HOUSTON – It has been almost four years since the tragic Astroworld Festival tragedy claimed the lives of 10 people, including 23-year-old Madison Dubiski.
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For the first time, her parents, Brian and Michelle Dubiski, are speaking out about their mission to prevent similar tragedies through the Pink Bows Foundation.
“No parent goes to bed thinking their child won’t return home safely from a live event,” said Brian Dubiski, reflecting on the loss of his daughter.
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On November 5, 2021, Madison attended the Astroworld Festival with her brother and friends, expecting an evening of excitement and music. Instead, the event ended in chaos, with deadly overcrowding, poor crowd control, and a delayed emergency response.
“Our daughter had gone to have a great time. She was excited about going, full of energy, and didn’t come home,” Brian said. “That’s not right, especially knowing those 10 deaths could have been prevented.”
Madison attended Ole Miss and was known for her generosity, dedicating close to 500 hours of volunteer work across 25 different charities.
“She was electric. She was the kindest person, would give the shirt off her back for anybody. She put everyone before herself and made each person feel like the most important one in the room,” Michelle Dubiski recalled.
The day after the tragedy, a makeshift memorial formed at NRG Park. Among the tributes, someone placed a pink bow with the hashtag #PinkBowsForMadison.
“It spread across Houston, Texas, the U.S., and then internationally. People lit their homes pink, used the hashtag, and sent messages of support,” Michelle said.
Inspired by this movement, the Dubiski’s founded the Pink Bows Foundation on May 1—Madison’s birthday. Their goal: to enhance crowd safety at large-scale events through education and training.
The foundation’s major initiative is the Showstop Procedure—a training and certification program developed by global crowd safety experts to set new standards in event management.
“We want to make sure that when someone goes to a concert, event, or festival, they come home safely,” Brian emphasized.
The first Showstop training took place in Houston, with KPRC 2 as the only station in attendance. Experts Dr. Mark Hamilton and Steve Allen led discussions with representatives from Homeland Security, the Toyota Center, and FIFA, which will host several matches in Houston during the 2026 World Cup.
Dr. Hamilton explained the flexibility of the Showstop Procedure, stating, “It’s an adaptable standard. For instance, in a boxing tournament or a live championship fight, if you need to stop the event for safety reasons, this procedure can be applied.”
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The Dubiski’s stress that safety improvements must continue industry-wide.
“We never thought for a minute that night that things weren’t in proper order. Now, with this course and proper training, we’re seeing improvements. There are changes that need to be made—changes that will transform the entire industry,” Michelle said.
The foundation has already gained support from high-profile figures, including Sir Paul McCartney.
As they push forward, the Dubiski family hopes for more action from Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in developing a comprehensive safety plan for large-scale events.
For more information about the Pink Bows Foundation and its initiatives, visit their website.