A new mythical creature built out of 41,664 LEGO bricks has been unveiled for the first time today to the delight of its nine-year-old competition winning designer at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort.
Zoe Bingham, from Headington in Oxford, could not hide her excitement when she came face to face with her amazing six-foot-tall ‘Beauty Beast’ LEGO model which will now go on permanent display for thousands of guests to enjoy, after being installed inside the Resort’s new multi-million pound land LEGO MYTHICA: World of Mythical Creatures.
Joined at the launch of the model by her family, Zoe couldn’t believe the transformation of her original drawing which was crowned the winning design of a national ‘Create a Creature’ competition for kids during lockdown. Inspired by Zoe’s passion for nature, Beauty Beast has mythical powers to fight climate change and restore balance to the parallel universe of LEGO MYTHICA.
The model which features an array of different animals blended together including Giraffe legs, dazzling Peacock feathers, an elegant Swan head, plus mythical Phoenix wings, was built by a talented team of LEGO model makers, weighing 108kg and took 230 production hours to build which is the equivalent of seven working days.
Zoe said: “I can’t believe my eyes. It is so exciting to see my Beauty Beast mythical creature made into an actual LEGO model. My sister Emma and I love building and creating imaginary worlds out of LEGO. I never thought in a million years that my design would win the competition and I can’t wait for all my friends and family to see Beauty Beast stood next to all the other amazing LEGO MYTHICA creatures in the park. I hope everyone will like it just as much as I do.”
Winning the competition is extra special for Zoe and her family, after her 42-year-old LEGO loving Uncle, Richard Bingham from East Sussex, sadly died of bowel cancer in August last year. Zoe and her uncle shared the same passion for building and playing with LEGO and they spent one of his last memorable experiences together on a day out at the LEGOLAND Windsor before lockdown.
Mum, Liz Bingham, who runs a clothing brand for female cyclists with Zoe’s dad, Phil, called VeloVixen, said: “We’re extremely proud of Zoe’s achievements and seeing her Beauty Beast drawing built into an amazing mythical creature and unveiled at LEGO MYTHICA for thousands of guests to enjoy is beyond our family’s wildest imaginations.
“The competition was a great activity one afternoon during lockdown, and the girls loved getting into the idea of a blended, magical creature and the idea that all LEGO creations live in MYTHICA. Zoe was really close to her uncle who encouraged her model making and I’m sure he would have been so proud and told everyone he knew. He would have called her ‘My clever niece’.”
The ‘Create a Creature’ competition ran during lockdown in which the Resort’s Model Maker team challenged kids aged 2 – 16 years old to dig deep into their imaginations and build from LEGO, paint, or draw their very own LEGO MYTHICA creature. Zoe’s ‘Beauty Beast’ design won a public vote on social media and will take pride of place amongst 13 other mythical LEGO models in the land, designed and built by LEGO Model Makers using 1.76million LEGO bricks.
Paula Laughton, Head Model Maker at LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, said: “Zoe and her family have been eagerly anticipating seeing her mythical creature design transformed into a life-size model and we were thrilled to share the moment Beauty Beast was unveiled for the first time.
“The Create a Creature competition gave home schooling families during lockdown a chance to be creative and provide a fun alternative for parents. Zoe’s design not only impressed us with its colour and thoughtful detail but also the purposeful story behind it. Our model making team have done a wonderful job at bringing the model to life and our guests will be able to enjoy seeing Zoe’s model alongside our other LEGO MYTHICA models.”
Created by kids for kids, LEGO MYTHICA: World of Mythical Creatures is now open at the Resort providing guests with breath-taking rides, attractions and experiences, including the UK’s first flying theatre ride – Flight of the Sky Lion.
