Back in the day, every young girl aspired to be crowned Prom Queen. But today, it’s become even trendier to orchestrate a “promposal” aimed at inviting a celebrity as your date. Surprisingly, several celebrities have graciously accepted such invitations from students without dates.
Here, we highlight some of our favorite stars who’ve accompanied fans to proms and dances, along with a few instances of unsuccessful promposals and even celebrities crashing prom events! It’s a testament to the evolving nature of prom culture and the unique connections between celebrities and their fans.
Khloé Kardashian
California high school student Narbeh Kardash is an avid fan of the Kardashian sisters, so much so that he manages a Kardashian fan page. He decided to take his admiration a step further by inviting his favorite sister, Khloé Kardashian, to his high school prom. Narbeh was thrilled when Khloé accepted his invitation.
Khloé later tweeted about the experience, expressing her delight in attending her first prom with Narbeh. Narbeh shared his excitement on Instagram, describing the experience of sharing his prom with Khloé as truly incredible.
Justin Bieber
In 2015, Justin Bieber, sporting a fedora, unexpectedly crashed the prom at Chatsworth High School in Los Angeles. Accompanied by his entourage, Bieber reportedly bypassed security to join the dance floor. The teenagers in attendance erupted with excitement upon realizing the pop star was among them.
Although Bieber’s appearance lasted just five minutes, students flooded social media, declaring it the best prom ever. The Canadian pop sensation later tweeted his gratitude, expressing his long-standing desire to attend a prom and thanking the students for having him as their “#promcrasher.”
Kylie Jenner
In 2017, Albert Ochoa, a student from Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, California, initially asked his sister’s best friend to prom, but she declined. However, when Kylie Jenner, who had also missed out on prom due to being homeschooled, caught wind of Albert’s prom dilemma on social media, she stepped in and accompanied him as his date.
Footage of their prom experience was even featured on an episode of Jenner’s reality show, “Life of Kylie.” Following the prom, Albert found himself overwhelmed by the attention he received. Reflecting on the experience with Teen Vogue, he shared, “After prom, everyone wanted to be my friend. I never expected so much attention in one night.”
Nina Agdal
In 2013, high school student Jake Davidson gained attention when he posted a YouTube video inviting Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover girl Kate Upton to his prom. While Upton expressed her willingness to attend, scheduling conflicts prevented her from doing so. Instead, Inside Edition arranged for Danish model Nina Agdal to accompany Davidson to the prom.
Reflecting on the experience, Davidson described it as surreal. He confessed to The Huffington Post that he extended an invitation to Agdal to look him up and go out to dinner the next time she was in Los Angeles. A decade later, he humorously remarked that he’s still waiting for her phone call.
Miley Cyrus
Promposals don’t always go as expected, but high school student Matt Peterson’s experience proved they can exceed expectations. The devoted fan invited his crush, Miley Cyrus, to his prom, but unfortunately, she couldn’t attend.
However, Cyrus surprised Peterson by inviting him to the Phoenix, Arizona stop of her Bangerz Tour instead, even asking him to bring a corsage. Matt, shirtless and bearing a corsage and red roses, made a memorable entrance. Cyrus invited him onstage during her performance, where she serenaded him with her hit song, “Adore You.”
Mila Kunis
Celebrities not only attend high school proms but also accompany soldiers to their dances. The trend started when Sergeant Scott Moore’s fellow Marines dared him to ask Mila Kunis on a date. To his surprise, the Black Swan actress accepted the invitation and accompanied Scott to the annual Marine Corps Ball.
Their date lasted four hours, during which they danced together. Reflecting on the experience, Sergeant Scott expressed his delight, stating, “It was a blast; it was a great time. So yes, it exceeded my expectations.”
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Prom dreams don’t only come true with singers and actors. In 2019, Pittsburgh Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster received a message from Anthony Molinaro, a senior at Chartiers Valley High School in Pennsylvania and a devoted Steelers fan, whose date had canceled at the last minute.
JuJu accepted the invitation after Molinaro reached out to him, and the dynamic duo made a grand entrance in matching velvet teal suits. JuJu shared their experience on Twitter, stating, “Got a DM from him a while back about needing someone to go with, decided why not, had a litty night at his school!”
