A Georgia woman’s love letter to Texas — rendered in longhorns, bluebonnets, and the silhouette of a giant Ferris wheel — has earned her a place in State Fair history. Aaliyah McNeal, 31, was named the winner of the 2026 Big Tex Boot Design Contest on March 16, bringing her vision of Texas pride to what might be the most recognizable pair of boots in the Lone Star State.
McNeal’s design was chosen from nearly 450 entries submitted by artists of varying ages and backgrounds from across the country — no small field for a contest that asks designers to dress a 212-foot-tall cowboy. A panel of judges evaluated each submission on three criteria: creativity, representation of Texas pride, and suitability for Big Tex himself. Hers checked every box.
A Design Built to Be Seen — From Every Distance
What makes McNeal’s concept particularly clever is that it works on two levels. From a distance, the boots read as richly textured leather, accented with red and blue in a nod to the Texas flag. Get closer, though, and the details open up. As McNeal described it: “Key Texas symbols come together to create the embellishments at the heart of my design. From a distance, sweeping patterns mimic the rich textures of genuine leather, accented by pops of red and blue in honor of the Texas flag. Up close, you’re met with Texas-sized icons that immediately draw the eye, including a longhorn, bluebonnets, pecan trees, prickly pears, and even the iconic 212-foot-tall Texas Star Ferris Wheel.”
It’s a layered design strategy that’s harder to pull off than it sounds. Most boot art collapses at one scale or the other. McNeal’s doesn’t — and that’s likely what separated her from the other four finalists who made it through the initial cut.
More Than a Contest Entry
For McNeal, this wasn’t just a creative exercise. She grew up attending the State Fair of Texas with her family, accumulating memories she’s called lifelong. That personal history bleeds into the work. She’s said she hopes visitors “see the heart of her design” — and given the symbolism packed into every inch of it, that’s not an empty sentiment. It’s a design that comes from someone who actually knows what the fair means to people.
Still, it’s worth noting: McNeal currently lives in Georgia. She’s designing boots for a Texas icon, from outside Texas. Depending on who you ask in Dallas, that’s either a non-issue or the most interesting detail in the whole story.
The Contest Has Deep Roots — and a Prestigious Partner
The Big Tex Boot Design Contest isn’t new. It was first launched in 2019 in partnership with Lucchese Boot Company as part of that year’s theme, “Celebrating Texas Creativity.” The collaboration made obvious sense — Lucchese is one of the most storied bootmakers in American history, and Big Tex is, well, Big Tex. The most recent redesign before this cycle came in 2023, courtesy of Jessica Bonilla of Irving, Texas, the previous contest winner.
Jennifer Schuder, senior vice president of customer engagement for the State Fair of Texas, didn’t undersell the moment. “The response to this year’s Big Tex Boot Design Contest was incredible,” she said, “and we’re grateful to every Fair fan who shared their creativity with us.” Nearly 450 entries will do that to you.
What McNeal Actually Wins
So what does the winning designer walk away with? Quite a bit, actually. McNeal will collaborate directly with both the State Fair of Texas and Lucchese to finalize the boot design before fabrication. She’ll receive recognition in press and marketing materials during the 2026 installation. And she’ll be fitted with a pair of Lucchese boots valued at roughly $895 — a prize that feels appropriately on-brand for a contest about boots.
More meaningfully, her design will be displayed on Big Tex’s boots during all 24 days of the fair for a minimum of three years. That’s not a gallery show or a digital feature. That’s a 212-foot cowboy wearing your art in front of millions of people on the Texas fairgrounds. There aren’t many design commissions that come close to that kind of scale — literally or figuratively.
About Those Boots
Just how big are Big Tex’s boots? He wears a size 96, and each boot stands 12 feet tall. One of his former pairs is currently exhibited at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. — which means McNeal’s eventual successor design could, in theory, end up in a museum one day. Not a bad legacy for a contest that started with a blank canvas and a deadline of February 6.
The 2026 State Fair of Texas opens this fall. When the gates swing open and Big Tex raises his arm in that familiar greeting, he’ll be wearing Aaliyah McNeal’s vision of Texas on his feet — longhorns, bluebonnets, Ferris wheel and all. For a woman who spent years in the crowd looking up at him, that’s a full-circle moment worth the trip back from Georgia.
