I thoroughly enjoyed my cotillion-beautillion experience when I was a debutante. The lessons and skills I learned through the facilitation of different sessions during those nine months have stayed with me ever since. The lasting friendships I made with other participants are one of my favorite parts of my cobeau experience. My most cherished time was being a part of the ball that concluded the program.

Hello, my name is Chiana Fowler. I attend Clark Atlanta University seeking a degree in biology on a pre-dental track set to be completed in May 2024. I had the experience of a lifetime participating in the 2020 “Crème de La Crème” Cotillion, organized by The Gwinnett County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, inc. My experience however, wasn’t like most. During my senior year, my personal life took a turn at such an important time but being a debutante helped me through it in the most unimaginable ways. It was a space where I wasn’t under pressures of being an athlete, student leader, big sister, even or the “strong friend”. It provided a safe space for me to focus solely on being a beautiful, graceful, educated black woman while everything seemed to be falling apart around me. My debutante experience built me up from the inside out so that I would be able to face the world each day. Not to mention, I learned so much information about real life in the events we participated in that still help me to this day. Mostly, I enjoyed the family atmosphere and we how we always had so much fun. Everyone cared about, loved, and respected each other equally. The genuine relationships that I built with mentors, debutantes and beaus, and even some guests that were brought to the program have nonetheless played an important role in my life and will most likely continue to do so. All in all I learned, that no matter how dark the road may seem, you will still get your fairy tail princess ending as long as you remain true to yourself as an educated and gracefully hard working black woman.

The Gwinnett County Alumnae Chapter’s Cotillion Beautillion program over the past 10 years have provided Debutantes and Beau participants enrichment of their knowledge, growth of leadership skills, exposure to fun filled education and cultural experiences along with getting reinforce with core values of personal & scholarly excellence, accountability and perseverance that prepared them for adulthood. We have led the charge for them to go forth and set high standards for future generations. As a former Co-Chair of this program, I am sending oceans of love & support to the upcoming Co-Beau Chairs, Committee members and participants for the 2023-2024 Cotillion Beautillion season! Go forward and “Prepare for Excellence and Exceed the Dream” for our prospective young men and women that will become a part of this awesome program that leads up to an exquisite and enchanting Crème de la Crème evening!

Looking back on it, it was one of the most special nights of my life and I was so grateful that I was able to share it with family and friends. I will forever treasure the memories and friendships made throughout the CoBeau season and hope that the debutante tradition is carried on in my family for generations to come.

Taylor’s debutante journey was one of the most empowering and inspiring experiences during a very special time of her life; her Senior Year in High School. Being a GCAC debutante sparked a stronger desire to excel, to believe more purposefully and intentionally in herself, and most importantly, to witness first hand how large, and how much her village unconditionally loved, and hands down supported her. I am still in awe of how the positive evidence of this life changing journey is still making in her life. I can’t wait for my son to become a Beau!

“I will always treasure watching the debutantes who arrived as soft-spoken girls, formally announced while taking that deep curtsy. At that moment, I saw the awkward grins melt away, and these poised, elegant young woman emerge right before my eyes. I have never before been so proud.”