The State Fair of Texas is still more than six months away from opening day, but that didn’t stop them from giving fans a preview of Big Tex’s new look for 2023. Big Tex will have some new shoes this year, as the fair recently announced the winner of their Big Tex Boot Design Contest. Now, Lucchese Bootmaker will get to work on making a size 96 boot designed by one of North Texas’ own.
More than 300 designs were submitted this year for the State Fair of Texas’ Big Tex Boot Design Contest. Submissions came in from all over the country with artists ranging in age from 10 to 79 years old. After narrowing down the competition to five choices, and judging them by the creativity, Texas pride representation, and design, the fair selected the boots created by Irving’s Jessica Bonilla.
“I heard about the Big Tex Boot Design Contest, and I really wanted to challenge myself to draw in a new style that I’m not as familiar with,” said Bonilla. According to WFAA, Bonilla is a licensed social worker who got her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of North Texas and UT Arlington. Now, she can add boot designer to her resume as well.
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