Posing in a fiery red skirt and a sequin-speckled tuxedo top that perfectly matched his scarlet-colored hair, 16-year-old Korben White took the internet by storm with the billowing ballgown he wore to his high school prom.
After a viral post made by his mom, Nina Green, showed her teenage son all dressed up and ready for prom, many supporters praised his flowing outfit, while others reacted with criticism, saying it showed the “failure” of a parent “in encouraging this sort of thing.”
When Korben White was just 12 years old, he told his mother Nina Green that “he wanted to go to his school prom in a gown.”
In 2022, only four years after making that statement, the teen — a “sassy” young drag queen who goes by the name Miss Frou Frou — made it happen.
Speaking with the BBC, Green explained her son’s inspiration. “He wanted to go as himself, while expressing his feminine side — with a tuxedo on the top and a dress at the bottom, very much influenced by [American actor] Billy Porter.” She continued, “He wanted to be Korben… but in a dress.”
And when he stepped out of the car in the sparkly red outfit, paired with a white shirt and a giant red bow, Korben’s big reveal was applauded by both staff and students at Archbishop Sancroft High School in Harleston, Norfolk.
“As soon as he got out of the car, everyone just cheered and I was crying, some of the teachers were crying, because he was being who he wanted to be,” the proud mom said of Korben. “Everyone has been very supportive, and his year group has been incredible. If you let your child be who they are, then you’ll get nothing but the best out of them.”
As her son’s biggest supporter, Green continued her strong show of support with a tweet on July 1. Alongside a few photos of Korben in the spectacular outfit, she wrote, “At age 12 my son announced he wanted to go to his school prom in a gown. Four years later we made it happen. I’m so incredibly proud of him for being true to himself & the reception he got from his whole school was incredible.”
Her post quickly gained momentum, with millions of users around the world sharing, commenting, and complimenting the stylish young man.
It even reached Michelle Visage, a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race, who said, “You are an amazing beautiful mom and your child is a STAR.”
Korben said it felt “very surreal” that his mother’s tweet caught the attention of Visage.
“To me she is such an icon, a wonderful celebrity and I really admire her,” he said.
Green said she wasn’t expecting her show of support to “go crazy,” and explained that she simply wanted to show her son “living his best life,” which also led other parents to seek her advice.
Some users shared photos and stories of their own gender-nonconforming children.
One wrote, “I worry for my son, he would really love to do something like this at prom but he would definitely not have the support of all the students! So sad that we still have homophobia even now. Well done to you, your son and his school!”
A second shared, “I am so happy for your son he looked absolutely amazing!!! My son is trans, after 3yrs of transphobic bullying in Jan before GCSEs [General Certificate of Secondary Education offered in parts of the UK] I had to take him out of school for his mental health. He was always going to prom in a tux and he was deprived of the chance.”
A third simply wrote, “Absolutely stunning! My daughter wore a suit to hers!”
At the same time, the positivity was met with a wave of criticism, reminding everyone that not all people share the same views.
One person wrote, “There is very little hope for civilization,” while another commented, “…Vile, Woke & a failure as a parent in encouraging this sort of thing. A 12 year old boy should be playing football and learning to be a man. But, sadly people nowadays virtue signal, like what you’re doing with this tweet, and ruin their kids for life. Shame.”
Another person said the support for Green’s post was troubling: “There is absolutely nothing natural about a ‘boy’ dressing like a ‘girl’ — the support shows just how screwed up our world is.”
Another commenter added, “We live in a world where children should no longer pretend to be Indians but men should pretend to be women. Utopian.”
Still, Green remained a strong voice of support and refused to back down because of the online hate.
The day after the viral tweet, Green accompanied her son to London Pride and shared a sweet photo of the two together.
One user commented, “My boy did too, couldn’t be prouder, he’s also at London Pride today aged 16 it’s fabulous love and to you and yours,” while another added, “you both look amazing xx.”
Green, who has said on Twitter that she ignores the negativity, hopes that other children and parents will find encouragement through the relationship she shares with Korben.
“I really hope it will help others be more accepting, let proud parents feel they are not alone, and that they can celebrate their children, and for young people to know there is a network there if they need it,” she said. She continued, “You need to accept your children for who they are.”
Korben White certainly is a brave young man for expressing himself the way he does. And he is very fortunate to have such a supportive mother, who blocks out the noise and continues parenting him in the best way she knows how.
What do you think of teens attending prom in outfits that don’t match the genders they were assigned at birth?
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