Ronda Rousey
UFC fighter Ronda Rousey fulfilled the dream of US Marine Jarrod Haschert by accompanying him to the Marine Corps Ball in South Carolina. Haschert expressed his admiration for Rousey in a YouTube video, where he asked her to be his date to the ball.
Rousey, after seeing the viral video, accepted his invitation, and four months later, she kept her promise. She shared a photo of herself with Lance Corporal Haschert on Instagram, expressing gratitude for his gentlemanly demeanor and for bringing a smile to her face once again.
Joe Jonas
In 2013, Jonas Brothers fan Shaina reached out to Joe Jonas, inviting him to be her prom date. Regrettably, Joe couldn’t accept the invitation. However, he found another way to make Shaina’s day special with the assistance of some celebrity friends.
Joe arranged for Shaina to receive tickets to the Today Show and then surprised her by showing up in disguise. Together, Joe and his enthusiastic fan took photos. Even more remarkably, three months later, Joe flew Shaina to his show in Chicago, where they were joyfully reunited as friends.
Brandy
In 1996, Brandy, focused on her music career, missed out on attending prom. However, during an Essence event, an emerging basketball player named Kobe Bryant extended an invitation for her to be his date. Brandy and her mother flew to Philadelphia for the dance, where she felt like a typical 17-year-old.
Despite the presence of cameras and media, being among students her age felt normal. Reflecting on the experience, Brandy expressed gratitude, stating, “I really needed to experience that, and I wouldn’t have if Kobe never asked me.”
Jason Derulo
Culver City High School seniors were in for an unexpected treat when Jason Derulo made a surprise appearance to perform some of his hit songs. The talented singer-songwriter’s presence and performance at the Los Angeles school transformed what would have been a typical prom night into an unforgettable experience filled with music, excitement, and a flurry of selfies.
Jason expressed his delight at attending, as he himself had never experienced prom. His favorite moment of the evening was announcing Culver City High’s prom king and queen.
Evelyn Lozada
In 2013, Basketball Wives star Evelyn Lozada made senior Anthony Nelson’s dreams a reality. The high school senior from Bloomfield, Michigan, took to Twitter to invite the 37-year-old celebrity to be his prom date.
Evelyn, who missed her own high school prom due to being pregnant with her daughter Shaniece, enthusiastically accepted the invitation and later expressed that she had the “BEST TIME EVER!” Anthony, a hopeless romantic, surprised his not-so-secret crush by presenting her with a corsage. Evelyn shared her excitement on social media, writing, “I’ve never had a corsage! You guys don’t understand how HAPPY I was!”
Shaun White
Pennsylvania teen Carly Monzo made a bold move by posting a video online titled “GoProm?” in which she asked Shaun White to be her date to her senior dance. While Shaun didn’t reply directly, the Olympic gold medalist snowboarder reached out and coordinated a surprise with Carly’s school.
During the dance, Carly was called on stage, and to her astonishment, the curtains went up to reveal White and his band, Bad Things, performing. Carly described the moment as “crazy” and admitted she was left speechless. Shaun danced with Carly, posed for pictures, and even gave her a kiss on the cheek, leaving her with a cherished memory she vowed never to wash away.
Zendaya
Zendaya couldn’t attend California high school junior Devon Johnson’s prom, but you have to check out his incredible and desperate promposal video. In the six-minute video, he sang and performed a choreographed dance routine featuring backflips.
He even asked Zendaya’s mom for permission to take her daughter to prom. Unfortunately, Zendaya couldn’t make it as she was performing in Texas on the day of Devon’s prom. But she tweeted, “Just the cutest thing I’ve ever seen… that’s how it’s done, fellas.”
Elle Fanning
It’s not just celebrities who fulfill fans’ dreams; fans can also make celebrities’ dreams come true! When Elle Fanning found herself unable to attend her prom night due to being at the Cannes Film Festival, her date took matters into his own hands and flew out to Southern France to recreate prom with her.
The radiant actress shared a beautiful photo on Instagram, expressing her gratitude: “Reliving my Senior Prom! Thank you, @basquitwat, for flying out since I could not be home and making our prom night one to remember forever!”
