The Dress Like Frida With Recycled Materials Contest, or in Spanish, Vistete Como Frida, is an event and contest celebrating the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.

María Guadalupe-Casey said this is the third year she’s hosted this event in Renton, and this year, with the event being held July 6 at the Renton Community Center, it went from local to international.

The contest had a section for adults and children, and people could dress like Frida Kahlo or like her painter husband, Diego Rivera. The pair got together in 1931 and became both went on to become famous Mexican painters.

“Well, I started this event three years ago to build awareness of families working together because I noticed many family problems during the pandemic. So, this event was born from the pandemic, and we’ve had great receptiveness,” Guadalupe-Casey said. “On accident, the event became international. This is the only international Frida event in Washington state. We have people participating from all over South America, Mexico, and other parts of the United States.”

Samantha Carillo, a contest judge, said a few words about who Frida Kahlo was, introducing her to the crowd.

“Her life was marked by physical pain, suffering, and disability, yet she transformed her experiences into vibrant and unapologetic art and continues to captivate us today. Frida Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907, in Coyoacán, Mexico City,” Carillo said. “Did you know that Frida suffered a devastating bus accident at the age of eighteen, which left her with multiple injuries, including a broken spine, pelvis, and leg? Yet, she continued to paint, often using her art as a form of therapy to cope with physical and emotional pain.”

Carillo said Frida’s art was not only reflective of her experiences, but also celebrated the culture, history and Mexican identity. Additionally, she said Frida’s self-portraits became synonymous with Mexican identity. Carillo said just as Frida transformed her pain into art, she encouraged the crowd to do the same.

“Frida is a Mexican artist who is very well known around the world, and she is loved all around the world,” Guadalupe-Casey said. “The whole world knows about her story and how she rose to prominence through art. Everyone knows how proud she was of her roots and how she broke barriers so others could recognize her beautiful unique art. She overcame her problems and now people are still proudly inspired by her and her fashion.”

Guadalupe-Casey said she focused on recycling during the event because it’s a global issue. She said she’s not the only one who focuses on how it’s important for the planet and future generations — but just a grain of salt toward awareness does a lot. She said not recycling is terrible for the Earth, and people don’t have a reason to affect the land, sea and other living animals when there are ways to shop smarter and act smarter in an eco-friendly way.

The contest’s first-place winner earned $400 cash and a $100 voucher for La Casita Mexicana Cocina. Taking home the prize was Marta Hernandez-Aria.

“It’s very gratifying the response I get nationally and internationally because this program is international. It’s the only program like it in Washington state,” Hernandez-Aria said. “I greatly appreciate the topic and all of the institutions that supported the event.”

Contest participants, judges, and others posing for a picture July 6 at Renton Community Center for the Dress Like Frida With Recycled Materials Contest. Photos by Joshua Solorzano/Renton Reporter