"The deb" is a big deal for South Coast teen Sarah McCabe, who is among the young people putting their stamp on the traditional event.
She is not alone as debutant balls survive and even thrive in contemporary Australia.
The tradition, which dates back to at least the 18th century, was originally a way for young women to be presented to society once they became eligible for marriage.
Despite the conservative history, getting dolled up, dancing, eating cake and having a good time is what it seems to be all about these days — as well as the afterparty.
Sarah was one of 16 girls who took part in this year's ball at Merimbula in New South Wales.
"It's a big experience to look back on and to have really nice memories, especially that it brings together your family and friends," Sarah said.
"It's got a modern twist to it — I mean, of course the dresses are all different, everyone's hair is all different back from what it was in the 1800s, but I think we all still do it today because it's fun."
The teens rehearsed for 11 weeks in the lead-up to the event and then reaped the rewards of their efforts by dressing up and arriving at the ball in a hot-pink stretch Hummer.
They're not the only young adults in Australia still embracing the tradition.
Regional towns such as Gympie and Charters Towers in Queensland, Crystal Brook in South Australia and Broken Hill in NSW still hold debutante balls.
Organiser Sam McGovern said she and her husband Raymond McGovern had been teaching young adults how to dance and prepare for the Merimbula deb ball for the past 17 years, since when they were both 18.
"We were only a year out of doing our own deb and nobody wanted to teach them how to dance, my mum started organising it and my husband and I taught them how to dance," Ms McGovern said.
This year's ball was Merimbula's 46th.
Ms McGovern said women still wore white gloves and dresses, but there were changes from how things were done in the past.
"A lot of the people who come through the debs, are following old traditions of mothers and grandmothers and probably lost sight of why, like bringing women out to society at the age of 16," she said.
"But it's still a great opportunity.
"We're very old-school with a lot of things — we like to keep the tradition there.
"The only thing we've changed a bit is probably the music."
Ms McGovern said people could take whoever they wanted.
"Last year we had two girls, they were both in dresses and they looked fabulous," she said.
This year the proceeds of the event were donated to Legacy, which is celebrating its 100th year.
"Legacy holds a very very close to my heart," Ms McGovern said.
"My grandfather was a World War II veteran and then, when he died, Legacy used to take my grandmother ... to lunches, take her to the movies and get her out of the house and do things with them," she said.
"Everybody who comes here I think by the end of it they walk out pretty proud of themselves of what they've achieved in an 11-week period of dancing and I guess growing up a little bit."
