History
The International Debutante Ball was founded in 1954 by socialite, philanthropist and humanitarian Beatrice Dinsmore Joyce. Joyce was inspired to create an American debutante ball after hearing Consuelo Vanderbilt make an observation about debutante balls and how lucky girls are who travel to debutante balls in different countries.
The band leader Lester Lanin played the music from the start in 1954 until his last ball in the 1990s. Every guest was given a special "lanin hat". The first balls were held at the Plaza hotel with 35 girls from different countries and different states. As it grew with more girls participating, it moved to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
Past chairmen of the Debutante Committee of The International Debutante Ball have included:
- Prince Ivan Sergeyevich Obolensky
- H.R.H Princess Chantal of France
- Anne Eisenhower
- Susan Eisenhower
- Mrs D. David Eisenhower.
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