Posing
in a fiery red skirt and a sequin-speckled tuxedo top that perfectly matches
his scarlet-colored hair, 16-year-old Korben White blew up the internet with
the billowing ballgown he wore to his high school prom.
After
a viral post made by his mom Nina Green, that shows her teenaged son primed and
primped for prom, fervent disciples of the woke movement praised his flowing
frock while others played the shame game, saying it demonstrates the “failure”
of a parent “in encouraging this sort of thing.”
When
Korben White was only 12, he told his mother Nina Green “he wanted to go to his
school prom in a gown.”
In
2022, only four years after his declaration of intent, the teen–a “sassy” young
drag queen who goes by the name Miss Frou Frou–made it happen.
Speaking
with the BBC, Green explains 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.”
Her
son’s biggest champion, Green continued her massive show of support with a
tweet on July 1.
Paired
with a few photos of Korben in the spectacular outfit, Green writes, “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 gained a lot of momentum with millions of users around the world sharing
commenting, and complimenting the handsome 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 was “very surreal” that his mother’s tweet captured the attention of
Visage.
“To
me she is such an icon, a wonderful celebrity and I really admire her,” he
said.
Green
wasn’t expecting that her show of support would “go crazy,” and said she only
wanted to show her son “living his best life,” which made other parents look
for her advice.
Some
users shared photos and stories of their own gender-bending children.
One
writes, “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 shares, “I am so happy for your son he looked absolutely amazing!!!My
son is trans, after 3yrs of transphobic bullying in Jan b4 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 writes, “Absolutely stunning! My daughter wore a suit to hers!”
Meanwhile,
the positivity was met a string of other comments, which serve as a reminder
that not everyone is on the same social path.
One
writes, “There is very little hope for civilization,” and a second shares,
“…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 now a days virtue signal, like what you’re doing with this tweet, and
ruin their kids for life. Shame.”
Another
netizen says the support for Green’s post is troubling. “There is absolutely
nothing natural about a ‘boy’ dressing like a ‘girl’–the support shows just how
screwed up our world is.” And one cyber fan goes so far as to suggests the
world is lacking logic, “We live in a world where children should no longer
pretend to be Indians but men should pretend to be women. Utopian.”
Yet,
a steadfast warrior of support, Green wasn’t willing to surrender to the online
hate.
The
day after the internet-exploding tweet, Green accompanied her son to London
Pride and shared a sweet photo of the two.
One
cyber 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,” and a second
shared, “you both look amazing xx”
A
third attacks the mom, writing, “Your son doesn’t look like a man anymore, some
kind of fa****”
Green,
who comments on Twitter that she ignores the negativity, says she hopes 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 continued, “You need to
accept your children for who they are.”
Korben
Green certainly is a brave young man for expressing himself the way he does!
And he’s very fortunate to have such a supportive mom, who shuts out the noise
and continues parenting him in the best way she knows.
What
do you think of teens attending prom in outfits that don’t represent their
genders assigned at birth?
Please
share this story and let’s see what others have to say!
Post a Comment