Débutante, The word debutante originated from the French word débutante which means "female beginner". It is actually a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal presentation known as her "début". Originally, it meant the young woman was eligible to marriage, and part of the purpose was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select upper class circle. However in the United States, the term is used more often in the South, where débutantes are also reffered to as Southern Belles. Débutantes are usually recommended by a distinguished committee or sponsored by an established member of elite society. Modern débutante balls are often charity events: the parents of the débutante donate a certain amount of money to the designated cause, and the invited guests pay for their tickets. These balls may be elaborate formal affairs and involve not only "debs" but junior débutantes, escorts and ushers, flower girls and pages as well.

A cotillion or débutante ball in the United States is a formal presentation of young ladies, débutantes, to "polite society". Débutantes are usually recommended by a distinguished committee or sponsored by an established member of élite society. The attire usually worn by deutantes include, white gowns and satin or kid gloves and elegant ball gowns and tiaras. The débutantes stand in a receiving line, and then are introduced individually to the audience. The débutante is announced and then is walked around the stage, guided by her father who then presents her. Her younger male escort then joins her and escorts her away usually to the dance floor where the evning culminates. Cotillions may be elaborate formal affairs and involve not only "debs" but junior débutantes, escorts and ushers, flower girls and pages as well. Every débutante must perform a curtsy also known as the St. James Bow or a full court bow. This gesture is made as the young woman is formally presented. As an alternative to a ball a young woman might instead have her own "coming-out party," given by her parents. Unlike a collective ball, which would be only held at a certain time of the year, such a party could be at any time of the year, this event might be scheduled around the débutante's birthday. In theory, the only women who could be invited would be those who had already made their débuts, thus affording a sort of rank-order to the débutante season.

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