Teen goes viral, scores preview.

Alabama Teen Goes Viral With 'Princess and the Frog' Prom Dress, Gets Invited to Disney World

Layla Hildreth, a recent Shades Valley High School graduate, created a prom dress inspired by Princess Tiana's ball gown from Disney's " Princess and the Frog." The dress went viral, and Hildreth was invited to Walt Disney World to preview the new ride, Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

"I knew I wanted to make a prom dress, but I didn't want to make anything that was already out there... I chose Princess Tiana because she's an independent woman. She never gave up on what she wanted." - Hildreth to USA TODAY.

Hildreth spent 5 months sewing her dress, simultaneously juggling school and extracurriculars. The dress captivated her peers and media outlets, leading to an invitation from Disney Imagineers. Charita Carter, an Imagineer, said Hildreth's story touched many: "We invited her and her family... she got to showcase her dress at our 'Dig a Little Deeper' event."

The teen's sewing skill took center stage, with her spending nights working on the dress between rehearsals and performances. She offers advice to beginners: "Just have to start... it takes time to really enjoy it."

Hildreth's Disney trip included meeting Tiana's voice actor, Anika Noni Rose, and previewing the new ride: "I've never been on a ride like that... it has drops, fast moments, slow moments, and amazing visuals."

Links:

Princess and the Frog on IMDB

Julia Gomez's LinkedIn

Julia Gomez's X (formerly Twitter)

Julia Gomez's Instagram

Julia Gomez's TikTok

Florida Today suggests viewers watch the movie prior to the ride, available on Disney+