SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Utah teen who wore a Chinese cultural dress to prom, sparking a debate on its appropriateness, said she bought the garment because of its modesty.
Woods Cross High School senior Keziah Daum bought the dress at a vintage store, the Deseret News reported this week.
Daum said she was having a difficult time finding a dress with an “appropriate” neckline. She picked the red, gold and black embroidered quipao dress because it “showed beauty in other ways than revealing” her body, she said.
“I remember being there, and I’m like, ’I want to find something that’s a little more modest. Don’t want to send the wrong message,’” Daum said. “It was so gorgeous and fit well.”
Her prom was April 21.
She posted photos on social media the next day - and then was bombarded with thousands of replies accusing her of cultural appropriation. Other social media users have supported her, though, saying she represented the culture with beauty.
Daum said that in wake of the backlash, she has learned more about the dress. She said it symbolizes “female empowerment and equality.”
“It doesn’t matter what culture that comes from, it’s a great lesson for a young woman to learn,” Daum’s mother, Melissa Dawes, said.
Daum considered deleting all her social media accounts, but decided to keep Twitter to stand up to her critics and stand by her decision to wear the dress, she said.
“I’ve told myself, ’You know, I’ve done nothing wrong.’ This had a great intent to it, and the meaning behind it is very important. And knowing that what I did was right helps me get through the hate,” she said.
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