Sparkle is taking over WHS due to the new trend known as “bedazzling.” Students are transforming normal and seemingly bland items into personalized pieces that catch others’ attention by decorating them with sparkling studs, making what seems like a simple craft into a form of self-expression
Bedazzling is a creative way to make items more eye-catching and noticeable using rhinestones and glue.
“I think it makes everything look really pretty and it makes me feel a lot better about all the things I have because then it’s not boring anymore,” said junior Vasilia Lemay.
Many students use this new-found hobby to convey their personality or sense of creativity.
“I’ve learned that bedazzling is a very nice way to express yourself because you decorate your personal items to how you like them, ” said sophomore Kian Kourtidis.
Social media has played a major role in the spread of this trend, causing the recent increase in interest in this hobby at WHS.
“I first got interested in bedazzling through some classmates that had seen it on TikTok and other social media,” said freshman Emelia McGarr. “I thought it sounded really fun so I bought a kit off Amazon.”
Some students enjoy bedazzling ordinary items to turn them into something more unique.
“I wanted to make my track spikes look more entertaining,” said Kourtidis. “And when they have rhinestones on them they are more sparkly.”
Another part of this craft’s appeal is how easy it is to learn and how many different ways it can be applied.
“There is a lot of freedom in what you can make with bedazzling, and it doesn’t require a lot of skill to have good results,” said McGarr. “It’s popular because it’s enjoyable to do, and the results are cute and sparkly artwork.”
Bedazzling can also be an inexpensive way to make belongings look more high-end.
“I feel like the cost of the kit is pretty good knowing that it will automatically make my items look more luxurious and rich.” said Kourtidis.
Unlike some other fads that have become popular at WHS, bedazzling feels like a better option to some students as a way to connect with peers.
“It’s interesting to see other people’s art work, and compared to other trends such as stress balls or fidgets, it’s nice because it’s not as distracting,” said McGarr.
While most who enjoy bedazzling find it to be a fairly simple craft, there are some challenges to getting just the right look out of the process.
“Sometimes with the glue it gets very messy, but I don’t give up on any of my projects because I know the result will satisfy me,” said Kourtidis.
Like most fads, bedazzling may soon fade away for many who are engaged by it right now, but not for all.
“I’m not sure that it will last as a very prominent trend for too long,” said McGarr. “But just because something isn’t ‘trending’ doesn’t mean that there aren’t still people who enjoy it or have it as a hobby.”
