Hillsborough teen named finalist for $10K scholarship in creative prom outfit contest

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A high school student from Hillsborough has been named a finalist in a scholarship competition to design the most creative prom outfit.

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Imogen Curry was selected among more than 150 entries to reach the top 10 in the Duck Tape brand’s 26th annual Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest.

Students are asked to handcraft their dream prom dress or tuxedo with Duke Tape in order to win a $10,000 cash scholarship for college.

Imogen created an aviation-inspired outfit that took more than four days to complete and required 21 rolls of Duck Tape. Her design features wings with a 3D shape achieved through modeling clay and a cardboard structure covered in 180 individual Duck Tape feathers and almost 40 long strips of Duck Tape feathers.

The design also has more than 220 paper beads sewn into the pants to resemble stars in the night sky, playing into Imogen’s paper bead hobby, and pointe shoes that symbolize the difficulty of achieving great things.

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“To fly is to break free from the limits of the earth and that’s something that everyone wants,” Imogen said in a statement. “This suit represents dreams and ambitions that reach sky high — improbable fantasies that can nevertheless become reality through determination and hard work.

“Everything beautiful, from space flight to ballet to a Duck Tape costume, takes a lot of work to create,” she continued in her statement. “But when you’re willing to pour yourself into a project like this, then your work becomes wings that can lift you off the ground, wings of power and inspiration that carry you into the sky.”

The competition will have two winners, one for the best dress and one for the best tuxedo. There will also be runners-up and Red, White & Made by You awards.

The public will determine the winners of the contest. Votes may be submitted until July 13. The winner will be announced around July 20.

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To vote for Imogen, visit the finalist gallery on the Duck Brand website.