Kentucky Derby festivities bring high fashion to the racetrack.

As you know, a Bowling Green art student was thrilled to lend her talent for one of Kentucky's most visible ambassadors.

Our Laura Rogers spent some time with the budding artist who shares more of her derby dreams.

I love just the whole idea of this being a Kentucky tradition that's been held for 151 years now.

Emma Cox is a freshman at Western Kentucky University majoring and studio art.

I have always said that I don't want to put myself in a box.

I want to be able to do anything and everything creative.

That includes painting, textile arts like dresses and hats, and it's been really fun to try and figure that out over the past few years.

It's all been training for her biggest assignment to date, painting the ensemble for Miss Kentucky Chapel ten Tennessee to wear at the Kentucky Oaks.

I was like, well, of course that would be amazing.

Emma got right down to work wanting to honor the longtime Oaks tradition of the lilies.

For the fillies, the theme of Oaks Day is Pink Lilies that helps support breast cancer awareness.

So we really wanted to jump into that.

I put that on top of the hat too.

It took her upwards of 25 hours to paint the dress, mixing a fabric medium with water and acrylic paint so it makes kind of like a watercolor substance.

And then I layer that on top of the fabric, like over and over and over again.

Emma has been creating art since childhood.

I got in big trouble with my parents because I was making a mural on the inside wall of our garage.

So she has yet to attend the iconic race.

Emma has some big derby dreams.

It is a dream of mine to someday get to be the Derby artist.

The Derby is a place where all kinds of Kentucky artists contribute.

She counts last year's official Derby artist, Wiley Cordell, as one of her biggest influences.

I've been following his work for a really long time.

I love everything he does.

All of the roses that he did for the Kentucky Derby are just my favorite.

And she loves when her own creations make others smile as well.

I love it, but I also love seeing another person's reaction, being able to share that with other people is really a gift.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

Emma is talented indeed.

This is finals week for Emma.

And soon she'll be off to New York City with a couple of her art professors for a summer study program.

Our best to her.