Woman bedazzles her car with 32,000 rhinestones

By Freddie Noble

A car enthusiast spent 126 hours covering her Honda Civic in 32,000 rhinestones - but says trolls tell her the sparkles will "blind someone."

Vanessa Yezeen, 24, was inspired by a Lamborghini she spotted in Japan that was covered in rhinestones.

She spent up to five hours a day over six weeks covering her $45k vehicle in the sparkly gems - for just $250.

The petrolhead has loved cars ever since her grandad, Edward, 93, started taking her to motor shows as a child.

She opted for a bubble gum pink flame design - and painstakingly applied all 32,000 rhinestones herself.

She is "thrilled" with the results and says she gets compliments whenever she pulls up in her Honda Civic Type R.

Vanessa, a real estate agent, from Shelton, Conn., said: "I actually used to work at a vinyl shop, and I was working there when I bought the car.

"I did a full-body matte protection on the vehicle, which turned it bubble gum pink, and then I took it to a show last September, called Honda Fest, and everybody went nuts because it wasn't black.

"I was at this meeting and everyone was looking at me. I was confident in my car and its color because it's my car at the end of the day, and I can do whatever I want.

"I do get the odd negative comment about how I'm damaging the paint or that I will blind someone when driving but I don't let comments affect me.

"I'm inspired by drift cars because they are usually full of stickers, and the livery, which is a graphic on the exterior of the car, is awesome, so that is where I get my inspiration.

"Some days I devoted five hours to the cause [applying the rhinestones], but it will be worth it, once it's finished."

Vanessa hopes to have the car finished by July 11.

She initially bought her car in black, but found it "too boring," so in December 2024, she started by wrapping it in matte bubble gum pink.

She said: "I use the Loctite extreme glue, which is used for vertical repairs - so when I put the glue on the car vertically it won't drip down and make a mess.

"It stays in place enough so I can move stone, but it doesn't dry instantly, so it's a good balance. It's also dishwasher safe, so washing the car is fine.

"So far, so good. They are not fading or falling off and keep their shape.

"I've probably been through 12 tubes of Loctite, and it's really important to make sure you put enough on the car and not drown the stones."

The rhinestones and glue cost $250, and so far there are 32,000 rhinestones on the car.

Vanessa has been working on it for about a month but think she hopes to have it done by mid July.