Young socialite Hannah Husain became the first-ever Pakistani to be invited to the annual Le Bal des Débutantes ball held in Paris.
Le Bal des Débutantes stands out as the only debutante ball that is exclusively by invitation, drawing attendees from various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the U.S. The event is a gathering of modern royals, young socialites, and philanthropists, accompanied by their parents.
Past debutantes includes renowned names such as Ava Phillippe, Lily Collins, Ella Beatty, Viola Mikkelsen, Sophia-Rose Stallone, and Jen Li, the daughter of Huawei’s founder.
Representing Pakistan with grace and elegance, Hannah Husain holds a distinguished lineage. She is the great-great-granddaughter of Sir Fazle Husain, a prominent barrister, Education Minister, and founder of the Unionist party in India. Additionally, her great-grandfather served as the Pakistani Ambassador to Beirut, Lebanon.
Escorted by her brother Harris, Hannah Husain captivated attendees with her presence, adorned in stunning designs by renowned fashion designers Georges Hobeika and Elie Saab. The opulent event unfolded at Shangri-La Paris, the former residence of Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew.
This year’s Le Bal featured six Asian debutantes, showcasing the diversity of backgrounds represented. Among them were Advaitesha Birla, the great-great-granddaughter of GD Birla, founder of the Aditya Birla Group, and Skye Wong, with familial ties to the founders of the Bank of East Asia and Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong.
The ball, meticulously organized by Ophélie Renouard, serves a dual purpose of celebrating tradition and raising funds for noble causes. Contributions from the event go towards supporting the cardiology research unit ARCFA of Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, specializing in the care of children with heart defects worldwide, and World Central Kitchen, an organization providing meals to vulnerable communities during global crises.