James Maslow
Ohio high schooler and avid Big Time Rush fan Hannah Wackernagle, who has Down Syndrome (or as she affectionately calls it, “Get Down Syndrome”), made a heartfelt promposal asking James Maslow to be her prom date. Unfortunately, Maslow was busy filming Dancing With the Stars on the day of Hannah’s prom.
Instead of simply declining, he went above and beyond by flying Hannah, her mom, and her sister to Los Angeles for their very own prom! Dressed like a true princess in a lavender gown and a sparkling tiara, Hannah had the magical experience of slow-dancing with her celebrity crush.
Selena Gomez
While fulfilling one teenager’s dream is admirable, Selena Gomez went above and beyond in 2018. Instead of attending just any prom night, she surprised young cancer survivors at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, California, during the oncology center’s “Around the World in One Night” event.
Gomez made the experience extra special by taking selfies and making goofy faces in a photo booth with the prom-goers. However, Selena wasn’t the only star present at the Children’s Hospital prom…
Jack Black
Jack Black also made a memorable visit to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where he delighted the kids by teaching them his best dance moves. In an Instagram video, Jack expressed his desire to ensure the children had the latest dance moves, promising to dance his heart out with them.
Additionally, stars from Grey’s Anatomy, including James Pickens Jr., Sarah Drew, Caterina Scorsone, and Kevin McKidd, attended the event. While we applaud the generosity of the stars, it’s important to recognize and appreciate the dedicated staff who work tirelessly every day of the year, decorating the wards with maps and lanterns to create a comforting environment for the children.
Victoria Justice
In 2013, New Jersey high school student Max Whitmore’s promposal to Victoria Justice didn’t go as planned. With assistance from his exceptional AP physics teacher, Max created a promposal video, envisioning himself and Victoria Justice as “A Perfect Pairing” for his prom on a summer night.
Despite his efforts, Victoria couldn’t attend. However, she surprised Max at school and extended an invitation to one of her shows. So, while Max’s prom night wasn’t victorious, Victoria’s unexpected visit made it feel like “The Afterlife of the Party.”
John Mayer
Pennsylvania’s Pennsbury High School students received an unforgettable surprise at their prom when singer John Mayer made a special appearance. The senior class had chosen Mayer’s song “Your Body Is a Wonderland” as their theme, prompting their class president, Bob Costa, to reach out and invite Mayer to their prom.
It took two years and the publication of Michael Bamberger’s book Wonderland: The Story of a Prom to convince Mayer, but the singer finally agreed to attend Pennsbury High’s year-end dance. John performed three songs for the students and encouraged them to “go be amazing people,” promising to see them again.
Dwyane Wade
In 2013, Miami high school senior Nicole Muxo made a bold move by posting a YouTube video inviting NBA star Dwyane Wade to her prom. Unfortunately, Wade declined her invitation, leaving Nicole feeling rejected and disheartened, much like a modern-day Cinderella fearing she wouldn’t make it to the ball.
However, on the night of the prom, Wade’s wife, Gabrielle Union, allowed him to attend, and Dwayne surprised Nicole by showing up. He graciously posed for photos with her and her family. Reflecting on the experience, Wade later wrote on Instagram, “Never be too scared to ask. They might just say yes… #dreamsdocometrue.”
Kellan Lutz
In 2015, amidst the Twilight saga’s peak popularity, the handsome Kellan Lutz was a heartthrob whose posters graced the walls of many high school girls. New Jersey student Brianna Siciliano won a contest to have a video chat with her celebrity crush.
Seizing the opportunity, Brianna bravely asked the Emmett Cullen actor if he would accompany her to prom, and to her delight, he accepted. Kellan not only escorted Brianna to her prom but also maintained communication with her afterward, eventually forming a friendship, as reported by Entertainment Tonight.
Alex Pall and Drew Taggart
In 2017, during the peak of their fame, Alexander “Alex” Pall and Andrew “Drew” Taggart, known as The Chainsmokers, made a surprise appearance at Huntley High School’s prom night. The electronic duo delighted students with an impromptu 10-minute performance.
