Advanced costume design student Patricia Ramirez became the Grand Champion of the Renaissance Faire’s costume design contest Sunday, for a dress she made for her daughter, Berlin Renteria.

“This made it the best Mother’s Day ever,” Ramirez said.

Other winners from Cerritos College were beginning costume design students Grace Yi won second in the nobility category, and Hillary Baca won first place in the peasant category.

Susan Watanabe-Lonsbury received a special recognition from the Renaissance Faire judges.

Yi, who made a burgundy nobility dress cover in jewels said that she started the dress in April and the last two weeks she has been working on it non-stop to get it finished in time for Sunday’s contest.

“I only slept two hours a day for the last two weeks and I was up until 3 in the morning putting the finishing touches on it,” she said.

Watanabe-Lonsbury was very proud of her beginning student.

She said, “Normally, beginning students are required to make peasant costumes, but Yi has shown such a natural ability. I was confident that she would be able to do the nobility costume, which is a lot more complicated piece.”

Yi admitted that Watanabe-Lonsbury was a major inspiration in getting involved in the contest.

“Her competitive sprite gave me the drive to go forward,” Yi said.

Baca, who designed a peasant costume, said she that she spent more than three months on her costume.

“I am glad I made the costume. I have never done anything like this before. It was a great experience.”

Watanabe-Lonsbury received a special recognition award for her long support of the Renaissance Faire.

“Every year Watanabe-Lonsbury has her students out here, this year when we decided to bring back the costume design contest we all knew that we had to do something to show our appreciation,” the Mamzini of the Renaissance Faire said.

This was the first time since the faire moved to Irwindale in 2004.

Cerritos College has been competing in the contest since 1994 but according to Watanabe-Lonsbury, this is the first time anyone from the school has be named the Grand Champion.

The costume making is a part of the major assignment that is required for the class.

“The students in my class a re required one major assignment,” Watanabe-Lonsbury said. “But some one like Yi who went above what was required will get extra credit for making her dress.”