HOUSTON — Marche Taylor’s prom night experience wasn’t what you would call the norm.
That’s because instead of a night of dancing and hanging out with friends, the Madison High School senior ended in a confrontation with school officials and her being escorted out in handcuffs. All because school officials said her dress was inappropriate for the school prom.
"I actually like the dress. Everybody else likes my dress,” Taylor said of her custom-made dress as she showed it off Friday afternoon.
Madison High's prom took place at the Sugar Land Marriot. But Taylor only got as far as the lobby because when she tried to enter the ballroom an official stopped her.
Courtesy photo
She was told her dress violated a school dress code.
"She shook her head, she was like you are not getting into this prom,” said Taylor. “We were arguing back and forth because I wanted to know why I can't get into my prom.”
Even after offering to provide more cover, Taylor was still denied access to the final soiree of the school year.
At that point, Taylor said she was furious. After all this was her senior prom. She argued if she couldn't get in, she wanted her money back.
Things got so bad, the next thing she knew, someone had called the police. Officers showed up, handcuffed her and escorted her out.
A photographer snapped a photo of Taylor in handcuffs, being led out of the hotel.
Not the prom memory Taylor was expecting
Madison High School Principal Aubrey Taylor said says the dress was inappropriate and violated the rules.
“It was revealing in such nature it was not appropriate for the prom,” said Taylor, who stood by the school official who denied Taylor access to the event.
And while she regrets how things turned out, Taylor thinks she had little choice.
"They didn't give me any options, but to go to jail or go home,” she said.
And she still loves her prom dress, even though in the end it will cost her dearly.