Korben White, 16, made a lot of news with his daring prom outfit: a long red skirt with a sequinned suit top that went perfectly with his bright red hair. There was a lot of praise and abuse on the internet.
Nina Green, Korben’s mother, shared pictures of her son’s prom outfit with pride and said that he had wanted to wear a dress since he was 12 years old. Korben wanted to show his feminine side while keeping true to himself. He got the idea from American actor Billy Porter.
When the Archbishop Sancroft High School student walked in, staff and students cheered and cried. Green was very proud and said, “Everyone has been very helpful…” Your child will do their best if you let them be themselves.
One of the judges on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Michelle Visage, saw Green’s tweet and called Korben a “STAR.” The teen said that being recognised was “surreal.”
Many people told stories about their own gender-bending kids and offered support. Others, however, were against it and were worried. Green stays strong, rejecting bad things and pushing for acceptance.
As always, Green and Korben share love and acceptance at London Pride. “You need to accept your children for who they are,” Green says in the hopes that their story will inspire other parents. You can help happy parents feel like they’re not alone.
Because Korben was brave and Green always stood by him, an important talk about acceptance and self-expression began. As the world changes, one thing stays the same: love and respect can win over even the harshest criticism.
What do you think about teens being themselves by wearing non-traditional clothes to prom? Share your story and talk with other people!