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Florida fashionista wins $10K scholarship in duct tape prom dress contest

TRINITY, Fla. — A Florida high school fashionista is one step closer to funding her college education after she created a glamorous gown out of an unlikely material: duct tape.

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According to WFLA-TV and WTSP-TV, 17-year-old Grace Vaughn, a rising senior at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Pasco County, won one of two $10,000 grand prizes awarded in Duck brand’s annual Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest.

The aspiring designer from Trinity wowed voters by making a “Yin and Yang-inspired dress” using 45 rolls of the brand’s tape, Duck announced in a news release Wednesday. Vaughn, who won the “best dress” category, worked on the black-and-white gown for 143 hours, the release said.

“Ever since I was young, I have loved the idea of showing who we are on the inside with what we wear on the outside,” said Vaughn, who told WTSP that she hopes to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. “Clothing has the ability to transform how we feel and also influence how we make others feel. I have always aspired to pursue a career in fashion and hope this can be the start of something big.”

Another $10,000 college scholarship was awarded to Chidinma Onwuliri of Mississauga, Ontario, who won the “best tux” category, the release said.

“We congratulate Grace, Chidinma and all of our participants for making masterpieces that show the world what can be achieved with some creativity and originality,” the brand said in a statement.