When 14-year-old Avery Colvert saw an opportunity to help her community, she jumped at it.
In the wake of the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area, Colvert founded the nonprofit Altadena Girls to provide resources and assistance to teenage girls affected by the disasters. The organization has received support from celebrities like Meghan Markle, Demi Lovato, and Paris Hilton, as well as brands like H&M and Fabletics.
With many teens having lost their schools or homes and not having the chance to attend spring prom, Colvert organized a special night for 400 teenage girls—the Altadena Girls Prom 2025.
Colvert told People that the event took only a few weeks to put together. “I wanted to do a prom because so many students didn’t get to go to prom this year after the fires, and I wanted to make sure they had this important life experience,” she shared. “It was amazing how everyone stepped up at the last minute to help the event go off!”
The theme of the ball, hosted by Revolve on Saturday, May 24, was “Sparkle and Glam.”
“The ball is all about self-expression, pushing boundaries, and showing your fullest, most fabulous self!” Colvert told People magazine.
“It was so touching to have my favorite brands sponsor our event,” she said. “Thank you so much for making this the most memorable experience for all the girls. I can’t wait to see everyone’s amazing looks.”
Colvert added that the main purpose of the event was to “have fun.”
“It’s been a few months since the fire, and I’m excited to see everyone laughing, dancing, and reconnecting on the dance floor,” Colvert said. “I hope this is a time of joy and a celebration of the strength and beauty of our community.”
Colvert thanked her friends and family for supporting the Altadena girls — especially her mom, who she said “has been there for me every step of the way.”
She has already accomplished a lot, and the teen says she wants to continue “doing things that help people and build community” in the future.
“I think the most important thing I’ve learned is that even when life feels like it’s hard, you are not alone,” Colvert said. “Seeing neighbors helping each other, friends checking in, and people from all over the world supporting Altadena inspired me to start our organization to provide a space for girls to shine and thrive.”
Colvert’s look for the Altadena Girls’ Ball was inspired by Natalie Portman’s Star Wars character Padmé Amidala. “I love Star Wars so much!” she said. “I admired the costumes from those movies as a kid and wanted to bring them to life in some way.”
She continued, “I took all of my inspiration from Pinterest and showed it to Karla Vallejo, who did my hair and makeup. Everything came out exactly as I envisioned it and I’m so excited to show my look tonight!”
Ahead, Colvert takes people behind the scenes of her special night, from hair and makeup to her stunning gown.