TLC’s ‘Say Yes to the Prom’ Stops at Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School

A senior at Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School, wearing a simple red gown, walked down a red carpet while consultants stood on the sidelines cheering and clapping—this was her Monte Moment, and onlookers were about to find out if she was going to “say yes to the dress.” She stood in front of the famous Monte Mirror, where Monte Durham himself, fashion director of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, talked to her about her dress choice, asked her questions, and gave her advice.

This is what prom shopping was like for students at the Washington Heights-based school as part of TLC’s Say Yes to the Prom event on Thursday, Jan. 25, as winners of TLC and Seventeen magazine’s Win a Dream Prom For Your School contest. Along with the complimentary shopping spree, TLC and Seventeen will providing Inwood Academy with its senior prom in February.

“It is very much like [Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta],” Durham said of the event. “A little younger participants [sic], but just as exciting.”

The school’s gymnasium was transformed almost beyond recognition into a shopping boutique with the help of Durham; Tiffany Reid, senior fashion editor of Seventeen magazine; and a large crew of volunteers. Mannequins modeling colorful prom dresses lined the gymnasium’s perimeters, while racks of suits and dresses, organized by size, were scattered throughout the room. Every rack featured a banner with messages such as, “Dress Like You’re Already Famous” and “Say Yes to Your Success.”

Students were able to choose from a variety of tailored suits from Sean John and prom dresses from the 2018 Say Yes to the Prom line, as well as accessories—free of charge, thanks to generous donations from Macy’s. Additionally, students received hair and makeup consultations from students of Paul Mitchell Schools.
     

Lars Niki / Getty for Discovery

Girls at Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School were able to choose prom dresses and accessories, as well as shoes from Katy Perry Collections, courtesy of Macy’s as winners of the Win a Dream Prom for Your School contest hosted by TLC’s Say Yes to Prom and Seventeen magazine.

      
“We started [Say Yes to the Prom] about seven years ago with a single dress collection to give to the community, and these were used dresses,” said Adria Alpert-Romm, chief human resource and global communications officer of Discovery Communications, TLC’s parent company. “Over the years we had decided to grow from city to city, and this year we have a big tour.”

Alpert-Romm added that this Say Yes to the Prom event was extra special because it was the first time the shopping experience was provided to an entire senior class, especially the first graduating senior class of a school.   

Kiara Duran, 17, a senior at Inwood Academy, said she was “very excited” about the event as she carried a bundle of dresses to the fitting room.

“I was looking for, like, a gold, flowy long dress…but then this one—”she said holding up a baby blue lace gown—”was just calling to me.” She said she has been waiting to go to prom since she was in fifth grade.

Other students, like Duran, said they were shocked to learn that they had won the contest.

“At first I didn’t believe it,” said student Antonio Fajardo, 17. “I really did not think we were going to win at all… I was very shocked. I was excited, too.” Fajardo added that he was appreciative and thankful for everything provided.  
     

    
Say Yes to the Prom will also travel to Knoxville, TN, and Discovery Communications’s headquarters in Silver Springs, MD. It will also stop at hurricane-impacted cities Miami and Tampa, FL, and Houston, TX. The event aims to help students not only find their dress but also to give them the experience of a lifetime.

“We want the kids to feel special and feel personally that someone cares,” Alpert-Romm said. One of her biggest hopes is the students will learn to pay it forward and potentially give back to the community by donating their dresses and suits.

And once this year’s tour is over, the team will begin planning next year’s Say Yes to the Prom. 

“When we wrap this up in the beginning of spring, we start planning for the year right behind it. There’s over 2,000 dresses here on these racks, brand new dresses, which is amazing,” Durham said. “I think the most impressive thing is that the team has turned the gymnasium into this incredible shopping experience… it does take a lot of planning and a lot of moving parts to bring it together.”

The one-hour special of Say Yes to the Prom will air on Saturday, March 24 at 9/8c on TLC.      

Main image: A senior at Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School had her Monte Moment with Monte Durham, of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, as part of TLC’s Say Yes to Prom.
Lars Niki / Getty for Discovery