At his high school prom, 16-year-old Korben White caused a stir on the internet by wearing a billowing ballgown. He sported a fiery red skirt and a sequin-speckled tuxedo top that matched his scarlet hair perfectly.
Korben’s mom, Nina Green, shared a viral post of her son all dressed up for prom. Supporters of progressive ideas praised his outfit choice, while others criticized it, suggesting it reflected poorly on his upbringing. he had expressed his desire to wear a gown to his school prom to his mother when he was just 12 years old.
In 2022, just four years after expressing his desire, the teen fulfilled his dream as “Miss Frou Frou,” a spirited young drag queen. Speaking to the BBC, Green explained her son’s inspiration. “He wanted to show his true self, embracing his feminine side by wearing a tuxedo on top and a dress below, greatly influenced by American actor Billy Porter.” She added, “He wanted to be Korben… but in a dress.”
When Korben emerged from the car in his sparkling red ensemble paired with a white shirt and a large red bow, his grand entrance was met with applause from both staff and students at Archbishop Sancroft High School in Harleston, Norfolk.
“Everyone cheered as soon as he stepped out of the car. I was in tears, some teachers were too, because he was just being himself,” the proud mom shared about Korben. “Everyone has been incredibly supportive, especially his classmates. When you allow your child to be themselves, you’ll only receive the best from them.”
Continuing her unwavering support for her son, Green expressed her immense pride with a tweet on July 1st.
Accompanied by a few photos of Korben donning the stunning outfit, Green wrote, “At 12, my son expressed his wish to attend his school prom in a gown. Four years later, we made it happen. I’m incredibly proud of him for staying true to himself, and the reception he received from his entire school was amazing.”
Her post quickly gained traction, with millions of users worldwide sharing, commenting, and praising the handsome young man. It even caught the attention of Michelle Visage, a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race, who remarked, “You are an amazing, beautiful mom, and your child is a STAR.”
Korben expressed that it felt “very surreal” for his mother’s tweet to catch Visage’s attention. “To me, she is such an icon, a fantastic celebrity, and I really look up to her,” he said. Green hadn’t anticipated the overwhelming response to her show of support and stated that she simply wanted to showcase her son “living his best life,” which led other parents to seek her advice.
Some users shared photos and stories of their own children challenging traditional gender norms. One parent expressed concern for their son, wishing he could express himself freely at prom without facing judgment from classmates. Another parent shared their experience of their trans son being bullied, while another proudly shared that their daughter wore a suit to her prom.
However, not all comments were supportive. Some criticized the idea, labeling it as woke and a failure in parenting. Others expressed discomfort with the support shown for Green’s post, believing it goes against nature. Despite the negativity, Green remained resilient, refusing to let online hate affect her. The day after her viral tweet, she attended London Pride with her son, sharing a heartwarming photo of the two. While some comments continued to be negative, Green chose to focus on the positive and hoped her relationship with Korben would inspire other children and parents.
“I really hope it will encourage others to be more accepting, reassure proud parents that they’re not alone, and show young people that there’s a supportive community available if they need it,” she expressed. “It’s important to accept your children for who they are.”
Korben Green is undeniably a courageous young man for expressing himself as he does! He’s also very fortunate to have such a supportive mom who disregards negativity and continues to parent him in the best possible way.
What are your thoughts on teens attending prom in outfits that don’t conform to their assigned genders at birth? Share this story and let’s hear what others have to say!