Organizations Pamper Three St. Thomas High School Seniors In Annual Belle Of The Ball Project

ST. THOMAS — For the second year in a row, Virgin Islands graduating seniors from across the island of St.Thomas were granted a prom experience of any girls wildest dream, a press release issued by 4Her Foundation, an organization whose aim is to navigate young women through life by providing the tools necessary for positive progression academically, socially and personally, has revealed.

From pampering to primping and hair styling, makeup, manicures and pedicures — all were provided to the winners of Belle of the Ball, the Glass Slipper Project.

The project, an initiative that has been implemented through the 4Her Foundation along with Virgin Islands Pageantry, has just concluded its sophomore year. Aniska Tonge, former Miss World USVI 2014 has dedicated the project and prize to young women that exemplify the mission of the 4Her Foundation.

Raven Phillips

“The girls we selected this year not only showcased what they have achieved but what they had overcome,” said Ms. Tongue, founder of the 4Her Foundation. “There was no obstacle that would falter them. Their dedication to their studies, their willingness to serve and their drive towards success all resonated in the essays that the submitted. That’s what I’ve built this foundation on. It’s so easy to be broken and sometimes forgotten as a young woman. What I did was simple: I just said thank you for being you. What these girls have done is beyond that, what they will continue to do is far greater than that. It truly was impossible to pick just one girl.”

The Belle of the Ball chose Raven Phillips, a graduating senior of Ivana Eudora Kean high school as the first-place winner. Ms. Phillips was provided a dress option sponsored by Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Boutique. She was then dolled up by returning 4Her sponsor and manicurist Kishma Faulkner; styled by hairdresser Deidra Hedrickson and makeup artist Cyrecia Wilson of Cy Artisty.

For the second year in a row, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort provided a suite for prom day preparation, where Ms. Phillips was treated to an afternoon of relaxation and prop preparation. Finally, Cliff Franklin of Precious Moments Photography took stunning photos of Ms. Phillips before she was whisked away in a stretch limousine provided by Presidential Limousine Service of the VI.

A week later, the foundation’s second and third runners-up, Graciela Samuel and Hassanah Graham were granted a similar experience. Having previously selected dresses — options again provided by Beautiful Beginnings — both young women received manicures and makeup styling as well as photographs by Cliff Franklin, and a convertible ride to prom by Chama’s Convertibles, according to the release.

With plans to expand the program to St. Croix, the 4Her Foundation and Virgin Islands Pageantry look forward to granting dreams to even more outstanding young women in the coming years.

Both organizations extended gratitude to the event’s sponsors, listed below:

• Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Gallery for providing beautiful gowns for our belles to choose from!
• Bolongo Bay for providing a complimentary room for our Belles to be pampered in!
• Makeup artist Cyrecia Wilson for the fabulous makeup!
• Hair Stylist Diedra Hendrickson for the chic hairstyles!
• Nail Technician Kishma Faulkner for the stlyish manicures!
• Photographer Cliff Franklin of Precious Moment Photography for the beautiful photos of the Belles!
• Perry Trotman of Presidential Limousines for transporting our Belle to prom in a stretch limo!
• Chama’s Convertibles for transporting our princesses to their prom!
• Halos go out to all of the sponsors that helped to create such a magical evening for our 2016 Belle and Princesses young ladies!

Feature Image: From left, large center image, to right: Graciela Sammuel, Ms. Phillips and Hassanah.