...for the first time she vividly imagined what awaited her there, at the ball, in the illuminated halls - music, flowers, dancing, the sovereign, all the brilliant youth of St. Petersburg. What awaited her was so beautiful that she didn’t even believe that it would be...L. N. Tolstoy They attracted the eyes of all the guests of the ball and shone like stars all night, but who are they really?! Debutantes are young girls dressed in white dresses and waltzing with their gentlemen. The tradition of such balls dates back to the early 18th century in England. When a girl reached marriageable age, she introduced herself to society in order to find a worthy gentleman who would make her a match. Similar balls are still held today. Young ladies in Russia in the 19th century were also presented to the world at the age of sixteen or seventeen. What is it like to be a girl of marriageable age in 19th century Russia? What should you talk about, how should you behave and how should you look in order to find the most successful match for yourself? What did they write down in their albums and what did they keep secret with their friends? The girls themselves can best tell you about all this. The proposed publication includes memories of the most beautiful and titled young ladies of the Russian Empire.