Port Charlotte salon owner hopes to help girls have their perfect prom

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. —

At Port Charlotte's Mobwives Salon, owner Candace Giunta isn't just giving fresh cuts, she's giving away free looks for prom.

"When they [the dresses] come in, I'm like, oh! Let me try that on!" said Candace. "Where am I going to go with a prom dress?"

It started last year, when shopping with her daughters for prom proved to be anything but easy.

"It was kind of on a whim, we were like, there's no place to buy prom dresses," said Candace.

Let's not forget about pre-prom disasters every woman understands.

"It doesn't fit! They said it was a size 12 and it's a size 2," said Candace. "You know it took forever to get here! They're very expensive, and when you don't have many options, and you buy online, you're kind of like gambling."

Candace decided to take matters into her own hands, buying dozens of dresses that girls from across Gulf Coast counties could take home for free. This year, local donors are even helping girls dabble in design.

Candace's goal is to help every girl on prom day believe she shines bright.

"Be bold, be courageous, be fabulous, be who you are, who cares what anyone thinks?" said Candace.

Candace says the prom giveaway runs through the end of prom season.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.