For most young women, coming of age means a high school prom and a dress from a department store. But for celebrity kids like Apple Martin, daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, it means making a dazzling debut at Les Bals de Debutantes in Paris, wearing custom designer gowns and mingling with royalty. This year’s event, a glittering celebration for a charitable cause, was nothing short of magical.
Now 20-year-old Apple Martin, whose unique name caused a stir nationwide two decades ago, has stepped out from behind her parents’ shadow. The college student stunned at the ritzy event in Paris wearing a custom blue gown adorned with a black bow, accompanied by her famous mom and dad, as well as her grandmother and brother Moses. The event got people talking, but Apple is not the first celebrity kid to make her debut at the ball. Here, read all about Les Bals de Debutantes, who else was in attendance and who has participated in the past!
A night of glamour: What is Les Bals de Debutantes?
Les Bals de Debutantes is a charity event in which young socialites, royals, celebrities and women from affluent families join under one roof decked out in glamorous gowns and jewels as they’re “introduced” to society in the way that women once were in days gone by. This year, the ball supported the Association of Cardiology Research from Fetus to Adult at Necker-Enfants Malades, the world’s first children’s hospital, as well as the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in New York.
The young ladies stunned in gowns by some of the world’s most prominent designers, proving that this seemingly far-out tradition is still alive and well. While Apple Martin was the woman of the hour as her famous mom shared to their social media a behind-the-scenes glimpse at their weekend in the city of love, the young blonde was one of many women who made their debut at the glitzy event, and is most certainly not the first child of celebs to appear. Margaret Qualley, daughter of Andie MacDowell, Ava Phillippe, daughter of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, Lily Collins, daughter of Phil Collins and more have shown off at this glamorous showcase in the past.
The celebrity kids who stole the show
There were a handful of other daughters and granddaughters of famous faces who attended this event in Paris. Lucia Ponti, the 18-year-old granddaughter of Sophia Loren, stunned this year in an Armani gown—and shared with Vogue Italia that her grandmother gave her a bit of advice before heading into the big event. “My grandmother only told me that I have to prioritize being myself above all else,” she shared.
Another celebrity daughter making her debut was Sophie Kodjoe, daughter of Nicole Ari Parker known for her work on And Just Like That…. “I think its history is rooted in sending young women off to the world to be married, but in this case, it showcases how individual all of the women participating are and how diverse and creative everyone is,” Kodjoe told Vogue. “I think it’s a great opportunity to meet new people from all over the world and I’m just really honored to be a part of that.”
