Newsday's Project Prom girl heads to her party
Every Cinderella moment is different. For Newsday's Project Prom girl, Caitlin Warshauer, 18, of Lake Ronkonkoma, there was Thursday's crazy thunderstorm that threatened her pre-prom hair and makeup, done at nuBest in Manhasset.
It didn't faze her.
Nor did the less-than-luxe transport to her prom at the Marriott in Uniondale - a 2005 Toyota Highlander driven by date and BFF Justin Flynn, also 18.
"I don't really care about the whole limo thing," said Caitlin, an about-to-be grad of Sachem North High School. "This is probably the last Cinderella moment of my life, until my wedding" - husband yet to be determined - "and probably the last time I'll have my nails done," she added, flashing a fresh French manicure.
In 13 days, the girl who for the night was perhaps Long Island's most glamorous soldier, will trade in the fancy coral chiffon gown from Lord & Taylor - an overwhelming favorite of Newsday readers who picked it for her (Newsday also bought her the dress) - for standard-issue Army garb. It's off to Fort Lee, Va., where as a private first class, she'll train as an Army cook and afterward, go for more mainstream culinary education at Johnson & Wales in Providence, R.I. (No makeup and nail polish allowed.)
Her shy date, a dear childhood friend who came on crutches because of an injury, said, "I'm along for the ride." When coaxed, Flynn added, "I think she looks awesome." He saluted Caitlin's fiery frock with a little razzle dazzle of his own: a fuchsia vest and yellow tie. Flynn, who will graduate from Walt Whitman High School in Huntington, was diagnosed with leukemia last year. Caitlin brought him because she said he missed a lot of school and "I wanted him to enjoy what was left of it."
Caitlin's girlfriends made up for Flynn's restraint. Melissa Segall, 18, said, "She's like unrecognizable, in a good way. She looks so fantastic." Tablemate Marisa Martinez, 17, added: "Her usual look is skinny jeans, sneakers and a T-shirt. She looks gorgeous and she's such a good person. You definitely picked the right girl."
