LAKESIDE PARK, Ky. — Hundreds of high school girls in northern Kentucky found the perfect dress for prom this weekend through Cinderella’s Closet, a Lakeside nonprofit that gives prom dresses to those in need.

What You Need To Know

  •  Cinderella's Closet helps over 450 girls with prom each year

  •  Juniors and seniors are referred to the program to get setup with a dresss, shoes and accessories.

  •  Volunteers, known as fairy godmothers, help pamper the girls for their dress selection process

  • Girls say it's nice to come somewhere and have a day all to themselves

Sierra Russell, who is a senior from Fleming County, spent her Saturday with classmates picking out her dream prom dress.

The senior says this isn’t her first rodeo at Cinderella’s Closet. She was a Cinderella’s Closet princess last year as well, and has returned for one last hurrah.

“It’s the best place to find the perfect dress- because there’s so many, so many colors with different designs,” Russell said.

 Cinderella’s closet got its start in northern Kentucky, and now has several locations in different states.

Every year, high school junior and senior girls are referred to the program by school administrators, social care agencies or community organizations. The girls who get their dresses at Cinderella’s Closet are known as princesses.

Volunteers, also referred to as fairy godmothers, help girls pick out their dresses. Alexandra Mardis, a former princess, now volunteers as a fairy godmother.

She said she was one of the lucky princesses who got to pick a dress in 2007, the first year Cinderella’s Closet began turning dresses into dreams.

“It is so amazing to see it go from something so small yet meaningful to something so big and just as impactful,” Mardis said.

 Russell and other girls get to walk out with a gown and matching slippers without the burden of cost to deal with.

“It does help a lot and it did help go towards other stuff like getting a manicure last year,” Russell shared. “But also, where I live there’s not a very big dress pool. Even looking for winter formal dresses, it’s a very small dress pool, so coming here really helps finding a dress that actually makes you feel happy.”

 Russell says another big part of the experience is having a day all about her. That’s also part of the magic that keeps Mardis coming back to volunteer. She said she adores seeing girls light up trying on dresses and feeling special.  

“That part is my favorite part. It’s not only the giving back- but making their day as special as we absolutely can,” Mardis said.

 Because finding the right dress can be magical.

“It feels like you find the dress that would make you feel like you were found in a fairytale,” said Russell.

Cinderella’s Closet says they’re a year-round operation and they are always in need of volunteers at their locations.

Learn more about the closet on their website.

Related Stories