, 16-inch white gloves and big smiles, curtsied to the crowd of about 350 guests during their coming out celebration at the Anaheim Marriott.

“You feel like a black Cinderella,” said 17-year-old debutante Shyika Latrice Sennett from Cerritos.

Deb Gerri Aisha McDaniel, 17, of San Clemente added: “Here, black is beautiful.”

Others making their debuts were Courtney Nicole Pierce of Los Angeles; Danine Jasmine Dias of Fullerton; Jennifer Renee Ross of Mission Viejo; Loretta Scott-Whitaker of Los Angeles, who was also given the Miss Debutante Award; and Melissa J. Weissman of Yorba Linda.

Escorts in tuxedos included Kareem Clark, Rashaan Clark, Jason Bethel, Donald Oliver Jr., Bertran Lucas, Thomas Tape’ and Anton Hector.

Leroy Titus, former chief executive officer of Southside Branch YMCA of Los Angeles, was master of ceremonies.

The annual ball is the Orange County chapter’s major fund-raising activity of the year, said Links president Joyce Norwood, who added that the ball is expected to raise more than $10,000.

“We use the money from the ball to fund service projects,” she said.

The Orange County Chapter, which was founded in 1973 and now includes 43 women, is involved in such projects as the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the California Afro-American Museum in Los Angeles, the Florence Crittenton Services of Orange County Inc., and a bone marrow project to recruit donors for African-Americans.

Links was founded in 1946 to promote educational, cultural and civic activities for professional black American women. There are now more than 8,000 members nationwide and in Germany and the Bahamas.

Norwood said that since its first ball in 1982, the local chapter has presented 159 young women, who are encouraged to become community leaders.

Faye Washington, this year’s ball chairwoman, said the six-month debutante program gives young women exposure in such areas as cultural enrichment, career planning, college-motivational workshops, social etiquette and dance.

Each debutante must perform at least 50 hours of community service, which “creates a sense of community awareness and responsibility,” said Washington.

“The whole process is exposure to life,” she said. “It instills a discipline that will best prepare them for the paths that will take them in life.”

And Washington said their escorts are equally involved in the program from the start-up until the ball.

“It makes me feel good that you’re doing something good for the African-American community,” said Bethel, 16, of Lake Forest, about escorting debutante Ross.

In keeping with the mystic of the masquerade, at the start of the Saturday’s ball, each debutante entered on stage with a white feather mask shielding her face and unveiled their smiles as they were presented.

Each curtsied three times before being shown off to guests. They circled the ballroom floor on the arms of their fathers. With a bow and a kiss, the debs then presented their mothers with bouquets.

In a special waltz, the debs danced together to the song, “Isn’t She Lovely.” Then they were joined by their escorts for a waltz to “The Greatest Love of All,” followed by a dance with their fathers.

Guests’ tables were decorated with centerpieces of silver feather masks and burning candles in clear vases. Debutantes’ tables were draped in white tablecloths and assorted spring bouquets. The menu included garden fresh salad mimosa, an entree of Cornish game hen stuffed with blended wild rice, and for dessert, vanilla ice cream in a dark chocolate cup on a painted plate of raspberry coulis.

“It’s not going to end here,” said debutante Pierce. “No matter if we leave for college, we’ll still be in touch. This experience bonds you for life.”