Katy Perry appears in "The Sims 3: Showtime Katy Perry" wearing a design by Grafton native Julie Mollo.

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Julie Mollo

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    • GRAFTON, Mass. - Back when Katy Perry first "Kissed a Girl," many of the eye-popping outfits she wore were designed by Grafton native Julie Mollo.

    Now one of Perry's more iconic looks -- the watermelon romper Mollo created for Perry's appearance on the "Today" show -- is getting a second go-round, in virtual form. Perry is wearing Mollo's creation in the special edition "The Sims 3: Showtime Katy Perry" game.

    "I'm very excited for my clothes to live on forever in a video game," said Mollo, who receives a credit in the game.

    Mollo, a 2006 Grafton High School graduate, began dressing Perry, along with a few other musicians, when she was still a fashion design student at Pratt Institute in New York. One of her more infamous creations: the banana costume at the MTV Video Music Awards, which Perry suggestively peeled during her performance.

    Now based in Brooklyn, Mollo sells her clothes through her website, juliemollo.com, and recently launched a lifestyle blog, Home Economics: Food, Fashion & Fun.

    "I'm busy working on a new collection to be out this year," Mollo said. "It's a super fun collection of circle skirts -- very retro and fun."