"Jane the Virgin" Actress Makes Teen's Prom Dream Come True

By PAIGE AUSTIN (Patch Staff) 

If we learned anything from the canon of teen movies, it’s that prom night is for dreams come true.

One high school senior got her Hollywood ending this week, thanks to “Jane the Virgin" actress Gina Rodriguez.

Over the weekend, Jessica Casanova, of Buffalo, New York, went to her high school prom in the dress Rodriguez wore on the red carpet to capture her first Golden Globe award for best actress in a comedy series. In Casanova’s own words, she ‘slayed’ in the floor-length black strapless Badgley Mischka gown Rodriguez.

The actress offered the dress to Casanova after she tweeted her admiration for the gown in January.

“Gina's dress made me feel like a princess, and it gave me chills knowing that it was something that came from her heart, and I cherish that very much,” Casanova told E! News. “I wish I could give her a big hug and tell her how much I love her. She will always have a special place in my heart.”

Casanova never expected Rodriguez to respond to her tweet much less give her the pricey gown. But Rodriguez didn’t hesitate to make a young fan’s dream come true.

“Where do you live? I only own my first Globes dress, the one from last year,” she tweeted in response. “Maybe we can make this happen. Let's talk about it. I'm reaching out.”

And four months later, Casanova was the best-dressed teen at her prom.
“There are not enough words I could possibly say to show her what she has done,” Casanova told E! News. “Thanks to her, I will never forget my night.”

Apparently, the experience was pretty memorable for Rodriguez, too. The actress tweeted with another fan, who suggested the dress could be part of a "Sisterhood of the Traveling Gina Golden Globes Dress."
“I just melted,” replied Rodriguez. “Yes!”

Photo: Wikimedia Commons