The music played from the speaker, filling the room with the girls’ singing voices. They walked around in their robes and took a seat at the different stations that had been arranged for the pre-party preparations. One woman did their makeup, another did their hair, and the final one was laying out their clothes and picking out matching jewelry and shoes to go with the outfits.

“How are you feeling?” Melissa asked.

Her hair was being braided in two thin braids that would ...