A Detroit-area high school is holding an all-girls prom to create a comfortable and safe environment for girls who cannot attend the traditional co-ed prom for cultural reasons.
That’s right. Boys are not allowed.
Five Muslim girls from Hamtramck High School started “Princess Prom” in 2012 to give girls the opportunity to dress up as they please and dance the night away.
Last year, 230 girls showed up to the dance at the PNA Banquet Hall in Hamtramck. This year, the team expects about 250 in attendance.
The event is intended to create a safe space for Muslim girls who normally cover up in hijab to let their hair down in an environment with no boys and no cellphones.
Phones are banned to prevent problems with photos being posted to social media.
“We’re on our phones 24-7 and if you don’t have it for a few hours, it’s so calming and everybody is having a fun time,” said Aisha Khanum, an 18-year-old student at Hamtramck High School who has been on Princess Prom planning committee for three years.
The dance offers a separate zone for anyone who needs to use their phone.
Like any other prom, the girls show up in extravagant gowns, shiny stilettos and flashy makeup and hair styles, and they are surrounded with food and lively music.
This one adds an extra cultural element with henna tattoos, a popular form of body art in parts of the Middle Eastern, North African and South Asia.
“The girls work through the year to do fundraising,” said Caitlin Drinkard, a school counselor who helps organize the annual event. “They sold walking tacos, T-shirts, flowers on Valentine’s Day.”
The planning and fundraising is done almost entirely by the high school girls, allowing them to learn about management, leadership and sales.
“We run it like an after-school club,” Drinkard said. “We meet once a week throughout the year. The girls really carry it and lead the meetings.”
She said the process empowers the girls and allows them to celebrate sisterhood.
This year, they set up a Princess Prom GoFundMe page to help raise money for the event, gathering about $1,400 in donations.
About $2,000 was spent on food this year and the remainder goes toward other expenses, like renting the hall, decorations and paying the DJ.
“I’ve gained a lot of business management skills,” Khanum said.
The five girls who started the prom developed a partnership General Motors, which provides a photo booth and operator each year free of charge.
The groups also reach out to major beauty supply brands to create and hand out swag bags filled with donated items. In the past, they received hairspray and shampoo from SexyHair, eye shadow palettes from Mary Kay, key chains and other gifts.
The school continues to host its traditional prom, but opens up the Princess Prom to any girls at the school who want to participate.
Each girl is also allowed to bring a guest from another school.