Taya Swensen, 18, modeled her emerald green ball gown for KHOU 11 News, pointing to "the bunching, the bustles, the hidden roses down there." It is a labor of love.

"I didn’t use a pattern -- trial and error," the Atascocita High School graduate explained.

She entered the runway-ready product in JoAnne’s "Own Your Look" sewing contest. Regional Vice President Michelle Christensen showed up at the Humble store to award Taya her prize. Before a small crowd, Christensen stood on a makeshift stage announcing, "I’d like to bring out this year’s first place winner -- your own Taya Swensen!"

The prize was a jaw-dropping $50,000. Like nearly everything worthwhile, Taya’s success was not ready-made. Last year, she entered a short flouncy white dress with rainbow accents in the same contest and finished in the top 10.

"I got $1,000 for that dress. I was ecstatic! I was so happy that I placed out of 3,000 people and that was first thing I sewed on a 6-year-old machine," Taya recalled.

Good, but not good enough.

She that first taste of success, she promised herself she’d do it again this year – and this time, she would win.

So the art student refashioned her talents and went to work.

"It’s a huge process. It goes on for six months and the whole house is a disaster," Her father, Kyle Swensen said.

She spent some 200 hours, cutting, sewing, ripping and redesigning. She also took a theatre costuming class -- and her parents -- by surprise.

"She was confident, we weren’t!" her dad quipped.

Her confidence is contagious. Taya has a little business now, run from her Facebook page.

"I’m making little casual dresses, they’re 60 bucks and I’ve sold about 4 of them," she said.

Her designs are fun and filled with surprise. On this day, she starts pulling at her green grown just below the waist.

"What you do is unsnap and it unsnaps all the way around and I can step right out," Taya explained.

Her winning design is a convertible. It goes from floor length to dance length in less than 60 seconds.

She designed all the accessories, shoes, headpiece, jewelry and a matching vest and tie for her boyfriend.

http://www.khou.com/video/yahoo-video/Atascocita-High-grad-wins-50000-for-innovative-prom-dress-design-133200753.html