Prom’s cancelled. These amazing photos show how students still celebrated

Celebrity advice, cheesy portrait backgrounds and a really good playlist await you

By Amy King, Jessica Roy and Priya Krishnakumar

Prom backgrounds by Juliette Toma

Photo editing by Ross May and Micah Fluellen

June 18, 2020

To be a high school student in America right now means organizing more than 10,000 people in your city to protest against racism. It means skipping school to strike for action on climate change. It means that instead of a traditional graduation, you get a virtual commencement speech from Michelle Obama where she reminds you not to “ever let anyone tell you that you're too angry or that you should keep your mouth shut.” And it means you didn’t get something you really deserve: a prom.

Enter the L.A. Times Virtual Prom — the somewhat strange page you find yourself on now. It’s not a real prom. But it has cheesy portrait backgrounds just like a real prom. And it has better music than most proms, because the playlist has been made by one of your own — 17-year-old Nhandi Craig of Los Angeles, a.k.a. DJ Young 1. And this prom has celebrities. Actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan of “Never Have I Ever” is here. That’s pretty cool. We've also made a game for you to experience the full prom experience, from beginning to end.

To the students who submitted photos: We're so happy to have you as our guests. To high school students everywhere: We thank you for fighting for justice and our future, and we hope you enjoy this prom.

Jairo Martinez

Bell Gardens High School, 12th grade

What’s the first thing you're going to do with your friends when you can see them again?

Hang out with them either at the park or the mall to reminisce about the memories we made this year during our successful marching band season.

Are you doing anything special to mark the end of the school year?

My family and I don’t have any special plans until social distancing orders are lifted, but I would really like to go to either Disneyland or Universal Studios Hollywood with them once the theme parks open again.

Erick Moreno and Vanessa Sanchez

Mark Keppel High School, 12th grade

Nayeli Pinela

Gardena High, 12th grade

Some of our favorite TV stars are here at virtual prom with advice on missing prom in real life.

Paulina Chávez
"The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia"

We are going through crazy times right now. It’s important to stay positive. I know most seniors look forward to prom, but there are going to be so many other opportunities to hang out with friends and make beautiful memories!

Darren Barnet
"Never Have I Ever"

If there is that special someone that you’ve had a crush on and wanted to ask them to prom, go for it and tell them how you feel. You may not be able to go to prom but you can still ask them out and plan a date after quarantine.

Diego Flores

Mark Keppel High School, 12th grade

How are you feeling about having to miss your prom?

Missing my senior prom made me feel really sad and bummed out, because it’s part of the high school experience and I was really looking forward to it.

Destiny Garcia

Elizabeth Learning Center, 12th grade

Christine Castellano

Gardena Senior High School, 12th grade

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
"Never Have I Ever"

If you ever find someone who says prom is the best night of their lives, run. Prom is super over-hyped, and honestly there are more exciting things to come in your life. And to anyone who already bought an awesome outfit for prom, wear it. You don’t need a reason to look fancy.

Nicole Maines
"Supergirl"

Have a big Zoom call with your friends and classmates and spend the evening together. It’s about making special memories with people you care about and got through the past four years with. It’s a celebration of you all. So celebrate together.

Scout King

Connections Academy, 11th grade

How are you feeling about having to miss your prom?

I’m feeling quite sad and disappointed, and slightly in denial, though of course it's a small thing compared to the many tragedies going on around us.

What's the first thing you're going to do with your friends when you can see them again?

Have a sleepover with my best friend, Em. We’re hoping we’ll be able to by Halloween, so we can do our three-year-long tradition of dressing up and watching scary movies.

Nhandi Craig, aka DJ Young 1, was born and raised in Los Angeles. She served as iHeart Radio’s first female celebrity DJ for REAL 92.3 FM. She has performed for sold out stadium crowds in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and around the world.

Nhandi's self titled EP will be released in June 2020.

Stacy Martinez

Charter Oak High School, 12th grade

Andrew Jones

Bell Gardens High School, 12th grade

Jaren Lewison
"Never Have I Ever"

Prom is a time to experience being close to the people who mean the most to you. Even in this crazy time, you can still make meaningful memories with your friends. Have a friend DJ and Zoom! The possibilities are endless.

Elizabeth Grullón
"Party of Five"

You’re not missing anything. Prom is just one fun night amongst hundreds of fun nights you will have in your adult life. Take this completely unique time as an opportunity to connect with yourself so when quarantine lifts you can party in peace!

Daniela Arellano

Charter Oak High School, 12th grade

How are you feeling about having to miss your prom?

When I found out that prom was canceled at first I didn't know how I felt. I was numb. Later that week or so a close friend asked me how I felt when I found out, and when I was texting her every emotion I was feeling just came out. I was really sad and disappointed.

What's the first thing you're going to do with your friends when you can see them again?

Hug them. Then we are going to talk about everything that happened in our lives. Then we are going to spend as much time as possible together.

Irma Sanchez

Paramount High School, 12th grade

Joseph Roman

Paramount High School, 12th grade

Xochitl Benitez and Citlaly Benitez

El Rancho High School, 12th grade

How are you feeling about having to miss your prom?

