Texas A&M wildlife ecology major Makenzie Noland made a big splash with her recent graduation photos.

The photos have made their way across not just the state and country but the world. They show a smiling Noland wearing a dress and her Texas A&M sash while posing with Big Tex, a near 14-foot long, 1,000-pound alligator at Gator Country in Beaumont.

For those that may not know, Big Tex holds the national record for being the largest live-captured nuisance alligator. He is one of over 450 American alligators, crocodiles and many different reptiles at the facility received through nuisance rescues, donations and from other institutions, according to Gator Country.

Noland learned about the internship at Gator County and thought it would be an amazing opportunity to broaden her experience with different types of animals.

As for the photos? She enjoyed it.

“I loved taking the pictures,” Noland said. “I get in the water with Tex every day so this was just like any other feeding show only I was in a dress. Never once was I scared for my life or that I would get bit. Me and this animal have a relationship and he trusts me.”

But as her photos became viral not all comments were positive. She suggests anyone with negative comments to visit Gator Country and see the animals for themselves.

“We would never do anything to threaten our lives and only are getting into the water under supervision and with the correct training,” she said.

She chooses to ignore the negative comments, she said, because a majority of people do not understand these creatures and only see them as maneaters and untrainable but that is completely false.

The folks at Gator Country said Noland has been amazing throughout her internship, which she did while going to school.