Meet Sophia Loren’s lookalike Lucia Ponti, who will exclusively attend the debutante ball

When Lucia-Sofia Ponti was looking for a dress for the famous debutante ball in Paris, taking place on November 30, she knew who to turn to for inspiration – her grandmother Sophia Loren.

© Personal Collection Lucia Sofia Pon Daniel Ryan / Bestimage

And as she shows off a series of stunning dresses by designer Giorgio Armani – a friend of the legendary Italian actress – Lucia-Sofia says HELLO! how much her grandmother inspired her.

“My grandmother always believed in timeless elegance and the importance of wearing something that reflects your true self. Growing up, she taught me the importance of simplicity, tailoring and adding a touch of uniqueness to an outfit.”

“Her wardrobe was full of pieces that told a story, and I carried that attitude with me,” says Lucia-Sofia, 18, as she slips into a range of beautiful dresses from Armani’s Fall 2018 Haute Couture collection at the designer’s New York Atelier before opting for a vintage-inspired creation with horizontal bands of intricate lace and sheer sections, as well as subtle beading and sequin embellishments.

“I tend to wear dresses or items of clothing that make me feel confident but are also comfortable to wear. I looked at other dresses shown at Le Bal over the past few years and they all represented the girls individually so beautifully. I was just hoping to find a dress that would do the same for me.

© Getty

Lucia-Sofia’s father is Sophia Loren’s filmmaker son Edoardo Ponti from her long marriage to producer Carlo Ponti, while her mother Sasha is an actress. While her family lives in Los Angeles, she studies English and art history at the prestigious Brown University in Rhode Island.

Although the 90-year-old acting legend Sophia lives in Geneva, the two see each other whenever they can.

“My grandmother and I are very close. We often visit her in Geneva and she also comes to visit us in LA. I love her very much and despite the distance, we spend a lot of time together,” she says.

© © Personal Collection Lucia Sofia Ponti via Bestimage

“I admire their commitment to their values. She never sacrifices her own authentic self to live up to the expectations of others around her. I am endlessly inspired by her and am always grateful to have such an amazing role model to look up to. House Boat is it. “My grandmother’s first film that I saw as a child and definitely my favorite.”

Lucia-Sofia remembers wearing the famous film star’s clothes as a little girl.

“Occasionally my grandmother would visit my family in LA and I would give her my room to stay in during her visits,” she says. “As a little girl, I would enter my room covered in hairpieces, jewelry and coats, and back then I was so fascinated by the transformation my room would undergo with each visit.

© Personal Collection Lucia Sofia Pon Daniel Ryan / Bestimage

“However, I used this time to put on my very own fashion shows for her and the rest of my family. I would try on the hairpieces or jewelry and jokingly strut around the house, not understanding why my grandmother wore such outfits or pieces.

Such a glamorous start to life has certainly prepared Lucia-Sofia for this weekend’s event, which dates back to the 1950s but has been revived, modernized and renamed ‘le Bal’, with the aim of raising money for charities that help young women.

© Personal Collection Lucia Sofia Pon Daniel Ryan / Bestimage

“Attending the Debutante’s Ball means a lot to me, thinking about the organizations they support and raise money for like ARCFA and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in New York.”

“I have learned all the dances and am looking forward to performing them. I was actually a competitive dancer for 14 years before I went to college, so I have a lot of experience with the waltz,” she adds. “I think it will feel quite ethereal and angelic if I get to dance in my dress. I’ve never experienced being able to dance in an environment like this, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

So will Lucia-Sofia wear a piece of jewelry or something special gifted by her beloved grandmother?

“My grandmother gave me the most valuable advice, not jewelry, which was to be yourself. I will definitely carry it with me as I embark on this journey,” she says. “I think I inherited her courage. She always taught me to never give up and to keep striving for what you long for, no matter the rejection or the cost.”

To read the full exclusive interview, pick up the latest issue of HELLO! Available in the UK from Monday. You can HELLO! subscribe. You can have the magazine delivered to your home for free every week or buy the digital edition online via our Apple or Google apps.

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