Xochitl: I feel horrible. I would love to have a prom because I’m going to college and now I won’t be able to have fun and dress up or anything, which sucks because my family would be talking about their prom, and they have videos and pictures, which makes me feel sad because now I don’t have that memory at all. The only memory I will have is not even having a prom or graduating at my school on my field.

Xochitl Benitez and Miguel Estrada

El Rancho High School, 12th grade

Roxi Garcia

West Chicago Community High School, 12th grade

We wanted to know: what song do you wish you could have danced to at prom?

Most common responses
“Thank U, Next” - Ariana Grande
“Photograph” - Ed Sheeran
“Crazy” - Gnarls Barkley

Oldest throwbacks
“September” - Earth, Wind and Fire
“Don't Stop Believin’” - Journey
“Africa” - Toto

Grace Jones

Hollywood High School, 12th grade

How are you feeling about having to miss your prom?

I’m sad that I’m missing my prom, because my school’s prom is mainly only for seniors. I’ve never gone to a prom before.

What's the first thing you're going to do with your friends when you can see them again?

The first thing I’m going to do with my friends is have a dance party on the beach.

Esmeralda Martinez and Erick Menjivar

Edward R. Roybal Learning Center, 12th grade

Joseph Rivas

Julian Charter Schools, 12th grade

Christina Karchtner
"Never Have I Ever"

Just assume that it was a “Carrie” situation and you narrowly escaped death. You’re welcome.

Lana Condor
"To All The Boys I've Loved Before"

It completely stinks you couldn’t go to your senior prom, but look at the bright side: You didn’t have to get embarrassed by your parents in front of your date! You saved money! You didn’t have to be awkwardly watched by faculty! You didn’t have to listen to a DJ that didn’t play your favorite songs!

Ava Purcell

Notre Dame Academy, 12th grade

What’s the first thing you’re going to do with your friends when you can see them again?

I am going to give them a big hug and go out to the mall together to shop and eat. We will be able to talk and walk without worrying about how far apart we need to be or having our voices muffled by a mask.

Are you doing anything special to mark the end of the school year?

My parents threw a small prom party for me and made it really special; I got to wear a dress and a tiara. I’m celebrating my graduation in my cap and gown, from my living room. I’m making use of what I’ve got!

Jailyn Torres

El Rancho High School, 11th grade

Jay Dugar, Joyce Kim and Gwen Ma

From left: Oak Park High School (11th grade), La Cañada High School (10th grade), Orange Lutheran High School (12th grade)

Naomi Talamantes

El Rancho High School, 12th grade

How are you feeling about having to miss your prom?

missing prom is lame

Are you doing anything special to mark the end of the school year?

Carlos Vargas

El Rancho High School, 12th grade

Natalie Salem

Malibu High School, 12th grade

Leslie Martinez, Anoushka Gupta and Macy Kwon

From left: Inglewood High School (12th), West High School (12th), Cleveland Charter High School (11th)

Claire Judson, Sarah Nachimson and Atussa Kian

From left: Claremont High School (11th), YULA Girls High School (11th), Arcadia High School (12th)

Benjamin Norris
"Never Have I Ever"

Prom is all about celebrating the relationships and unforgettable experiences of high school. So don't let this roadblock get in the way of your well-earned trip down memory lane, and make sure you still take the time to FaceTime, Zoom, Snapchat or whatever to reminisce and laugh with each other before your next great adventure awaits.

Daisy Edgar-Jones
"Normal People"

To be honest, my favorite memory was getting ready with my pals. That’s the best bit, being with your mates. Do a massive Zoom call with your best friends and get ready together, have a natter [chat] and a boogie. It’s way more fun than the actual prom bit, or at least it was for me. Then when you’re allowed to, meet up and go out for a dance!

Irene Vivar, Roxana Ismail, Robert Lasater and Samantha Velasquez

John Muir High School, 12th grade

How are you feeling about having to miss your prom?

Roxana: I’m devastated. I’ve been looking forward to this event since my freshman year and was excited when I was dress shopping. Prom was going to be one of the last get-togethers with some of my friends since most of them are moving for college.

Celeste Ceja

El Rancho High School, 12th grade

Viviana Villasenor

John Muir High School, 12th grade

Sophie Uoo

Orange County School of Arts, 11th grade

Are you doing anything special to mark the end of the school year?

I’m in the musical theater conservatory at the Orange County School of the Arts, so I plan to hold a concert for my family, friends and neighbors to comfort and support each other. I want to still continue my craft and entertain others in spite of these unprecedented times.

Alyssa Diaz

El Rancho High School, 12th grade

Nicky Bo Clark, Rani Chor, Renee Wang and Sarah Axelrod

Wilson High School, 10th grade

Renee Wang

Glen A. Wilson High School, 10th grade

How are you feeling about having to miss your prom?

I did not feel much different than usual when prom was canceled since it was to be expected with the early signs of COVID-19 spreading. However, I did feel sorry for my upperclassmen friends that were in their last year of high school and did not get to attend their last prom.