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Meet Our Emerging Cosplay Guests of Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay 2024!

These rising stars bring a wealth of knowledge and creativity to the event. Some have won a cosplay contest award or two but have not yet guested, while others are masters-level crafters who have won several major awards but are not yet experienced with the ins-and-outs of being a cosplay guest. And each has crafting specializations: Nearly half are Prop & Armor Construction specialists, with a similar number are Sewing & Fabrication specialists. There is one who specializes in Wig Styling, and one in Accessories & Detail.

"For my Jedi Amidala, I patterned everything myself, drawing inspiration from the character’s throne room gown for the color palette and intricate details."
"Everything in this Pabst Blue Ribbon cosplay was handmade and hand-painted from scratch. Created in just 7 days, I used a heavily modified pattern to perfectly match the original reference."
"For my first full armor cosplay, I used heat-warped EVA foam, crafted the lion’s face with foam clay, and applied hand-brushing and airbrushing techniques for extra detail. The chainmail was woven ring by ring,"
"For my Jinx cosplay, I crafted a frame using foam horns to support and shape the wig. I sewed and created the entire top and dress from scratch, and I also did all the body paint and makeup myself."
"For my Scarlet cosplay, I used the pepakura technique with thick paper and gesso to create sharp, clean angles on the chestplate and spear. This approach kept the costume lightweight, comfortable, and easy to move in."
"For Kyan Asuryn, every piece is handmade and self-patterned! I learned many new skills to make it happen: advanced wig styling, fabric dyeing, quilting, French seams, 3D modeling and printing, molding and casting, and LED incorporation."
"All of the sewing was done by hand except for the seams in the corset. It took my 10 months to make and I honestly don’t know how I pulled it off."
"For Sakizo Cioccolata Arlecchina, machine stitching, hand-sewing, beadwork, hand-embroidery, wig-styling, resin crafting, foam clay/worbla crafting, craft glass work, and plenty more -- this cosplay was 100% hand-crafted by me."
"7,000 rhinestones across the whole cosplay. Everything is made by me, which took 2 years to make between sourcing materials from across the world, to finding the perfect shade of blues to complement each other.
After sketching the cosplay mashup, I sourced a tunic pattern from Etsy, modified it, and used gauze fabric dyed to match Elsa’s signature color for an authentic Star Wars feel. I also patterned and sewed the skirt from scratch. One highlight of this cosplay was my O1-AF droid prop, inspired by Olaf!

Our unique Emerging Cosplayer Guest program provides up-and-comers who are new to convention guesting with a golden opportunity to not only showcase their cosplay prowess but also gain experience as a cosplay guest. They will be working together as one large group as well as in small groups helping to put on the show, which includes 

  • Hosting and judging contests.
  • Hosting the Newbie’s Welcome Experience.
  • Posing for attendee holiday photos along with Santa and Mrs. Clause for the best seasonal snaps in the universe! More info here.
  • Offering Cosplay Feedback, free expert advice on your cosplay with suggestions for improvement that will range from the simple and easy to the sophisticated and grand. Visit them during booth hours- they are looking forward to giving you tips! More info here.
 

Our Emerging Guest Cosplayers program is one of many ways we work toward making Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay an inclusive cosplay experience.

Our Lead Cosplay Guest is The Star Cos, who coordinates the Emerging Guest Cosplayer program as well as the event’s other cosplay contests and activities. She is our fav star in the universe! We’ve chosen all of our Emerging Guest Cosplayers for Holiday Cosplay, but we’ll be looking for more for St, Pete Comic Con 2025 and Anime St. Pete 2025. See those websites to see if applications are open.

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