On last night’s final episode in the TV3 series Dream Debs 2011, we got an honest window into the world of an Irish debutante. From the competition and stress to the staggering cost of a teenager’s farewell to the school years, it’s safe to say the debs has become yet another extortionate product of the boom years, that has yet to come back down to earth.
Morphing in to the American prom, the debs is the culmination of a teenager’s school years and they’ll go to any length’s to make it one to remember. From dresses that cost up to €1,000 to helicopter transportation and questionable award ceremonies, this series chronicled it all with their nine girl debutantes.
First up last night was Megan, a dancer and self-confessed messer. Admitting that the debs was going to be one of the biggest days in her life, a tiny size 4-6 Megan won her debs dress in a competition on Facebook. After picking out a tight, white and bright dress that fell to her ankles, it was clear that she wasn’t going to let that stop her from spending a bomb like her friends as her mum told the cameras she had already spent €500, and that was excluding the dress. Considering that was before she even got her hair or make-up done, we had to wonder what in the world she spent the money on.
Although, Megan looked great after getting her make-up done professionally, there’s an obvious pressure there for them to look their best. Megan’s boyfriend seemed more interested in the party aspect of the night while Megan just hoped they didn’t come to blows that night. So it was dinner at the Dunboyne Castle Hotel and a night partying, Megan had the night of her life apparently, even if her and Kevin didn’t win the best couple award.
Over in the Newgrange Hotel in Navan things didn’t go quite as well for 17-year-old Hannah. After spending the day prepping and preening herself for her boyfriend’s debs and spending over €200 on her dress, Hannah’s boyfriend decided to get in a huff and leave her stranded at his debs all alone. Before her dream debs turned into a nightmare debs, Hannah had revelled in the preparations for the evening. With her proud mother hosting a party for all the neighbours and friends, first-born Hannah was looking forward to her night out. Between hair, make-up, tan, and overall expenses, Hannah had gone to a lot of trouble for her boyfriend, for him to turn around and tell her he was too tired to last the night. Thankfully, she didn’t let him ruin her night as she headed back in to the party while he went off to his bed.
Last up it was Lucinda’s turn in the Glenroyal Hotel Maynooth. The athletic girl who works as a party host moved from Zimbabwe to Ireland when she was nine. Lucinda spent €250 on her dress, which she thought was a bargain compared to what others spent. She told the cameras that some girls and guys are driving themselves into debt with the cost of the debs. But that didn’t stop her making her way down to her local salon to get her extensions professionally done, and arranging for a make-up artist to come to her house. She looked stunning in a white, red and green floral dress, and she knew it. With her boyfriend on her arm, the two partied the night away. She let it known though that she was appalled by the awards ceremony, which featured such awards as ‘most likely to become a porn star’. We can’t say we blame her really.
So two out of three enjoying their night wasn’t a bad result really and it looks like this ritual isn’t going anywhere so spray tans at the ready please!
Sarah Carty
