Evening Dress
Bridesmaid Dresses
Jessica Ong, a 17-year-old from Great Neck, spent 34 rolls of duct tape to create a stunning butterfly-themed prom dress for the Ohio-based Duck Tape brand’s 24th annual Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest. This intricate design, honoring her late Malaysian grandmother, was chosen as one of the five finalists in the competition.
Although Ong did not win the grand prize, which was determined by two weeks of online voting at stuckatprom.com, she earned a $1,000 runner-up prize. The dress, made from dark blue, teal, white, gold, and black tape, took nearly 100 hours to complete. Ong’s creation features elaborate wings and is a tribute to her grandmother, who passed away in March at the age of 95. Ong aimed to represent her grandmother’s grace and positivity through the butterfly symbol, which is often associated with love and life in many cultures.
The grand prize for the dress category went to Monica Walsh of Dryden, Ontario, for her colorful design inspired by Brazilian artist Romero Britto. Isaac Cervantes of Pilot Point, Texas, won the grand prize in the tuxedo category with a creation reminiscent of a mariachi suit, complete with a duct tape sombrero.
Ong, a rising senior at Great Neck North High School, entered the contest for the second time this year. Her entry from the previous year was simpler, featuring only red and white tape and floral designs. Determined to make a bigger impact, she invested significant effort and creativity into this year’s dress.
The competition was an exciting opportunity for Ong, who is passionate about arts, crafts, and fashion. Although she did not secure the top prize, she valued the experience and the media attention her dress received. Ong’s design process began with a sketch on her iPad, followed by construction using a mannequin, skirt frame, and plastic wrap as the base. The duct tape served as the “fabric” for the dress, which required meticulous work to avoid air bubbles and wrinkles.
On June 25, while waiting at a Starbucks, Ong received an email announcing her finalist status, which she described as exhilarating. She immediately shared the news with her parents. Her mother, Helen Chen, expressed pride in her daughter’s hard work.
The finalists were selected from 150 entries, with judges evaluating workmanship, originality, color use, and creativity with accessories. The competition encourages innovative use of duct tape, traditionally associated with home and car repairs.
Online voting determined the grand prize winners, and Ong’s friends and family actively supported her through social media. Although the contest no longer requires finalists to wear their creations to prom due to the new dresses being heavy and warm, Ong’s dress is now folded in her living room. She plans to send it to Duck Tape headquarters and hopes it will be displayed with other 2024 finalists.
As for the future, Ong is considering whether she will enter the competition again next year, depending on how her senior year unfolds.