Thomas Jefferson University’s Red Dress Competition, this piece explores power, identity, and the transformation of a woman who defied the expectations of her time.

The dress was inspired by Empress Wu Zetian, the only woman in Chinese history to officially rule as emperor. I drew from her journey—from her early life within the imperial court to her rise to the throne—and the fear, authority, and controversy that surrounded her rule.

Rather than simply recreating historical clothing, I wanted the garment to communicate power through silhouette, structure, and presence. The exaggerated forms and dramatic red palette reflect the intensity of Wu’s story: a woman who entered a world built around male authority and ultimately claimed the highest position within it.

Red became more than a color. It represented power, danger, blood, ambition, and visibility—a visual language for a ruler who could not be ignored.

The project was presented as part of Thomas Jefferson University’s Red Dress Competition, where students were challenged to create an original red dress connected to a larger message of awareness and community impact.

The piece was awarded First Place by the competition judges and received the People’s Choice Award, recognizing both its design execution and its connection with the audience.