On Creating Her Own Virtual Prom For Friends
There was a lot more coordination and initiative on my part to plan and organize my own prom. Things that I had taken for granted at previous school dances did not come easy — sending out invites, crafting a perfect playlist of danceability vs. chill-out music, having games on hand if there was a lull in the conversation, and generally making sure all of my friends had as good of a time as possible was more of a challenge than I thought it would be.
On Her Virtual Prom Beauty Prep
I knew that I wanted to go classic and understated since my dress was a bold red and I have dyed purple tips on the ends of my hair. I took inspiration from vintage Hollywood to give myself big, soft ringlets that would be elegant and tie my look together. Much like my hair, I wanted to give myself a classic makeup look and let the beautiful Pandora Jewelry and bold print of my dress shine. The Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker XXL Lip Gloss in Pinkwell helped me make a statement, without taking the spotlight away from my dress.
On Her Prom Dress
I had bought my prom dress before the pandemic, so I was lucky to have access to my full outfit. I had a bold red dress with a halter racer top and a long skirt that pooled at the bottom. I had access to some beautiful Pandora Jewelry to accessorize my look, including a pair of studded crown earrings, a silver crown ring, a silver-studded tiara ring, and a diamond tiara bracelet. If anything, it was easier since I didn't have to wear any shoes while I danced with my friends. My friends who hadn't gotten their dresses on time had to improvise quite a bit, though.
On Her Overall Virtual Prom Experience
I made so many memories that I would've never had if things had continued as normal. My favorite memory was while my friends and I danced to Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson, my sister and mom were singing along in the kitchen as they made dinner. It was a strange meshing of worlds that showed me the solidarity that can come out of social distancing. Everyone needs a little time to dance and feel beautiful and free. The fact that they also got to experience my prom was really gratifying to show me that.
I think quarantine made it incredibly hard to feel connected to my friends. I felt a strong ache — that I was missing out on something that was a rite of passage for me to have one night to feel beautiful and act silly with my friends. Even over Zoom, I still had an unforgettable experience. When my grandkids ask me about COVID-19 and how I dealt with it, I'll tell them stories about this prom and how fun it was to connect with my friends and family alike.
