With the Coastal Carolina Fair just days away from kicking off, an intense battle is already heating up in Arts & Crafts. The most skilled pasta artists this side of the Mississippi are gearing up for an intense art competition for the chance to take home the Tortellini Tiara.

The pasta art contest will begin at 3pm on Saturday, in between the spin-art and finger-painting competitions. Winners will receive a $10.00 grand prize and have their artwork featured in December’s issue of Auto Trader.

Reigning champion Ester Campbell said she plans to continue her dynasty of dominance. “I’m the best pasta artist in the world and no one can compete with me,” she said. “The judges are going to lose their minds when they see I’ve re-created the Mona Lisa using only bow tie noodles.”

Scandal surrounded last year’s pasta art contest when Ester was accused of using non-regulation glue for her sculpture of the Cooper River Bridge. Runner-up Doris McElveen said, “You’re telling me Elmer’s glue can handle 50 sheets of lasagna noodles? I don’t think so. We’ll see what happens this year when I present my Riga-Tony Danza tribute mural. That tiara is gonna be mine!”

When asked if he was going to view the pasta art exhibit, fair attendee James Pelton said, “I haven’t see pasta art since my kid was in daycare. I’ll probably just walk around and stare at the carnies. This place has the best people watching ever.”