Muhammad Ali Jinnah's Great-Great-Granddaughter Ella Wadia Makes Debut at Le Bal in Paris

A name with deep historical resonance rose to the spotlight this weekend as Ella Wadia — the great-great-granddaughter of Muhammad Ali Jinnah — made her debut at the prestigious Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris.

Held at the opulent Shangri‑La Paris (once the residence of Prince Roland Bonaparte), the ball brings together around 20 young women under 21 from prominent families worldwide for a night of glamour, tradition and couture.

Ella turned heads in an intricately embellished strapless gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab — a sleek, body-hugging creation that stood out amid the elegant silhouettes of fellow debutantes. 

Ella’s appearance at Le Bal garnered special attention due to her remarkable ancestry. She traces her roots back to Muhammad Ali Jinnah through his daughter Dina Wadia, who married industrialist Neville Wadia — a union that historically strained her relationship with her father. 

Dina and Neville’s son, Nusli Wadia, rose to prominence as chairman of the Wadia Group. Nusli’s son, Jehangir Wadia — Ella’s father — is Managing Director of Bombay Dyeing, Go First, and Bombay Realty. Her mother, Celina Wadia, is a fashion designer. 

With this debut, Ella represents the latest generation of a family whose story connects Karachi, Bombay, and now the cosmopolitan runways and ballrooms of Paris. 

The ball, originally founded as the “Crillon Ball” in 1958, has evolved into one of the world’s most exclusive societal events. It’s often described as the “Met Gala for teenagers,” where under-21 debutantes from royal, aristocratic, entertainment, business, and political families come together for a night of glamour, couture, and social debut. 

This year’s 2025 roster was as international and elite as ever — from billionaire heiresses to descendants of political figures and famed business families. Among them, Ella Wadia stood out not only for her heritage but her choice of couture and the poise with which she carried herself.

For many, Ella’s presence at Le Bal serves as a symbolic bridge between South Asia’s complex history and today’s global high society. Her debut may not directly shape political or historical narratives — but it revives, in a subtle way, the conversation about legacy, identity, and belonging across generations and geographies.

This article was previously published on kuwaitmoments. To see the original article, click here