Transition to Womanhood

Ashley Rubio, left, gets her makeup done in her room by Brenda Barrera of Beauty by Brenda, right, in her room in Evansville, Ind., Saturday morning, July 2, 2022. Rubio began getting ready at 7am, six hours before the starting ceremony.

A traditional Mexican dress hangs on Ashley Rubio’s door next to polaroids of Rubio and her friends while getting ready before the starting ceremony of her Quinceañera in Evansville, Ind., Saturday morning, July 2, 2022.

Las Damas (girls) wait in the living room for Ashley Rubio to come out in her dress for her quinceañera in Evansville, Ind., Saturday morning, July 2, 2022. Las Damas are close friends and family that support the celebrant throughout the day, representing the friendships she has leading into womanhood.

The limousine driver helps Ashley Rubio in the limousine to take her from her home to the opening ceremony at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Evansville, Ind., Saturday afternoon, July 2, 2022.

Ashley Rubio, left, waits with her Damas (girls) before the ceremony of her quinceañera at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Evansville Saturday afternoon, July 2, 2022.

The ceremony of Ashley Rubio’s quinceañera at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Evansville, Ind., Saturday afternoon, July 2, 2022. This traditional ceremony emphasizes the gift of life, committing to the faith, and asking for a blessing for the years to come.

The damas and the chambelan of Rubio’s court practice their dance outside the 4-H Center for the quinceñera in Evansville, Ind., July 2, 2022.

Ashley Rubio dances with her court during her quinceanera, at the 4-H Center in Evansville, Ind., July 2, 2022.

Ashley Rubio, left, cries with her mother Noemí Hernandez, right, after the mother-daughter dance (Yo Te Esperaba) during the party of her quinceañera at the Vanderburgh 4-H center in Evansville Saturday afternoon, July 2, 2022. Hernandez never had her quinceañera. "My parents were very poor, they didn’t have money," Hernandez said. With the collaboration of the Godparents, she was able to have a quinceañera for her only daughter.

Ashley Rubio,15, dances with her father Raul Rubio in the traditional father-daughter dance during her quinceañera at the Vanderburgh County 4-H center in Evansville, Ind., Saturday afternoon, July 2, 2022. This dance is the girl’s first public dance during the celebration and represents her transition to womanhood and the importance of her father as the first man in her life.

Ashley Rubio, 15, celebrates her quinceañera at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church and the 4-H Vanderburgh Center in Evansville, Ind., July 2, 2022. The quinceañera is a Hispanic tradition celebrating the transition from childhood to womanhood and consists of a Catholic ceremony that emphasizes the gift of life, committing to the faith, and asking for a blessing for the years to come. But for the rest of the day, night and early morning, a party with food, drinks, and dancing commences. Noemí Hernandez, Rubio’s mother came to Evansville from Guanajuato, Mexico, but never had her quinceañera. "My parents were very poor, they didn’t have money," Hernandez said. With the collaboration of the Godparents, she was able to have a quinceañera for her only daughter.