Star is a freshman in high school who plays musical instruments, wants to study neurology and loves to shop and thrift.

AUSTIN, Texas — Every week on KVUE Daybreak, we feature children in the Texas foster care system with the hope of helping them find a permanent place to call home. 

Going to your first big high school dance is a core memory in the making. But for a teen in the Texas foster care system, picking out the perfect dress without a parent’s help can be a daunting task.

For this Forever Families segment, we stepped inside a special place in Austin where those dreams get a little help from some “fairy godmothers.” 

Hidden inside the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services building is a magical room called the Be-You-Boutique. It’s a space dedicated to ensuring every teen in foster care feels beautiful and confident for their milestone events.

We joined Star, a bright and talented 15-year-old freshman, as she searched for a gown for her upcoming ball.

“This ball is for JROTC. I am in JROTC,” Star said with a smile.

With the help of her caseworker, Zariah, and the KVUE team, the mission was simple: find a look as radiant as her personality.


More than just a student

Star is a young woman of many talents. While she shines in her JROTC uniform, she is also a gifted musician who plays multiple instruments.

For Star, music is more than just a hobby – it’s a sanctuary.

“I think music means control to me. It’s something I have control over in my life,” Star said. “I just love music.”

She added that she hopes she can show her “funny side” and shared that she has big dreams. She’s interested in neurology and specifically hopes to pursue autism research.


Finding the “forever” look

When it comes to the idea of a “forever family,” Star’s wish is simple: she wants to be seen for who she truly is.

“I want them to know that I am who I am,” she said, adding, “I want them to see me as a normal person. I’m just hopeful for a successful life.”


The winning dress

After trying on various styles, Star found “the one” — a stunning green gown that perfectly complemented her spirit. 

She walked away not just with a dress, but with the confidence to take on her first big high school ball.

Click here to learn more about adopting Star. 

KVUE launched the Forever Families segment with Partnerships for Children (PFC) in June 2020 to highlight children in the Heart Gallery of Central Texas who need secure and permanent families. Every day, there are nearly 1,000 children waiting to get adopted in Central Texas, according to PFC.

Editor’s note: The children who are in the Heart Gallery program and featured in KVUE’s Forever Families segments are children who have had every effort made on their behalf to connect them with family or others in their community to provide options for permanent, adoptive homes. Through no fault of their own, that hasn’t happened yet, and so in partnership with the Department of Family and Protective Services, we collaborate to bring awareness to KVUE viewers about these children in the hopes of finding them permanency before they age out.