Hannah Husain has achieved the historic feat of being the inaugural Pakistani participant at the appreciated Le Bal des Débutantes, a recent event held in Paris. Le Bal, an annual debutante ball and fashion extravaganza occurring each November, features a select group of 20 to 25 debutantes aged between 16 and 22. It distinguishes itself as the sole debutante ball that operates strictly by invitation.
This exclusive affair showcases a gathering of modern royals, young socialites, and philanthropists hailing from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the U.S., along with their accompanying parents. Serving as Pakistan’s representative at this distinguished event, Hannah Husain holds the distinguished lineage of being the great-great-granddaughter of Sir Fazle Husain. He was a notable barrister, Education Minister, and the founder of the Unionist party in India. Furthermore, her great-grandfather held the esteemed position of Pakistani Ambassador to Beirut, Lebanon, as reported by Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. Accompanied by her brother Harris, Husain elegantly showcased the exquisite designs of Georges Hobeika and Elie Saab at the glamorous event. The star-studded affair unfolded at Shangri-La Paris, the former residence of Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew.
This year’s edition of the prestigious event featured six debutantes from Asia, including Advaitesha Birla, the great-great-granddaughter of GD Birla, founder of the Aditya Birla Group, and Skye Wong, representing the founders of the Bank of East Asia and Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong. Organized by Ophélie Renouard, the ball serves a noble cause by raising funds for the cardiology research unit ARCFA of Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, specializing in the care of children with heart defects globally. Additionally, it supports World Central Kitchen, an organization providing meals to vulnerable communities during global crises. Having its roots as a social gathering back in 1958 at the famed Château de Versailles, the ball experienced a brief hiatus in 1968 due to worker uprisings in France. It wasn’t until 1992 that Ophélie Renouard revived the event as an exclusive, invitation-only fashion extravaganza. For two decades, from 1992 to 2012, the iconic Parisian establishment, Hôtel de Crillon, served as the host venue, earning the ball the colloquial moniker of the ‘Crillon Ball. Among the distinguished debutantes who have graced this event are notable figures such as Ava Phillippe, daughter of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, Lily Collins, and Hollywood royalty including Ella Beatty, Viola Mikkelsen, and Sophia-Rose Stallone. Jen Li, the daughter of Huawei’s founder, adds to the legacy of accomplished individuals who have made their debut at this illustrious affair.
