Mom Wins Six-Figure Prize After Turning 1,500 Doritos into a 7-Foot Statue of Liberty (Exclusive)

**Mother of Four Creates 7-Foot ‘Lady Chiperty’ for Doritos Competition**

Gabby Whiting, a resident of Mesa, Arizona, has gained considerable attention on social media after documenting her first sculpting experience on TikTok. Whiting undertook an ambitious project for the Doritos Build It Bold Challenge, which celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with a tempting £250,000 prize for the most creative use of Doritos. Her creation, a 7-foot statue of the iconic Statue of Liberty adorned with Doritos, signifies a unique blend of creativity and community spirit.

The mother of four boys—ages 7, 5, 3, and a mere four months—dedicated two weeks to the project, spending an estimated £528 and utilising nearly 1,500 Doritos alongside custom-coloured paint to create what she affectionately named “Lady Chiperty.” Every evening after her young children had gone to bed, Whiting retreated to her garage, braving the sweltering Arizona summer temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, to carve the colossal foam statue.

Whiting’s inspiration for the competition came early in the summer. Although initially occupied with various brand commitments, she decided to take part in the challenge on July 9, only three weeks before the nearing deadline. “My first thought was simple: ‘Why not me?'” she recalled. While she initially considered recreating Abraham Lincoln in his famous posture, she quickly pivoted to Lady Liberty when she realised the former was not an eligible monument.

Determined to produce something spectacular, Whiting recognised the significance of her choice. “It can’t be easy. It has to stand out,” she expressed. With the deadline quickly approaching, she embarked on her adventure armed with foam boards purchased from Home Depot. However, her excitement turned to frustration when she realised the foam pieces were too large to fit in her vehicle. This early setback was just one of many challenges documented in her TikTok series, which endeared her to a growing online audience.

In undertaking her first sculpting project, Whiting faced numerous hurdles, including the daunting task of transforming a flat stack of foam into a three-dimensional representation of Lady Liberty. “Every cut mattered,” she noted, as she worked to find Lady Liberty hidden within the unyielding foam. With guidance from her husband, Gary, and encouragement from her online supporters, she meticulously carved and shaped the figure, proclaiming it a journey filled with both frustration and discovery.

As the statue began taking form, the engagement from her followers soared. Children from her neighbourhood expressed interest and cheered her on during the creative process. Encouraged by suggestions from her audience, Whiting made the decision to have the paint used for the statue colour-matched to an actual Dorito. Carrying a single chip to Home Depot, she requested assistance, and a store employee, Raphael, became an enthusiastic collaborator in the colour-matching adventure.

Once the statue was painted and ready for its crowning glory, Whiting splurged on 17 bags of Doritos, amassing an impressive collection of flavours. Contrary to her initial calculations, she found she only needed nine bags to complete her creation, with approximately 1,485 chips adorning the sculpture in total. Throughout the process, she embraced each unexpected twist and turn, enjoying the challenges of affixing the irregularly shaped chips in a varied and engaging puzzle-like manner.

The race to complete Lady Chiperty took on a frantic pace in the final days leading to the submission deadline. Juggling family responsibilities with tight time constraints, Whiting estimated she spent considerable hours gluing on Doritos, documenting the experience through vivid TikTok updates. As viewers tuned in, her project became a point of communal interest, with some even dubbing her the “Dorito Queen.”

After working diligently for about 75 hours, she completed the statue just moments before the deadline and submitted her video for the competition. Whiting experienced a moment of panic when the video file was initially rejected, but with assistance from her tech-savvy brother-in-law, she successfully uploaded it just in time.

Regardless of the competition’s outcome, Whiting reflects on the incredible journey the project has offered, saying, “Life goes on if I don’t win. This challenge has already given me so much.” She hopes her experience will inspire other mothers to pursue their creative passions and believes in the importance of leaving room for personal pursuits amidst family responsibilities.

As for Lady Chiperty, the statue has found a permanent home in the Whiting family living room, where keeping it intact around four boisterous boys poses its own challenge. Gabby is optimistic about possibly sharing the wooden statue with her community, envisioning a gathering where fans and families can meet Lady Chiperty in person.

With her creative spirit buoyed and a sense of community forged through her journey, Gabby Whiting embodies the message that pursuing one’s passions remains a viable dream, an inspiration for mothers everywhere.