as a european i'm pretty amused by the weight* americans seem to put on this whole debutante-thing. obviously a young women will very rarely be 'distinguised' in her own right: she's either rich or her parents are famous. neither one makes their children special in most people's opinion: suchs kids tend to be respectively 'rich and spoiled' or 'pompous and ridiculous'. (*= as in 'ANY weight at all'). 
 since the whole debutante-ball has long lost it's social meaning as a place to meet a potential mate i'm under the strong impression this whole ball is little more than a tourist-trap for rich people.