Here's the Story of How This 18-Year-Old Went Viral with Her Beyoncé Prom Dress

"When I gave my designer my money I said: can you make me feel like I'm Beyoncé? And that's what she did."

Remember when Beyoncé wore that sheer Givenchy gown with hand-sewn crystals to the Met Gala last year and broke the internet? Yeah, same. India Ross, an 18-year-old high school student from St. Louis, Missouri, created a Yoncé-inspired look to wear to her prom and now Ross is having her own moment of viral fame.

"When I gave my designer my money, I said, 'Can you make me feel like I'm Beyoncé?' And that's what she did," Ross said. We spoke to Ross about all that went into slaying this look. Spoiler alert: You don't have to have thousands of dollars to look as flawless as Beyoncé. 

How did you come up with this idea? 

I really love Beyoncé. I watch a lot of fashion shows and ever since I saw her outfit at the Met Gala, I just knew that I was going to wear that to prom. It was see-through and I loved all of the diamonds and crystals. Everything about the outfit just caught my attention. 

Do you want to go into fashion? 

I have been committed to the Columbia College of Chicago. I plan to double major in fashion business and fashion merchandising with a minor in public relations and marketing. I want to open my own business and hopefully becoming a celebrity stylist one day. 

You seriously killed this look. What was the process of recreating the gown? 

I came up with the concept and a local designer in my city, Toi Hall, designed it for me. We worked together. I knew it wasn't possible for me to get the actual Givenchy dress Beyoncé wore—I wish! So we looked around for stuff that was cheaper than what Beyoncé actually had. 

What materials did you use and how long did it take create the dress? I'm sure you were so anxious to see it before your big day. 

We used a mesh material. She doubled the mesh material when she was sewing the dress because prom is a school function and I couldn't have it as see-through as Beyoncé's. I saw a lot of comments saying it wasn't see-through at all, but that's because it was for prom. She found jewels from our local Michael's and we just put them on to the dress. 

I met with Toi in the middle of April, and my dress wasn't finished until the day of my prom [this past weekend]. I was freaking out. Prom doors opened up at 9 p.m. and I picked up the dress at 5 p.m. My designer said that making the dress was very time-consuming. You can't just place rhinestones anywhere because it would have looked a mess. We'd be texting all hours of the night. She called and touched base with me about my dress every day.

Prom was the most stressful process ever. I just wanted to make sure everything was perfect. My dress wasn't done and I was worried I was going to miss my hair and makeup appointments. At one point, I didn't even want to go anymore. My designer told me my dress wasn't done and to go to my hair and makeup appointments first to pick up my dress last. I was worried my dress wasn't how I wanted it. The timing of the dress scared and stressed me out the most. 

Girl, your poses were on point. You looked amazing! How did the dress make you feel? 

It seriously felt like I was at the Grammys. At prom, it felt like we were somewhere with a bunch of celebrities because everyone looked good. I felt so cute. My teachers were calling me "Little Beyoncé." All of my classmates wanted to take pictures with me and the photographers at prom took so many pictures of me. I felt like a celebrity. 

What about your date? 

My date said "You are the most beautiful thing ever." He was getting so much attention because I was his date. 

How cute! Is that your boyfriend? 

Yes, that's my boyfriend. 

Did you expect your dress to get so much attention? 

I promise you I never thought that this would happen to me. This is a true blessing. I just thought I was a girl going to prom. I knew I was going to look cute because, of course, I chose the design for my dress. When I gave my designer my money I said: Can you make me feel like I'm Beyoncé? And that's what she did. I did not expect for it to blow up like this. It's been wild. 

What are people's overall reaction to your dress? 

It's 50-50. There's a lot of positive comments, but I've seen a lot of negative stuff too. I have a lot of confidence and I really don't care what anyone has to say about me, whether you like it or not. I can take criticism and I want to hear the good and the bad because it only makes me better. A lot of people said, "She want to be like Beyoncé." I do not want to be Beyoncé, I am India. Beyoncé inspires me because she has so many positive aspects about herself that I look up to. But I do not think I'm Beyoncé, I am my own person. I have my own style, my own beliefs, and my own life. I don't want to live her life but she is a good role model for everyone. 

What's next for you? 

Since I'm going into the fashion industry, I want to do it all. I just found out that Beyoncé is coming to St. Louis, so I'm going to recreate another one of her looks with my designer, Toi. I want to do something nobody else has done. Hopefully I get to meet her because that would mean everything to me. Her personal stylist, Ty Hunter, put a heart underneath my picture but I'm like, where's Beyoncé? 

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Maya Allen
Former Beauty Editor

Maya Allen is the former Digital Beauty Editor at MarieClaire.com where she covered makeup, skincare, haircare, wellness, you name it! She has a 15-step skincare routine, owns over 200 red lipsticks, and enjoys testing the latest and greatest in beauty. On most weekends, you can find her at her happy place, which is her makeup vanity. There, she’s usually blasting her speakers while singing along to lyrics at the top of her lungs, and making sure her highlighter is on point.