Michelle Obama and MTV to host virtual prom for class of 2020

Former first lady Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote organization is partnering with MTV to host a virtual prom for the class of 2020 this month.

The event, for students whose in-person proms were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, will take place May 22 with an all-day takeover of MTV.

Obama announced the event on a Zoom call with high school seniors on Thursday night.

“We’re coming together to throw you and students across the country a virtual prom,” she said. “We all, MTV, my team, we called a lot of our friends and so we’re going to have a lot of special guests and performances and a lot of surprises. So this is going to be off the hook.”

Watch @JennaBushHager surprise some amazing high school seniors with @MichelleObama, who has teamed up with @MTV and @WhenWeAllVote to throw a virtual prom these teens will never forget! #MTVPromathon pic.twitter.com/56fGdcGCWz

— TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) May 15, 2020

The students on the call were from 20 high schools that won a voter registration competition organized by MTV and When We All Vote. The competition was planned to provide free in-person proms to the winners, but the May 22 event will be available on MTV to anyone.

“I know this has been a tough time for you guys, I know you’re feeling a lot of stress right now,” Obama said. “You guys are missing out on a lot of major milestones because of this quarantine: senior week, graduation, prom. It doesn’t seem fair, I know.”

“It might not be what you were envisioning for this special occasion. I promise you that it will be a night that you’re gonna remember,” she added.