Constant talk of tanning and Lean Cuisine for lunch, weekends spent at malls and rumors in the halls. Prom season has arrived.
Prom season is known as a night to remember; a rite of passage. Prom is a time where students spend a privileged night at a dance just for them, but prom has become a time across the world where students and
parents attempt to impress their peers.
“I feel that everyone looks at it as a time to show off money,” said Jessica Drews, junior.
Prom was originally founded in the U.S. and has spread to other countries, such as the United Kingdom. The amount students spend on prom varies. In the UK, parents spend about $50 million on prom.
In America about $6.6 billion is spent on prom each year; on attire, transportation, food, and accessories. According to the Star Tribune website
Senior Alicia Hampton said she spends about $355 on prom.
Drews said she spends about $375. These two fit into the category of average American.
The cost of prom is normally spent on week-long treatments, such as tanning.
“Around $50 is spent on tanning alone,” junior Jessica Haas said.
Drews tans every day, but only during prom season.
Others tan, but don’t go as often. Hampton and Haas go two times a week, they said.
As prom sponsor, Julie Tharp knows about the risks girls take for prom.
“When I was in school, I did a research paper on tanning and I found out a lot about how dangerous it is and about skin
cancer,” said Tharp.
People who use tanning beds are eight times more likely to get melanoma: the most serious and deadly cancer; Tanning beds are the No. 1 cause for melanoma cancer, according to Melanoma. com.
“I think that if you just do it for prom or a wedding it’s ok, but not if you do it all the time,”said Tharp.
During prom preparation, students also diet.
“I myself am losing weight and I hear girls talk about weight more during prom season,” Drews said.
Girls began watching what they eat months ahead of prom season.
“Students start talking about prom in January,” Tharp said
Although the eating habits of some students don’t change, some students critique their body image more.
“I don’t go on a diet, but when I’m running that’s one thing I think about; that I’m getting in shape for prom,” Corey Fedor, junior, said.
Prom isn’t about body image for some students however.
Haas doesn’t diet during prom season, because she said she has a fast metabolism.
Dieting doesn’t affect everyone.
“I don’t diet during prom season, I kind of just wing it,” Hampton said.
Prom takes place at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday; walk-in is at 7:00 p.m.