Atasha Muhlach is in Paris for Le Bal des Débutantes—here are other Filipinas who made their debut at the ball
If you have a lot of female friends in your social circle, chances are you've gone to one or two debut parties, a coming-of-age celebration which marks a young woman's 18th birthday.
While traditional Filipino debut parties only shine the spotlight on one woman, débutante balls are another story as they are held to introduce several young women of upper-class background to society.
One of the most prestigious débutante balls in the world is Le Bal des Débutantes held in Paris, France. Founded in 1994, the fashion and charity ball brings together about 20 women from different countries aged 16 to 22, and are daughters of illustrious personalities, royal families, and other high-class individuals.
Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzalez's daughter Atasha is this year's Philippine representative for Le Bal des Débutantes 2022.
As seen on Charlene's Instagram post, the celebrity family, including their son Andres, attended the dance rehearsals for the ball at Shangri-La Hotel in Paris.
Aga also took to his respective Instagram account to express his happiness at his daughter being the one to represent the country in the invitation-only ball as he shared pictures of their family dinner in the city.
Atasha first announced that she will be a part of this year's Le Bal des Débutantes back in Sept. 3 as she posted pictures from her shoot with luxury lifestyle magazine Tatler Philippines, where she stunned in a green off-shoulder cropped top paired with a green skirt.
"So happy and grateful to be given the opportunity to take part representing the Philippines in le Bal des débutantes in Paris 2022 November. To raise funds for Necker enfants Malades hospital which is dedicated to the treatment of cardiological defects from fetus to adult," the 21-year-old wrote.
Atasha is not the first Filipino socialite to have graced the prestigious ball. That title also belongs to Paloma Urquijo Zobel de Ayala, the daughter of Bea Zobel de Ayala and Juan Urquijo Fernández de Araoz.
She represented the Philippines at Le Bal des Débutantes back in 2008, where she donned a couture gown by Carolina Herrera and was accompanied by her cavalier Dominic Bekaert.
Emily Madrigal, the daughter of business tycoons Vincent and Ann Madrigal, was another Filipina beauty to attend the ball in 2014. There, she wore a gown crafted by J. Mendel while also wearing Maison Bucherer jewels.
Gretchen Barretto's daughter to Antonio Cojuangco, Dominique Cojuangco was also invited to the ball not just once, but twice—as a débutante in 2015 where she turned heads in a gorgeous red gown by Vivienne Westwood, and as a guest the following year.
