Teen wears duct tape to her graduation gown to honor her identity

By
July 14, 2024

A Virginia teenager crafted a prom dress and handbag entirely out of colorful Duck brand duct tape in hopes of winning a $15, 000 college scholarship.

Celeste Sotelo, a great schooler from Waynesboro, wanted a way to celebrate her Hispanic American stems and her husband’s connection to Jalisco, Mexico. She is considering pursuing a career in fashion design and is a devoted lover.

Sotelo’s father brought up the Stuck at Prom award competition created by the Duck model. High school students are required to produce and use prom clothes made entirely of duct tape. He believed Sotelo may have a good time showcasing her lifestyle and skills on a global level, and he might also get some scholarship money in the process.

Celeste Sotelo crafted a prom dress and handbag entirely out of colorful Duck brand duct tape.
A beautiful Duck product duct tape was used to create a prom gown and bag by Celeste Sotelo. ( WHSV )

The two winners of the competition, one who created a gown and the other a coat, each receive a $15, 000 college scholarship.

Sotelo initially wasn’t sure about the contest, but she did, thanks to the encouragement from her parents, decide to enter.

“I had a hard time and thought it would be hard, but I was willing to take the risk and see what I may would,” Sotelo said. I recently had a conversation with my mother, and she really helped me make things occur.

Sotelo used 10 floats of red and white duck tape to make her clothing in 15 hours to make her dress. Additionally, she created a bag to go with the dress.

The high school student incorporated elements of Jalisco fashion into her design process to create her dress in line with her passion for fashion and culture. The ruffles on the bottom of the outfit are taken from Folklorico dance clothes, while the keys on the side of the outfit are representative of the charro and mariachi designs.

Also, the red rose show Sotelo’s love for style and personal elegance, while the white roses reflect the beauty of the Virgin Mary, who is an important number in the Catholic trust. She photographed her in a Catholic religion to reflect her religious beliefs, which she claims are particularly significant.

“Both of my parents are from Mexico, so I definitely wanted to add my society”, Sotelo said. Because I made sure this dress was something people would wear to prom, I also didn’t want it to look like a costume. It seems very stylish while still capturing my Latino culture.

Sotelo was selected as a Major 10 contender in the competition.

Public election, which just ended, will ultimately determine the victors of the competition. They will be announced on or around Wednesday.

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