The surprise visit was arranged after a student had invited the duo several weeks prior, and with the assistance of Huntley High School’s principal, the band ensured the event became an unforgettable night for the students. Despite their busy schedule, the New York duo managed to perform their hit song “Closer” before departing to play at the Allstate Arena.
Dan and Phil
Krysta Bound took promposals to the next level by inviting not one, but two guys to prom! She asked English musicians and YouTube stars Dan and Phil in a creative video where she sported a tuxedo while her friend played their original song “Krysta Gets All of the Men.”
Despite the London-based duo’s inability to attend Krysta’s big night overseas, Phil expressed their appreciation on Twitter, stating, “INCREDIBLE!! We laughed so much! Unfortunately, we can’t make it to the US in April, but we will send some D+P masks over.
Jaden Smith
In 2015, Jaden Smith, the son of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, attended prom with a fan, but this fan wasn’t just any ordinary person. His date was actress Amandla Stenberg, known for her role as Rue in The Hunger Games. Earlier that same year, Jaden also attended his high school prom with singer Mecca Kalani.
For this occasion, he wore a white Batsuit, cleverly concealing it beneath his tuxedo and tie. Later, in a photo booth, he revealed the superhero outfit, complete with padding. Interestingly, Jaden donned the Batsuit again for Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s wedding.
Kristin Cavallari
US Marine Lance Corporal Jonathan Burkett took to Twitter to invite TV personality Kristin Cavallari to the Marine Corps Ball. Remarkably, within just 30 minutes, Kristin accepted the invitation. A few months later, Kristin became the belle of the ball, accompanying the 25-year-old Burkett to the event.
Following the memorable evening, Lance Corporal Burkett tweeted his gratitude, stating, “Thank you for an amazing time! Def had a blast!!! Glad you got to enjoy the Marine Corps ball!” He even expressed his appreciation to Kristin’s husband, Chicago Bear Jay Cutler, for graciously loaning him his wife for the night!
Harry Styles
In 2019, Harry Styles didn’t officially attend prom with anyone, but he did extend a kind gesture by asking a girl named Amy to accompany his “good friend” Deschen to a formal high school dance.
Amy shared the video of Harry’s invitation online, which quickly went viral after she tweeted it, accompanied by the words, “So Harry Styles just asked me to prom!” Although technically correct, Harry’s invitation was on behalf of someone else!
Bella Hadid
In 2018, supermodel Bella Hadid had just completed a photo shoot in Atlantic Beach when she encountered a group of students on their way to prom while shooting in Oceanside, Long Island, New York. Bella spontaneously joined the teenagers’ prom bus and even posed for pictures with the group at their pre-prom party.
One of the teen’s moms expressed, “She heard about the prom party, and they got her to come. She was unbelievably nice and sweet, and the poor girl was probably exhausted.”
Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith
Yoga Hosers co-stars and best friends Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith share such a strong bond that they attended each other’s prom nights. The daughters of actor Johnny Depp and director Kevin Smith (not in that way!), are inseparable and went to each other’s senior proms.
Kevin Smith, who captured a photo of the duo, revealed that Lily-Rose and Harley had their own dates but were there solely to have fun and enjoy themselves. He humorously added that they were “strictly there to chew bubble gum and squish Bratzis!”
Justin Timberlake
In November 2011, Justin Timberlake accepted an invitation from U.S. Marine combat instructor Kelsey De Santis to be her date at the Instructor Battalion Marine Corps Ball in Richmond, Virginia. Kelsey had extended the invitation to JT through YouTube four months earlier, never anticipating a response.
Corporal Kelsey later shared with Good Morning America that Justin behaved like a perfect gentleman throughout the entire evening, stating, “There were so many favorite parts, I was super, super excited and ready to get it on.” It was undoubtedly an unforgettable experience for Corporal Kelsey!
Paris Jackson
Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris, had to skip her own prom night because she was attending a Metallica concert. However, to make up for missing her special evening, she decided to attend the dance with her best friend (and biggest fan) instead. In a heartwarming gesture, Paris dyed her hair green to match her friend’s prom dress.
She shared the experience on Instagram, writing, “Only true friends dye their hair to match their gal’s prom gown.” It was a memorable and meaningful way for Paris to support her friend on their important night.
