Her Universe shows off the best of cosplay talent

By Ani Bundel

Most of the impression of Strike Decimated Comic-Con 2023 has centered on the high-profile absences: the lack of Hall H line, the canceled panels, the lack of celebrities. But a secondary casualty has been a discount in cosplayers. Between the absence of influencers who professionally cosplay on account of SAG-AFTRA’s pointers, and people amateurs who selected to not costume as much as present solidarity with the strike, elaborate outfits have been startlingly diminished this 12 months. In reality, aside from the sudden and spectacular proliferation of Barbie-themed outfits, this 12 months feels prefer it was the least cosplayed SDCC in a decade or extra.

That made the Her Universe Fashion Show all the extra particular. Since Ashley Eckstein conceived of celebrating the skills of cosplay creators in the mid-aughts, the Her Universe Fashion Show has been one of the extra high-profile occasions on SDCC’s Thursday evening schedule. This 12 months, the seems on the runway ran the gamut of fandoms, with an emphasis on Disney’s centenary, range of our bodies, and, of course, the strike.

Eckstein was completely adamant about personally ensuring the present stayed inside SAG-AFTRA pointers, and in her pre-recorded message, assured the viewers this was SAG-sanctioned, to a spherical of cheers. (Both she and her 2023 co-host Michael James Scott are members.) The present then introduced this 12 months’s entries to a packed corridor, which had been at capability for hours prior to begin time.

The outfits that walked the runway (twenty-five in all) included every part from Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and even National Geographic. Eckstein herself was to not be outdone; she wore a film-inspired outfit created in collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineer Daniel Joseph, a movie strip robe comprised of versatile OLED screens, which performed scenes from Disney’s main large display hits. Scott, in the meantime, wore a number of outfits, together with a Genie/Darth Vader creation by Andrew MacLaine and a Thanos-inspired go well with by Kristi Siedow-Thompson. He additionally offered the music, singing Cinderella’s “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” and Aladdin’s “Friend Like Me.”

As for who received, one would possibly argue that each one the contestants did, as all of them bought to indicate off their expertise to an enthusiastic crowd. However, like 2022, the grand prize wound up as a tie between two seems, with Judges Winner going to Rachel Petterson for her Minnie Mouse couture red-and-white polka dot costume and Audiences Winner going to Raeven Okay, for her Mistress of the Elements, Storm-inspired flowing, black, pearl-studded ankle-length robe, appropriate for an X-Men purple carpet.

For the first time, the profitable designers will each create two collections for Her Universe. The common grand prize of making a line for Her Universe x Hot Topic, and a second assortment as half of the ongoing collaboration Her Universe x Disney Parks. All 4 collections are anticipated to be obtainable through the Her Universe web site in late 2023/early 2024.

The 2023 Her Universe Fashion Show will probably be obtainable to observe in full on Her Universe’s YouTube Channel starting July 24, 2023.

Miss any of our earlier SDCC ’23 protection? Find all of it right here!