Stuck At Prom
Emmalynn H.
31 Rolls
176 Hours
Inspiration:
I had always liked pink—until they told me I was supposed to. In elementary school, I decided I hated pink and that green was my new favorite color. Growing up with only brothers, I felt like the odd one out. I rejected princesses, pink, and the idea that I was meant to be the one rescued. I wanted to be different, a feminist, someone who didn’t need sparkles to feel strong. What I didn’t realize was that by pushing away anything “girly,” I was buying into the idea that femininity was weak. It wasn’t “cool” to be a girl. After years of self-discovery, I’ve embraced the part of me that really does love pink—and even wants to be a princess. My dress reflects that transformation. It’s inspired by the very princesses I once dismissed, complete with a crown, intricate jewelry, and a flowy skirt made of countless layers of ruffles. I loved designing it and letting myself geek out over fashion, because femininity is powerful, too. But the dress wouldn’t be complete without what truly defines me: my faith. Jesus is at the center of who I am and what I build my life on, so I made Him the foundation of my design. I incorporated Psalm 23 into the dress by cutting out all 122 words of the passage in Duck Tape using a crafting machine and hand-placing them across the front layers. I even included the verse reference on the ribbon of the bow. This dress is more than just pink and pretty—it represents my journey of reclaiming femininity and rooting my identity in faith. It’s a reflection of who I truly am, inside and out.