Rihanna
MTV once had a brief show called Once Upon a Prom, where celebrities selected students without prom dates. Lucky high schooler Richard was left completely “awestruck” when Rihanna emerged from the limo in a stunning blue dress.
Richard admitted to the singer, “I want to let you know how terrified I am!” Throughout the night, the couple enjoyed dancing, mingling with Richard’s friends, and even took a prom photo together—an experience that Richard will cherish forever.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift, who missed out on prom due to being home-schooled, got the chance to experience it through MTV’s Once Upon a Prom. She attended prom at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, accompanied by senior Whit Wright.
Swift selected Whit from 50 applicants, impressed by his down-to-earth and all-American demeanor. Describing the experience, Taylor expressed, “This guy was so down to earth and all-American. He was unbelievably sweet,” adding, “It was literally one of the best nights of my life!” Interestingly, Taylor’s best friend Abigail was paired with Whit’s best friend, prompting playful banter about who got the better deal.
Tupac Shakur
In 1996, in the era before Instagram and YouTube, high school student Kia Chenelle took a bold step by writing a letter to the Tupac Shakur fan club, inviting her hero to be her date at her prom. Kia was left stunned when the rapper unexpectedly showed up at her doorstep.
Reflecting on the moment, Kia later shared with VH1, “He was by himself. No reporters, no homies, just Tupac Shakur at my doorstep.” Not only did Tupac honor Kia’s invitation, but he also generously gifted her $1,500 for her prom dress and arrived in a limo to escort the star-struck teen to the dance.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has a fondness for proms, having enjoyed the festivities at multiple dances. In 2010, she attended prom in her home state of Texas with her childhood friend Nolan Nardecchia, fulfilling a promise they made back in kindergarten. Arriving at Grapevine High School dance in style, they pulled up in a Rolls Royce.
Demi shared a photo on Twitter, expressing, “A promise made in kindergarten finally coming true. Prom with @nolannard!!! :)” Nolan also took to Twitter, declaring, “Prom was incredible. Everything about last night was amazing.” It was a memorable night for both, as Nolan’s wish was finally granted.
Vanessa Hudgens
In 2014, Vanessa Hudgens made a heartwarming gesture by attending prom with Cesar Guerro, a 17-year-old student at Los Angeles’s Sylmar High School who was battling cancer. The charity organization The Art of Elysium facilitated the connection between Hudgens and Cesar, who later expressed his gratitude on Instagram.
Guerro wrote, “Vanessa Hudgens, thank you so much for coming to my special prom. It was really nice getting to know you and to dance with you. It really meant a lot to me that you took your time off and came to my prom. I love you so much.” It was a touching moment that left a lasting impact on both Hudgens and Guerro.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry took an unconventional approach to prom by crashing one instead of attending as anyone’s date. During a 2010 trip to Melbourne, Australia, the “Roar” singer stumbled upon a high school dance being held in her hotel.
According to Ten News, Katy crashed the high schoolers’ ball for 15 minutes, where she performed Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” and took selfies with the star-struck students. Initially, one teacher was skeptical, thinking, “Who is this silly girl? Who is this idiot?” However, Katy herself announced on Twitter, “I totes just crashed a prom!!!” It was an unexpected and memorable moment for all involved.
Drake
In May 2017, Drake accompanied his cousin Jalaah Moore to her prom in Memphis, Tennessee. However, Drake wasn’t Jalaah’s date; she already had one. Instead, Drake served as a chaperone for the event.
He arranged for a white Rolls Royce to serve as their limo and hosted an after-party at the local Hard Rock Café for Jalaah and 400 of her friends. Overwhelmed with excitement, Jalaah took to Instagram to share numerous photos and described the experience as the “best day everrr.”
Elizabeth Taylor
If you thought that celebrities like Justin Bieber, the Kardashians, or Mila Kunis invented the concept of attending proms with fans, you might need to reconsider. In fact, as far back as 1949, superstar actress Elizabeth Taylor made headlines by spending the night twirling on the dance floor with one of her biggest fans.
The lucky fan was 17-year-old British star Bob Precht, who escorted Taylor to his prom as a prize for winning the title of The Most Romantic He-Man on campus at UCLA. While it remains unclear how exactly Bob Precht earned the title, one thing’s for sure—he was one fortunate guy that night.
