First Fresno High Cotillion

                Thanks to the efforts of Ms. Steffeni Oliver and a tremendous amount of support from family, friends, and Fresno High staff, FHS held its first ever Cotillion on April 24, 2022. The event was held in Royce Hall with five of the six debutantes present: Sierra Facundo, Anaya Crump, Amirah Myles, Krishanda Young, and Tyreana Fildes. Makylar Wright-Ingram was not in attendance due to personal reasons.

                The Queen Program was originally scheduled to debut in the Spring of 2020, but COVID shut that down and the 2021 possibility as well. Ms. Oliver kept her fingers crossed this school year as she collaborated with the young women to ready them in etiquette, Black culture and history, public speaking, ballroom dance, and more.

                At the special occasion, the ladies performed spoken word, Sign Language, dance, and song. They celebrated the Black experience with pride and gratitude. As the ladies headed backstage for a wardrobe change, audience members were entertained with a Polynesian dance from Ms. Oliver’s daughter, Chaille Payne. Soon, escorts were called to the stage and the queens made their official entrance as debutantes, receiving a tiara from their escort, African cloth kente stoles embroidered by Ms. Oliver’s aunt Glenda Thompson, and The Well Read Black Girl Book Club sash from proud sponsor Ms. Kaylah Salinas.

                After a sashay around the stage and a queens-only-dance, the Warriors waltzed with their escorts. Soon, it was a celebration for all with dancing, photo opportunities, and sweet treats in the lobby. Though Ms. Oliver was exhausted and doubting her stamina to tackle another Cotillion, the beauty and pride of the event may have changed her mind. As the queens proudly showed their gloves, gowns, crowns, kentes, and sashes, it was apparent to all, Ms. Oliver had truly achieved her goal to create queens steeped in the beauty and grace of Black heritage.