Los Angeles teens become finalists in annual duct tape prom dress contest

(KTLA) — When you think of duct tape, an elegant prom outfit probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but for Los Angeles teens, it’s just that.

Carla Torres She spent 120 hours of her life using 14 rolls worth of duct tape to create a one-of-a-kind prom dress as part of a national contest.

Carla advances to annual Duck Brand finals stuck at prom This competition challenges high school students to turn utility tapes into gorgeous and incredible fashion items such as prom dresses and tuxedos.

This duct tape brand reviewed hundreds of entries before narrowing the field down to the top 10.

Color, craftsmanship, originality, and accessories were all considered in the judging criteria, and two Grand Prizes were awarded with $10,000 scholarships to the winners.

Inspired by 18th-century French art, amateur fashionista Cara designed a duct tape prom dress featuring pastel florals and gold highlights.

“I was fascinated by the amount of gold and gorgeous paintings on display,” Torres said of her trip. Getty Museum. “At the time, gorgeous gowns with lots of lace, florals, ribbons and ruffles were all the rage, so I wanted to incorporate these elements into my dress.”

Pink, white and gold are the focus of her dress designs. She has been fascinated by fashion and her style in various arts throughout her history, so she says she wanted to “show dresses that reflected the glamorous era of fashion.”

Carla is one of five finalists in the prom dress category of the contest. She has five other finalists in the tuxedo division, but she’s the only one from California to make it to the final round.

Carla recently graduated from Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School in Los Angeles. She wants to go to college to major in business her marketing and eventually pursue a career in the fashion industry.

“I am honored to win this scholarship as a first-generation Latino student,” she said in an email to KTLA. “I want to set an example for the community that anything is possible.”

Voting for the Stuck at Prom contest is now open and you can vote every 24 hours until July 12th. To see the full list of finalists and vote, click here.