Since its formation last fall, Bobcats and Ballgowns has worked to bring magic to Athens through princess performances.
According to its website, Bobcats and Ballgowns is a volunteer-based club striving to bring positivity to local children through community events and character visits.
“Our goal is to create magical experiences while promoting kindness, imagination and confidence in the children we meet,” the website said.
What began as a Snapchat post searching for interested students blossomed into a club with hopes to soon visit children in hospitals, decked in gowns and tiaras.
“I’m hoping to go to Nationwide (Children’s Hospital) in Columbus,” Magdolyn Zajdel, a freshman studying social work and Bobcats and Ballgowns president, said. “I feel like it’s just so much more valuable when you’re visiting kids who already are in such a hard time to show them happiness and just positivity for just a few minutes, I think that’s really impactful.”
Zajdel has experience with character performing and participated in events dressed as Elsa from “Frozen," which sparked her interest.
When touring various colleges, she visited Indiana University. There, she was introduced to Royal Encounters, an organization of students who dress up as characters and make visits across the area.
“I really liked that idea … and where I went, I wanted to try to start something like that,” Zajdel said.
After coming to Ohio University, she began the process of creating the club. This included finding a faculty advisor, forming an executive team and doing promotional work. After posting a flyer on an OU Snapchat story and forming a GroupMe, Zajdel looked for students interested in serving as board members.
“I joined the GroupMe because that was exactly something that I was very interested in,” Alexis Curtin, a freshman studying social work and psychology who serves as the club treasurer, said.
Curtin was involved in theater since high school and wanted to be part of an organization that lets her perform in a new way.
“It was a new opportunity to try something that I wanted to be a part of for a while,” Curtin said.
As the club grows, Curtin looks forward to providing kids with a safe space, as she experienced as a kid when attending princess-themed events.
“When I was younger, I went to a high school princess event, and it was just girls in prom dresses, but it was the most magical experience,” Curtin said. “Just being able to give that to kids.”
Zajdel said the mission of Bobcats and Ballgowns is important to not only the children of Athens but also other residents, as it breaks down a divide between OU students and the city through connection at events.
“I feel like sometimes it can feel like it's OU, and then outside, it’s just Athens,” Zajdel said. “It’s not really combined together. I think it’s cool to mesh those together.”
Madeline Walton, a sophomore studying nutrition science, serves as the organization’s social media manager and works to create posts to encourage new members to join and obtain sponsorships.
“I feel like it’s really important for not only us to have sponsors, but the local businesses, too, because it shows that they’re involved in the community,” Walton said.
Bobcats and Ballgowns have a sponsorship with Friendly Paws Pet Supplies and Grooming, located at 940 E. State St. This collaboration and prospective ones will help fund costumes and activities for the group’s events.
“Sponsors can make a huge difference in our club because they can help be the difference between just a random green dress and a dress that actually resembles Tinker Bell,” Curtin said.
On April 5, the club is participating in Kidfest, a local annual event hosted by Athens County Children Services.
“It’s basically just a bunch of games and activities,” Curtin said. “Crafts, music, dancing for kids in the Athens area, and so we would just be there to interact with the kids.”
As it prepares for the event, Bobcats and Ballgowns is hosting character workshops for interested new members to learn how to perform.
“(It’s) going to be a workshop,” Zajdel said. “How to act like a princess, how to talk to kids, how to be on their level.”
Aside from dressing up, students can get involved by participating in all aspects of events, including planning, costume design and photography.
“We’re kind of welcome to anything,” Zajdel said. “If you have something that you like to do … you’re welcome to come in and we can figure out how to put that into the club."
