Yolanda Renée King has had an eventful prom season.
The 17-year-old, who is the only grandchild of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, attended her senior prom on Saturday and a debutante ball the next day.
“Prom last night … Debutante Ball tonight…,” Yolanda’s mom, Arndrea Waters King, captioned a video of the teenager dancing with her father, Martin Luther King III.
The video, posted with the note “sound on,” showed the pair sharing a father-daughter dance.
Online reactions quickly followed, with many pointing out how quickly Yolanda has grown up.
“Omg! She looks stunning and all grown up. God bless her,” one person said.
Another added, “She’s all grown up… have loved her since she gave that incredible speech at March for Our Lives!”
At just 9 years old, Yolanda took the stage at the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C., where she delivered a speech calling for an end to gun violence.
Since then, she has continued to step into her own while honoring her family’s legacy.
During a recent interview with ABC News, Yolanda addressed concerns about the direction of voting legislation as the Supreme Court considers potential changes.
“I certainly feel concerned about the state in which we are going,” she said. “In terms of the status of the legacy now, I think that unfortunately, in order for the people to wake up, I think that we have to see certain aspects of the legacy being taken away and be under attack.”
While she acknowledged the significance of honoring her grandfather with a national holiday, she emphasized that the work tied to his legacy is ongoing.
“I think it is important that we realize that a part of his legacy and a part of our responsibility is to continue carrying on what he left behind,” she added. “And I believe that currently, the state of our world and seeing certain things being under attack will awaken certain people.”
In addition to being a young activist, she is an author. In 2023, Yolanda released her children’s book, We Dream a World: Carrying the Light from My Grandparents. It draws on lessons from her family while encouraging young readers to find their own voice.
