Quinceañeras are a special celebration marking the transition of a young girl from childhood to adulthood.  They are a permanent fixture in Douglas as there seldom seems to be a weekend when one isn’t being held. For Aileen Moreno it became extra special when her Quinceañera was featured in Teen, a national magazine.

Aileen Moreno and her family had the special treat of having her Quinceñera featured in the 2007 edition of Teen, a national magazine.

It all started innocently enough when Patricia Gomez, a family friend, was invited to the July 15, 2006 Quinceañera.  The then amateur photographer had never attended a Quinceañera before and asked if she could take pictures. Gomez not only enjoyed the Quinceañera, but also included the photos in a February exhibit of her work in Phoenix. Anne Baye Ericksen, an editor of the magazine, attended the exhibit while in Phoenix for a business trip.  Ericksen asked numerous questions about the Quinceañera photos and wanted Moreno’s contact information.

Gomez contacted Moreno’s aunt in California as she didn’t have her phone number.  The aunt contacted Moreno’s mother Brenda to ask for permission to give Ericksen her phone number.  In March she was contacted by the editor.

Teen was doing a feature on Quinceañeras.  Ericksen was interested in what constituted a Quinceañera and that she was among several girls considered for the feature.  Moreno was shocked that her Quinceañera was being considered for the piece and couldn’t believe it at first.  “I called mom a liar.  I was really nervous and tried to sound smart, but it just didn’t come out right,” says Moreno

Both mother and daughter didn’t think the photos would actually run, but had signed the release forms anyway.  Ericksen also didn’t say when the feature would run, but promised to send Moreno a copy.

To everyone’s surprise, Moreno’s Quinceañera was selected to be in the feature and appeared in the fall 2007 edition of the magazine. Moreno is a bit embarrassed by all the attention she has received because of the article and will be more than happy when it all dies down. “It wasn’t my favorite photo. People go ‘oh my God.  My friends run around school showing it to everyone and my boyfriend shows it off to his friends, even those I don’t know!” Moreno says with embarrassment. “I’m okay with it.  Except when my mom is showing everyone the magazine.”