belle of the ball
Event's star woman
The belle of the ball is the most admired or attractive woman at a social gathering—originally a formal dance, now any event.
The phrase suggests being the center of attention, the one everyone wants to meet or dance with: She was the belle of the ball at the gala.
Used figuratively for anyone or anything receiving exceptional notice: Their new product was the belle of the ball at the trade show.
- gorgeousStrikingly beautiful
- cotillionFormal society dance event
- high societyThe social elite
- charmAttractive personal quality
- radianceGlowing luminous quality
grand entrance · life of the party · allure · elegance · prom queen · queen bee · grace · sophistication · Cinderella · courtship · debutante · coming out party · dance card · dance floor · admiration · spotlight · stunning · glamour
- spotlightspotlight, center stage, limelight, main attraction, star attraction
belle of the ballwallflower
Shy person avoiding socializing
social outcast · nobody · loner · shrinking violet · outsider
belle of the ballugly duckling
Initially unpromising eventual success
plain Jane · undesirable · persona non grata · frump · untouchable
belle, ball, bells, balls, balled, balling, beauty, beauteous, embellish