Gaia Online is hosting Prom Crashers, the first virtual prom. As part of this event, Project Runway’s Christian Siriano has designed an exclusive line of avatar prom garb to ensure that all Gaians will carry their style during the event. Aside from having the first virtual prom, this event will also be different from the real world event because Prom Crashers will be from May 16 to May 19.

Siriano’s exclusive virtual prom designs will be available in-world for purchase with virtual Gaian currency, Gaia Gold, or with standard U.S. currency, known in-world as Gaia Cash.

Seriously, if you can’t score attendance to a real prom (unless there is an Earth-shaking reason why), I can’t help but feel sad. There are just events in one’s life that can’t be duplicated by doing it virtually.

Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group Executive Vice President of Digital Media Steve Youngwood announced a commitment to develop and produce additional virtual worlds, building upon the success of its existing Neopets and Nicktropolis virtual world sites. Virtual worlds based on Nick’s existing animated property — SpongeBob SquarePants — as well as new original properties like Monkey World (working title) are being put into development. In addition, Youngwood announced that a new virtual destination, World of Neopia (working title), is in production and expected to launch in the next year.

The new worlds will be developed out of Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group’s Virtual World Studios (formerly titled NeoStudios, announced in July 2007), which will develop virtual destinations for kids, tweens, teens and families each year, while continuing to innovate upon the company’s existing virtual worlds.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has launched its space, IFAW Island, in Second Life. IFAW Island will serve as a virtual meeting ground for those interested in animal welfare issues.

Coinciding with the island’s launch, IFAW will hold a live concert on Thursday March 27th at 1:00 PM SLT featuring two popular Second Life bands: AngeyLaura Houston aka Laura Angey and the UKD Project from Italy. The concert will take place in IFAW Island’s African Savannah space. The event is open to all Second Life residents, and there is a suggested donation of $100 Linden dollars for which donors will receive a virtual IFAW T-shirt.

IFAW Island offers visitors a virtual African savannah space with species information on elephant populations and background on poaching, illegal trade and migration. Additionally there is a theater presentation space for multimedia campaign updates, a skybox with photo galleries, trade maps and donation tools.