Veiled Prophet Ball, St. Louis, MO

Veiled Prophet Ball, St. Louis, MO
St. Louis’s Veiled Prophet Ball is steeped in history and ritual, but it’s not a graceful waltz or a Texas Dip that gives this ball its' reputation. The VP Ball, as it is called by all those who have had the courage to attend, is the most mysterious and peculiar of all debutante balls. It all started in 1878, when a few of St. Louis’s most distinguished men formed a secret society, which they named Veiled Prophet Organization. The Veiled Prophets planned to host a citywide fair that would be similar to Mardi Gras, and in addition to the fair (which still exists and features performers like Maroon 5), they also created the Veiled Prophet Ball. The daughters of prominent St. Louis residents continue to gather each December for the VP Ball, all vying for the grand prize of Veiled Prophet Queen—Queen of Love and Beauty. Here’s where things get terrifying: in crowning the VP Queen, one of Veiled Prophets dresses in a sheik-like gown, wears a thick veil over his face, and crowns the, uh, lucky girl. As if this ritual wasn’t spooky enough, the selecting of the Queen is done through an unknown process, the details of which have been kept secret for over 100 years, and the shrouded Prophet doing the crowning is bestowed with the temporary, fear-inducing title of “Prophet of Khorassan.” This bizarre event remains a highlight on the St. Louis social calendar, and continues to bring a bit of intrigue to the world of debutante balls. [Photos via]
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