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Viral outfit a tribute to lost friend

Carson Haase never thought her homecoming outfit would become such a hit.

Carson Haase and Brittany Corcoran and Carson in her costume. (Photo: Argus Leader)

Carson Haase never thought her homecoming outfit would become such a hit.

Haase, a Brandon Valley High School senior, earned the nickname "Ranch Girl," when a photo of her dressed up as a bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch went viral.

It was a smart-alecky joke during homecoming week, she admits, but the inspiration behind it came from a far more serious place.

Haase's friend Brittany Corcoran died by suicide in March, leaving a hole in the Sioux Falls hockey family of which Haase is also a member.

It was Corcoran's death that inspired Haase to "live in the moment" and wear what she wanted to wear.

"She taught me a lot of things," Haase said. "How to be strong in bad situations (and) that it honestly doesn't matter what people thought because there will always be people that like you anyway."

The photo, showing Haase's salad dressing bottle next to a line of students dressed in Western wear, was shared by thousands on social media and wound up on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and Imgur. The Men's Humor Facebook page posted the image, and it's been shared more than 40,000 times.

Friend Payton Roesch, also a Brandon student, said she's proud to be among the first to retweet the photo.

"She's hilarious, and it's finally getting noticed," Roesch said. "It was literally overnight, and I think that's the coolest thing ever. I'm lucky to be friends with the Ranch Girl."

Carson Haase, far right, poses in her Ranch Day costume at Brandon Valley High School on Sept. 19, 2016. (Photo: Submitted photo)

Haase, a senior at Brandon Valley, came up with the costume idea while hanging out with a friend whose father helped her find a large box in his Brandon furniture store to use as her bottle.

The box was so large that Haase said she couldn't bend her legs while wearing it, which is one of the reasons she didn't wear the costume as she walked into school Monday morning. The other was her nerves.

"I like to make jokes and stuff, but I was kind of nervous going into school," Haase said.

Then she remembered her friend Brittany.

"I think that had a big influence on me actually wearing the costume ... that stepping outside your comfort zone and being yourself is important," Haase said. "Turns out, everyone absolutely loved it."

As soon as she put the costume on it was an instant hit with everyone she saw.

Students wanted to take photos with her all day, and she quickly earned her new nickname.

For Haase, the attention has been both unexpected and a fun continuation of the joke. It's also served as a reminder to not worry about what others think, she said.

"This was a tribute to (Corcoran) not directly—even though she did love ranch," Haase said. "But she is the reason I think the way I do and that I have as much confidence as well. And I think that's the important part, that I keep her living with me through the things I do now. ... I know she is definitely laughing at me right now."

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