Caroline Roxon is a junior AVS student from Charleston, SC, and the proud owner of the infamous Jeep with the Pink Horse Lilly pattern seen parked on campus for the last two years. Find out more about Caroline and her amazing car below!
We’re dying to know; what is the story behind the car? When did you get it, and whose idea was it?
I got my car as a graduation/18th birthday gift about 2 years ago. My old Yukon was not going to make it to Clemson with the amount of miles it already had on it. I love the official Lilly Pulitzer Jeeps that the flagship stores have and I have grown up with the Lilly brand. Instead of getting the official Jeep, my parents found a place that did wraps for cars and said that if I gave them any pattern they could put it on my car. I have been riding horses for 13 years and I had recently gotten a dress that was a light pink with white horses and lime green piping all over it. I gave the dress to the company and then hand-drew the wrap. The wrap is not paint, so it will have to come off after 5 years because the adhesive will wear off. The company also told us that they would not duplicate the wrap for anyone else. My parents surprised me with it during AP exams my senior year of high school and it definitely got a reaction from everyone at school. I love my car and how unique it is. I wanted a car that stands out and represents me.
Tell us about your major and your post-grad plans.
I am currently going into my last year at Clemson University as an Animal and Veterinary Science student. I am on the pre-vet track and will start applying to vet schools in May. I will be an equine specialty veterinarian once I finish vet school and will go back to my home in Charleston and open up my own clinic one day.
Caroline in the dress that inspired the Jeep wrap.
How often does the car come up in conversation?
Usually, I will be having a conversation with someone and they will have this kind of “a-ha” moment and go, “OH, you have the pink jeep with the horses.” The other thing I get a lot is from people I have recently met and haven’t told them that that is my car. Once they see me driving it, the next time I see them, they ask if that is my car.
Are you surprised that people in Clemson recognize your car?
I’m not surprised that people recognize my car now. Since I am an AVS major and we have to go to the various farms for classes, it gets driven around a lot during the day. I also have lived on both sides of campus, so it has been parked on both sides for extended amounts of time. Plus, it’s not like you can really miss it if you see it driving past.
It’s definitely unique, but not everyone can pull off driving a car like that. Do you ever hear negative comments?
Sure, I get negative feedback. Usually people don’t have the courage to say anything to my face but I have overhead conversations about it. Most of the time there are 2 complaints: either they just don’t like it in general or they don’t like the print. It doesn’t bother me one bit.
Given the fact that your car has horses all over it, is it safe to assume you ride?
I have ridden since I was 7 years old. In Charleston, I have my own horse farm and a variety of horses, most of which are my family’s horses. I compete around South Carolina in hunter/jumper shows. I am bringing my own personal horse to Clemson this coming fall in order to ride and show more during the school year, which I am very excited for.
You mentioned to us earlier that the Jeep won’t be in Tiger Town much longer. What’s happening to it?
My Jeep will not be at Clemson much longer because I am bringing my horse to Clemson. We all know a Wrangler is not going to pull a large horse trailer, so it is staying at my farm and I will bring my truck up to Clemson.