Norwood Business Owner Provides Teens With Prom Attire And Hope

NORWOOD, MA - Maristela Rapo deeply understands what it feels like to not have a sense of fitting in. Through her Norwood-based nonprofit called Giving the Glam, she strives to make sure teens don't feel ostracized when it comes to having their dream prom experience.

Earlier this month, Rapo was jointly honored alongside Gov. Charlie Baker by the Boston Arts Academy Foundation and the Boston Arts Academy with the prestigious Champion Award for her dedication to the students. She provides designer dresses and tuxedos from greater Boston and New York as well as a feeling of belonging. to students who are economically disadvantaged.

A native of Brazil, Rapo grew up in the favelas, or slums, of Rio de Janeiro, raised by a single mother and then living with her grandmother among her siblings and cousins.

“It was one step up from homelessness,” she said as she described her childhood. “There were 10 to 15 of us in the house. I was always dressed in hand-me-down clothes, and getting an education was not a priority.”

Rapo dreamed of a career in the fashion industry, knowing that she had an innate talent for seeing beauty and bringing it out in others. After working as a housekeeper like her mother did, she moved to Europe at age 18 to pursue a career in the fashion industry. On a vacation to her homeland, she met her husband, an American, which changed the trajectory of her life.

In the 2000s, she became the proprieter of two high-end fashion boutiques: Wolford in Copley Square and Long Island and Boston’s Giuseppe Zanotti footwear. However, because of the recession, her businesses faltered.

“I was able to work with and be trained by a world-famous fashion design team from New York,” she explained. “I always ended up giving everyone fashion advice.”

In 2014, Alexis, her daughter, gave Rapo the inspiration for Giving the Glam. She told her mother about Dover-Sherborn Regional High School students in the METCO program who couldn’t afford to go to the prom. Alexis introduced her to Monique Marshall, the METCO coordinator there, at a library fundraiser. Rapo asked to be connected with any students who may need help.

“Four to five weeks later, she connected me with a young lady who was being raised by a single mother because her father had died,” Rapo said. “She needed help getting a dress for her prom.”

Having come from Brazil, Rapo said she had no idea what a prom was or how much it is a part of the fabric of American culture.

“I always thought the prom dresses here were ugly,” she said with a laugh. “So I went to New York Lace in Taunton, where I bought my wedding dress, to help this young lady have a beautiful dress.”

Rapo went all out, arranging for a hair stylist and makeup artist to work with the teen, providing her with hair extensions and all the accessories. She also hired a photographer to complete the perfect picture.

“She was really shy,” she said. “And I have a big personality, so it took her a while to get comfortable with me. But the whole class reacted because she looked so beautiful. She thanked me for making her feel like a princess on her prom day.”

Within a year, Rapo helped 20 other economically disadvantaged kids. Her momentum grew. By 2016, that number exploded to 50 and then almost 90 the next year.

“My husband said, ‘If you’re going to keep doing this, you better apply for nonprofit status and become a 501(c)(3),” she said. “I was very visionary about what I wanted to do. I wanted to give these kids the five-star treatment with a whole team.”

In 2018, Giving the Glam was awarded status as a nonprofit. She has helped hundreds of students in Massachusetts and New York not only to find the perfect outfit but also to build their self-esteem.

“A lot of these kids struggle every day, thinking that they are not good enough or beautiful enough,” Rapo explained. “Some of the kids grew up in shelters, tried to commit suicide, or have special needs.”

Rapo insists on not accepting second-hand dresses.

“That’s not what I am about,” she said. “People always ask me why they need everything new. But growing up with 10 to 15 kids in the house, I know how important it is to have something new that is just yours.”

She directs the used dresses to a program called Belle of the Ball run by Anton’s Cleaners to support that effort.

“I don’t want people to think this is just about fashion,” Rapo continued. “I don’t just give them clothes. I give them hope. I just want to show them that they don’t have to feel like they are less than everyone else.”

Rapo gave 17 Norwood High School students that sense of hope on Monday, when 10 girls and seven boys were selected by Giving the Glam to receive her services.

"NHS is very grateful to be part of Giving the Glam this year," said Assistant Principal Cindy Derrane. "The students that Maristela met were so thrilled to be selected. One student described her as a fairy godmother."

Another young woman worried about how she could attend the prom on a budget because "she felt like she would stick out and not look as good as everyone else," according to the assistant principal.

"She said, 'Meeting with Maristela made me feel like it would be possible to be spoiled for one day. I have never experienced that before and I can't wait,'" Derrane said.

In 2020, Rapo gave a dream experience to three students with disabilities who were devastated by their proms being canceled. She documented their experiences in this YouTube video.

Rapo lamented that today’s culture puts an even greater emphasis on looks because of social media and shames those who come from less fortunate backgrounds.

“It only shows the perfection that people achieve and all the good things,” Rapo said. “I would love to see someone posting how they looked on a really bad day.”

She has provided dresses in sizes ranging from 0 to 28 to show that larger women who may be self-conscious their true beauty both inside and out.

“They think they have to get a big ball gown to hide their figures,” Rapo said. “I take them out of their comfort zone. I have a seamstress that works with each girl to tailor the perfect dress. I encourage them to wear dresses with spaghetti straps and a high back that will give them support.”

A mural in her Norwood shop proudly displays her heritage in Brazil on one side and her life as a philanthropist on the other. Also present there is her blue macaw, appropriately named Rio.

This year she is helping 60 teens in the South Bronx and 140 more in greater Boston. The students are recommended to her by their guidance counselors. She went to New York recently, where she was able to arrange for the Ritz Carlton to rent her a conference room for theNew York promgoers to get ready for $1,500 rather than the usual $10,000 a day.

“When the doorman holds the door for them, those kids feel like celebrities,” she said.

To help 30 girls attend their proms in style, Rapo is planning on hosting a brunch to raise $30,000. For a $30 ticket, attendees have a chance to win gently used designer items from Fendi, Chanel, Jimmy Choo and others. Winners will be announced on the Giving the Glam Instagram page.

"Our goal is that when we are close to rasing the funds for 30 girls to attend prom, we will set up our brunch date," Rapo explained.

Rapo thanked the Boston Arts Academy Foundation for the honor.

“BAA is an amazing nonprofit, and I am very thankful for the opportunity to work with them,” she said. “They have so many talented kids who sing, act and produce films.”

Some of the students perform at the annual fashion show she holds for those who receive donations.

“That way, they get to experience the joy of wearing their dresses and tuxedos twice,” she added.

“It was a pleasure to present our distinguished Champion Award to two extraordinary figures who have shown a strong belief in Boston Arts Academy’s students’ potential and steadfast commitment to providing equitable opportunities for all our students,” said BAA Foundation President and CEO Denella J. Clark. “Both Governor Baker and Maristela have been avid supporters and we are proud to have honored them.”

Rapo said her dream is to gain more sponsors to help even more young people shine.

“One day, I want to show up in the middle of nowhere and give some of these kids this experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives,” she said. “We are magical.

“I’m not Mother Teresa,” she continued. “What I really want to give these kids is respect. I will never change that until the day I die.”