LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Every culture has a way of celebrating birthdays, or a coming of age. From a debutante cotillion ball, a bar mitzvah to a quinceañera dating back centuries.
“A quinceañera is when you become a woman," Fatima Alexandra Colindres Rodriguez said. She is planning her own celebration now. "You’re no longer a girl. You’re growing up.”
Quinceañeras are celebrations for when a young woman turns 15 years old.
Fatima attends Butler High School, and she is now less than a month from her big day. It’s an event that’s taken a year to plan.
“I pick the venue and the church," Fatima said. "It’s important to have a little talk before the party.”
She picks the decorations and one of the most important things: the dress.
Fatima invited WHAS11 News to follow along as she prepared for her photoshoot which takes hours to get everything just right. Being the only girl in the immediate family makes it even more special.
“It’s such a big step and I’m just so happy that I will finally be 15," Rodriquez said. "I’m finally celebrating my quincea and its finally getting here. I’ve been waiting for so long. I’ve been waiting since I was a little girl. It was my dream to have a quincea.”
Like many traditions, the dress isn't revealed until the party.
Rodriguez moved from Guatemala to Louisville as a little girl in 2019, so this quinceañera is a piece of home and it’s something she and her parents can cherish.
“I think they are really proud of me; I’m finally growing up,” she said.
She’s practicing her entrances which will be elaborate and are promised leave her guests in awe. The photos will be debuted at the event and will become part of her family legacy.
Rodriguez's big day will be on Nov. 9 where family and friends will gather at a church ceremony and then a party. Their tradition is to make an unforgettable entrance, so we can’t wait to see what she does.
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