Apple Martin, Ava Phillippe Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis ; Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
The Le Bal des Débutantes is the chance for Hollywood and the world’s elite to introduce their darling daughters to society.
Le Bal, as it is informally known, was first organized by Ophélie Renouard in 1958. It is meant to celebrate “excellence, the empowering of women, and the harmony between débutantes and cavaliers from all over the world,” per a social media statement.
Many stars have since watched with pride as their offspring were named debutantes. For example, Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter, Apple, was a deb in November 2024.
“My beautiful daughter in @maisonvalentino,” Paltrow, who shares Apple and son Moses with ex-husband Chris Martin, wrote via Instagram Story at the time.
Angelina Jolie and more A-listers have passed down their favorite fashion pieces to their children. Jolie lent her eldest daughter, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, a bejeweled Elie Saab gown for the Eternals premiere in October 2021. Jolie, who shares Zahara with ex-husband Brad Pitt, first wore the frock at the 2014 Academy Awards. “My kids are all […]
Apple stunned in a custom Valentino strapless blue gown, which took designer Alessandro Michele over 700 hours to make. The atelier also crafted special looks for Paltrow, Martin and Moses to wear to the Paris event.
Keep scrolling to see which other famous children made their debuts at Le Bal:
Apple Martin
Apple Martin Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis
Apple, the eldest child of Paltrow and Martin, stunned in a Valentino gown that featured six dégradé tiers of silk plissé chiffon and cinched with a black bow.
Lucia Sofia Ponti
Sasha Alexander, Lucia Sofia Ponti, Eduardo Ponti, Sophia Loren and Roberta Armani Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Lucia is the daughter of Italian filmmaker Edoardo Ponti and his wife, Sasha Alexander, making her the granddaughter of iconic actress Sophia Loren. Lucia debuted alongside Apple in 2024, wearing a bandeau-cut Armani gown.
Sophie Kodjoe
Sophie Tei Naaki Lee Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker Leon Bennett/FilmMagic
And Just Like That star Nicole Ari Parker and husband, fellow actor Boris Kodjoe, also watched their daughter debut in 2024. She wore a plum-colored Oscar de la Renta frock with appliquéd flowers.
Ava Phillippe
Reese Witherspoon and Ava Phillippe spend Thanksgiving with family in Paris on Thursday, November 23, 2017. Best Image / BACKGRID
Reese Witherspoon and ex-husband Ryan Phillippe’s daughter made her debut in 2017, wearing a golden Giambattista Valli Haute Couture ballgown and bespoke jewelry by Payal Mehta. Ava was escorted by cavalier Maharaja Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur, a prominent member of Indian nobility.
“Last week felt like a dream, and I am so grateful to have so many beautiful memories from this adventure,” Ava wrote via Instagram several days later. “Giambattista Valli is a dear friend and he makes beautiful designs so we were happy and so honored that she got to wear his dress.”
She added, “I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to meet so many beautiful, kind, supportive, and passionate young women (and men!) at Le Bal. I also feel so privileged to take part in this event knowing that it is raising money for both the Seleni Institute and Enfants d’Asie, two organizations supporting very important causes.”
Lori Harvey
Lori Harvey Michael Kovac/Getty Images
Steve Harvey’s stepdaughter also made her debut in 2017. Lori, who is the daughter of Steve’s wife Marjorie from a previous relationship, wore an embellished black dress.
Sophia Stallone
Sistine Rose Stallone and Sophia Rose Stallone Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage
Rocky star Sylvester Stallone and wife Jennifer Flavin’s eldest daughter appeared at the 2012 Le Bal.
Scout and Tallulah Willis
Scout and Rumer Willis Joe Kohen/WireImage
Bruce Willis and ex Demi Moore presented daughters Scout and Tallulah to the Le Bal crowd in 2008 and 2011, respectively. (The exes also share eldest daughter Rumer.)
Autumn Whittaker
Autumn Whitaker and Forest Whitaker Michael Bezjian/WireImage
Forest Whittaker’s daughter debuted in a Jason Wu dress at the 2009 occasion.
“I am just so excited for her,” the acclaimed actor, who is married to Keisha Whitaker, gushed to WWD at the time.
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Francesca Eastwood
Clint Eastwood, Francesca Fisher-Eastwood, Morgane Eastwood and wife Dina Eastwood Dominique Charriau/WireImage
Clint Eastwood’s daughter also debuted at the 2009 festivities, wearing a gown by Dolce & Gabbana.
Billie Lourd
Billie Catherine Lourd Eric Charbonneau/WireImage
The late Carrie Fisher’s daughter rocked Chanel for the 2008 gala, where she was escorted by Adam Stewart Maltz.
Lily Collins
Lily Collins Donato Sardella/WireImage
Long before Lily, the daughter of Genesis musician Phil Collins, starred as the oh-so-fashionable (if not ringarde) titular character on Netflix’s Emily in Paris, she was a Le Bal deb. Lily appeared at the 2007 presentation in a white Chanel frock.
“#TBT debutante baby! All dressed up for the Crillon Ball with @richarddennen and ready to dance into the weekend,” Lily wrote via Instagram in 2019, remembering the occasion with cavalier Dennen.