Brad Pitt
Let’s delve into the past and explore the fortunate experiences of three young ladies who had the opportunity to attend prom night with future stars, long before they achieved fame themselves. Among them is none other than Brad Pitt, captured in a nostalgic photograph from 1982. Sporting feathered hair and clad in the quintessential 1980s suit, Brad exudes charm as he poses alongside his high school sweetheart Kim Bell.
The image is a testament to youthful innocence and the beginnings of a future Hollywood heartthrob. Interestingly, Kim’s attire adds an unexpected twist to the scene, resembling a wedding dress—a delightful touch that adds humor to their prom night memory.
Matthew McConaughey
In 2014, while Matthew McConaughey was basking in the glory of winning the Best Actor Oscar for his outstanding performance in Dallas Buyers Club, his moment in the limelight was unexpectedly overshadowed by a nostalgic blast from the past. Leah Pickett shared a captivating photo on Twitter, featuring McConaughey with her auntie Lori as his prom date.
The tweet quickly went viral, accompanied by a caption that read, “My aunt’s high school prom date just won an Oscar. Congrats, Matthew McConaughey!” The photograph provided a charming glimpse into McConaughey’s pre-fame days, where he could be seen donning a rented tuxedo and a stylish blue bowtie—a perfect match for his date’s elegant blue prom dress.
Jimmy Fallon
Let’s travel back to the 1980s for a hilarious blast from the past involving none other than The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon. Before he became a household name, Jimmy attended prom with a lucky (or perhaps unlucky) lady from Saugerties High School. While her name remains a mystery, their pre-prom photo has become a source of amusement for many.
Jimmy himself couldn’t resist sharing the humor, taking to Twitter to quip, “I didn’t know my date was getting high heels and a tan for the prom. Standing next to her, I looked so pale and so small. #PromFail.” The tweet encapsulates the awkward yet endearing essence of teenage prom experiences, making it a relatable and chuckle-worthy moment for all.
Storm Reid
In 2019, Yara Shahidi’s younger brother, Sayeed, found himself lacking the courage to ask actress Storm Reid to homecoming. Luckily, Storm lent her assistance by helping him film a heartwarming promposal. Sayeed crafted a banner with a sweet message: “Storms are rare in L.A. I’m lucky I found one. Prom?” directed towards the Grown-ish and A Wrinkle in Time star.
Now, for the update: the good news is that Sayeed and Storm did indeed become an item, attending multiple proms and homecoming dances together. However, the unfortunate news is that their relationship came to an end in 2022. Despite the split, their memorable promposal and time together undoubtedly left a lasting impression on both of them.
Linda Hamilton
When Sergeant Ray Lewis faced disappointment after legendary Betty White declined his invitation to the Marine Corps Ball in Westlake, Texas, he was understandably crestfallen. However, his spirits were quickly lifted when the iconic Sarah Connor herself, Terminator actress Linda Hamilton, stepped in to save the day by attending in Betty’s place!
Hamilton took to YouTube to humorously address the situation, stating, “Rumor has it that you like your actresses vintage. I thought I would just take a shot here and try to find you.” She cleverly incorporated Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous line, promising, “I’ll be back,” before stepping outside momentarily. Hamilton’s unexpected appearance surely made the Marine Corps Ball an unforgettable event for Sergeant Ray Lewis and attendees alike.
Danny DeVito
In 2020, 17-year-old high school senior Allison Closs made headlines when she decided to take Danny DeVito as her date to the Carlisle High School prom in Pennsylvania. However, since the real Danny wasn’t available, Allison opted for the next best thing—a cardboard cutout of the beloved actor. Donning a stylish ruffled blue dress, Allison posed alongside her 2D DeVito, who sported a matching blue boutonniere.
The unconventional prom date caught the attention of Danny DeVito himself, who was so impressed by Allison’s creativity that he decided to reciprocate the gesture. The actor brought his biggest fan to the set of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, albeit in cardboard form. The comedic duo later had the opportunity to meet in person, creating a memorable and humorous exchange between the real-life and cardboard versions of themselves.
