Rejected by State Fair, Teen’s Art Takes the Internet by Storm

Rejected by State Fair, Teen’s Art Takes the Internet by Storm
Image By: CBS News

The Texas State Fair is rapidly approaching, and one of the most cherished customs of the event is the Arts and Crafts competition.

The 2024 competition’s judging is now under way, but before the competition ever got underway, one teenage contestant received some disheartening news.

Kaylee Rodgers, 16, created an outfit entirely made of poker cards with the intention of entering it in the fair’s arts and crafts category this year. She was disqualified, nonetheless, because the judges informed her a few days prior to the competition that the dress was too large for the category she was competing in.

“I was at work, and I got the phone call that it needed to be picked up a bit early and I was definitely very disappointed,” Kaylee stated.

Kaylee stated that she has always had a love for using unusual and recycled materials to create art.

She stated that one day, her mother, who works at Sachse’s 5 Loves Food Pantry, brought some discarded decks of cards home. Kaylee had the bright idea to turn them into a dress to enter the Texas State Fair Arts and Crafts competition.

She claimed that she had never completed a project of this nature before. Using over 2,000 cards (more than 40 decks), the dress took more than 60 hours to complete.

According to Kaylee, she enlarged the outfit beyond her original plan, and she was informed by the Fair that her dress might not be accepted if it did not fit the designated category’s size standards. She was ultimately ruled ineligible by the judges as a result.

Kaylee expressed her disappointment at not being able to display her artwork, even though she is not dissatisfied with the Fair. Following her mother’s social media post about her experience, thousands of people in North Texas and worldwide have seen the image of her clothing.

The folks behind the well-known Go Texan Pavilion called Kaylee this week and offered to let her wear her attire for the duration of the state fair.

“[This experience] really showed me that, if you put yourself out there and you know you present yourself with what you have, it can actually open up doors. The Saturday that my mom made the post, I was not having a good day. I was so frustrated that morning, and it turned into like one of the best days of my life,” Kaylee stated.

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A few casinos and art displays have even approached Kaylee about showcasing her clothing, according to her. More than any honor, she claimed, has been the support she’s received.

“I think I did get lots more than just a first, a second, or 3rd place ribbon for sure. I’m a little overwhelmed, but in a good way,” Kaylee told.

Reference

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With more than two years of expertise in news and analysis, Eileen Stewart is a seasoned reporter. Eileen is a respected voice in this field, well-known for her sharp reporting and insightful analysis. Her writing covers a wide range of subjects, from politics to culture and more.