Teen Uses Duct Tape Prom Dress To Highlight The Beauty Of Her Heritage
by Madison Naves | WeINSPIRE Journalist
BIRMINGHAM, AL. -- Larissa Leon gleams with pride as bright as the orchids on her Chiapas dress. The colored scrim pops vibrantly, much like the rhythm kept up by Mariachi bands. The theme of the dress is Folklorico, but with a sticky twist. 173 hours and 47 rolls of duct tape have bound together a beautiful handmade dress and a rich culture backed by a community of support.
Larissa Leon is modeling her Duck Brand Stuck At Prom Competition dress. Courtesy of Larissa Leon.
Leon is an upcoming senior from Sunnyside, WA, competing as a top-five finalist in The Duck Brand’s Stuck At Home Scholarship. She was awarded this position for her dress created entirely of duct tape with a headband and purse to match. Her dress has gone viral across social media, with thousands of other Hispanic individuals and supporters praising her bold display of ancestral pride.
Leon drew inspiration for her dress from her Hispanic heritage. She says that she did this to highlight the beauty in her Mexican roots. The dress itself is a take on the dresses commonly worn by women in Baile Folklorico culture. Baile Folklorico, often referred to as Folklorico, translates to folkloric dance. It is a term for traditional Mexican dances that emphasize local folk culture with ballet elements. The design Leon chose is one commonly seen on Chiapas, easily spotted by the vibrant floral embroidery.
Details of Larissa Leon’s Stuck At Prom Competition dress. Courtesy of Larissa Leon.
Leon expressed how making a dress entirely of duct tape would be a daunting task upon hearing about the scholarship. To make her efforts as rewarding as winning the scholarship, she decided to design her dress with a personal touch.
“I wanted to do something more than just a dress; I wanted it to be a part of me, ” said Leon.
She reached back to memories from her childhood of celebrating Cinco De Mayo in Sunnyside, WA. Cinco De Mayo is a Mexican holiday that celebrates the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War on May 5, 1862. It is also known as the Battle of Puebla Day. Cinco de Mayo is heavily celebrated in The US within large Mexican-American populations like Sunnyside, WA, where the Hispanic population is 85%, according to the US Census Bureau.
“Every year, we celebrate Cinco De Mayo, and there’s always folkloric dancers, ” said Leon. “Even when I was little, I did folkloric dancing when I was around five.”
The reactions to Leon’s dress have been overwhelmingly positive, with many people expressing their love of Leon’s cultural pride. Her pride is evident in the details of lace and the sparkle of flowers on the Chiapas dress.
“Seeing that and being in it has always been very amazing to me,” said Leon. “It’s a beautiful thing not only with the dresses but the movement too; it's a really great thing to see, especially in person.”
“It did take a lot of hard work, sweat, and tears, and not only was it just a dress, but it was also a part of me, ” said Leon.
While Leon has created clothes to relieve stress in the past, she mentioned that she hopes people mostly notice the depth and intelligence behind her creativity.
“At the same time, I was making the dress I had my finals for school, ” Leon said. “Any little free time I had, I would work on the dress; For two to three nights, I didn't sleep; I just worked on the dress.”
Leon eagerly awaits to find out the competition results, hoping that her dedication pays off in the end. She says that if she were to win the scholarship, she would study biology and later pursue a medical degree in dermatology. Her ultimate goal is to continue her education and is also encouraging others to do so.
“I recommend you to pursue an education because you're always going to have your education with you no matter what, ” said Leon.
To support and learn more about other Stuck At Prom Scholarship finalists, head over to https://www.duckbrand.com/stuck-at-prom/vote.
