ORLANDO, Fla. – The nonprofit organization Dress for Success Greater Orlando is once again bringing together local bakers to battle it out at its annual cupcake challenge.
The sweet charity event, during which bakers create unique cupcake designs to support the worldwide organization, is going into its eighth year in Orlando.
"With Dress For Success, they definitely helped me polish and provided the necessary resources," Victoria Brantley, an ambassador for the organization, said.
Brantley has been able to pursue her dreams and reach economic independence thanks to Dress for Success, an organization that's served more than a million women in several countries.
"Working two part-time jobs and just trying to get through college, being a single parent, (I) just really needed the skill sets doing the interview, resume," Brantley, said.
Since 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 150 cities in 30 countries.
"They ask you: What is it that you wanna do? What is it that you're trying to seek? Just pretty much create this portfolio on you. They help you build a wardrobe; shoes, a handbag, accessories," Brantley said about the organization that's paved the way for her, including helping her find work with the Orange County Corrections Department.
"Believing in my goals and my dreams. When I wanted to run for Miss Corporate America, when I wanted to further my education," she said.
On Sunday, bakeries from all over Central Florida will bring their best flavors for their annual cupcake challenge, so they can raise funds to get results for more women like Brantley.
"It's something that helps people who are in our community, to help them with job preparation and getting jobs," Jillian Hopke, one of the competitors, said.
The judges will chose winners in three categories.
Although Hopke didn't mention what she has planned, she did demonstrate how to make a turkey cupcake.
"After you have the little moat of icing around the edge and then to get the turkey part, we know he's got some feathers in the back, so we're gonna use some candy corn," Hopke explained as she topped a pumpkin cupcake with some candy corn.
For Brantley, support for Dress for Success from women like Hopke is what it's all about.
"They're so true to their mission, going to places, going strong. It's not about just one person, it's about a community of women, uplifting each other, up building each other; and if one person is winning, we are all winning," Brantley said.
The Cupcake Challenge is being held on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management Disney dining room.
Admission to the Cupcake Challenge is $15 for adults and free for all kids. To purchase tickets, click here.
For more information about Dress for Success Greater Orlando, visit greaterorlando.dressforsuccess.org.