2026 Cosplay Star Nominees

I love using cosplay as a way to connect with audiences and bring characters to life during my interviews and content creation. By combining my passion for video games, esports, and cosplay, I create engaging and relatable content that resonates with both gamers and the cosplay community. Through my work as an Esports Presenter and content creator, I’ve built a space where fans feel included, entertained, and inspired, showing that cosplay isn’t just about costumes, it’s about creativity, connection, and celebrating the games we love. My love for gaming, multilingual content, and dedication to positive engagement allow me to bring energy, authenticity, and fun to every cosplay experience.

For over a decade, cosplay has been my passion. There’s nothing more magical than creating with my own hands and sharing my knowledge with the community.

I’m a proud military woman who believes discipline and creativity can coexist. Outside of uniform, I express myself through cosplay and makeup - using artistry as a way to stay creative, resilient, and grounded. By blending structure with self-expression, I aim to show that strength comes in many forms.

Makeup/SpecialFX has always been my first love and marrying that love to the gaming world has allowed me to expand my creative art in the form of cosplaying. With over 6 years of creating these looks on Twitch alone, I have brought over 200 characters and creatures to life!

I am Anais. I have been sewing since I was 7 and cosplaying for over a decade. I cosplay from your favorite media from games to comics to anime. I have way too many hours in game just screenshotting and zooming in on the tiniest details of a character to make the cosplay properly. I make almost all of my cosplays myself which can be frustrating especially for niche characters that don’t have a lot of references available for them. I am so passionate about doing justice to my cosplays and making them and I hope you like them too!

Avera Cosplay is a 45-year-old mother of three, an agent of chaos, and living proof that older women with kids can still dress up and have fun. As your friendly neighborhood con mom, Avera leads with radical acceptance—standing between her community and anything that tells them they’re too old, too much, or don’t belong. She champions women and femme creators of all sizes and life paths: moms, not-moms, late starters, and dreamers still figuring it out. We all deserve a place to be seen. You are allowed to take up space. Armor is uncomfortable, twerking in it is possible, chaos is guaranteed—but belonging always comes first.

I’m a variety streamer and cosplayer who started four years ago by teaching myself to sew and make armor with patterns, lots of YouTube, and caffeine. I have over 200 cosplays, and I dress up on nearly every stream, usually matching the game I’m playing. I don’t look like most characters I cosplay, so I’m passionate about representation and helping people feel comfortable seeing themselves as any character. My goal is to inspire confidence, spark connection, and prove cosplay is for anyone even if you’re tired, on a budget, learning, or held together by hot glue and dreams.

I began as a craftsmanship cosplayer in 2021 on a whim, simply wanting a challenge and there began my journey into craftsmanship cosplay competitions. I was always worried due to my age and body type that I couldn't do certain characters but what I learned is quite te opposite: I got to create and bring to life characters for muscular female body types that were underrepresented. Never did I expect my hobby to become a part of my career, creating larger than life cosplays for gaming companies and being able to show that your body type doesn't define your ability to cosplay

I'm CashmereTart - a make-up artist turned cosplayer turned big sister in my local community. I've been making characters for close to a decade, from straight-off-film-sets type cosplays to character interpretations as couture pieces! I found cosplaying as a creative outlet for my mental health when my physical health was in rapid decline, and grew my voice in this space by advocating for creatives, sharing in my journey of eventually making a career out it. My position as an artist is and will always be that "you can do the thing too", and I absolutely believe that to be true.

Cassandra Ariel has been part of the cosplay community for almost 12 years, guesting, hosting, moderating/speaking on Panels, and judging at Conventions nationally and Internationally for 6 years. Specializing in cosplay makeup, performance, and design, Cassandra uses her platform to inspire and educate cosplayers on how cosplay can be attainable for anyone, and a welcoming, safe community regardless of skill level, financial standing, identity, or background. She also uses her platform and cosplay to advocate for, and is a proud member of, the LGBTQ+ community, and hopes to inspire others to put, and keep, the Play in Cosplay!

Hi, I'm EvensyaXo! I am your favorite neighborhood shapeshifter. I love blending cosplay and beauty to create unique adaptations of some of your favorite fictional characters. Doesn't matter the gender or the genre, I love being able to transform myself into whatever I want.

As a cosplayer, I specialize in bringing horror and anime characters to life with meticulous detail and creativity. My passion for cosplay has driven me to connect with fellow fans, both online and at conventions, where I share my process and inspire others. This journey has been about more than costumes—it’s about community, creativity, and self-expression. I’m honored to be nominated for this award and proud to contribute to such a talented and supportive community.

Moon is a silly creator with a big heart who indulges in cosplay, gaming, and creating a fun atmosphere for their peers and community. They love to incorporate cosplaying into their content as a creative outlet for their inner child to flourish. Inspiring others to express themselves is one of the many goals that keeps them creating and pushing for inclusivity in this space.

Hi, I’m KarebearXP—a creator who brings characters to life through creativity, craftsmanship, and heart. Cosplay is my way of celebrating the stories and worlds that inspire me, while encouraging others to express themselves boldly and unapologetically. Whether I’m crafting, wearing, or sharing a cosplay, I focus on authenticity, fun, and inclusivity over perfection. Being a Cosplay Star means using creativity as a bridge—connecting fandoms, empowering self-expression, and showing that cosplay is for everyone, exactly as they are.

I’m a cosplayer and artist whose journey began with a love for games and the desire to bring favourite characters to life. I enjoy crafting strong, dramatic characters and complex builds using 3D modelling, electronics and mechanical design. If I can shine like a Christmas tree, I will! I work in the gaming and film industry, have collaborated with Women in Esports at the Commonwealth Esports Championships, judged cosplay at The International, and exhibited costume work in fine art galleries. I also design original pieces, including turning my AxSpA condition into a villain for a short awareness film. I love sharing behind-the-scenes content, connecting with other creatives, and encouraging everyone, especially disabled artists, to stay visible and keep creating. To me, cosplay is craft, community and storytelling combined.

Lisa is a Chicago-based content creator specializing in cosplay, gaming, music, and photography. With over 14 years of experience creating costumes inspired by games, movies, and shows, she’s especially known for her detailed fantasy armor builds inspired by World of Warcraft, and incorporates gaming and cosplay streams into her creative work. She’s also a photographer with 15 years of experience across multiple genres. Additionally, she is a lifelong musician, mostly playing guitar and vocals in metal bands. Through her creative work, Lisa supports her community by sharing her creative process and knowledge in hopes that others feel inspired to create and belong.

Hi, I’m Megs! I created my channel as a way to escape the chaos of the world and to raise awareness for charity. I joke that I’m bad at all video games but that I’m here for the good times and good vibes so that’s all that matters. I have cultivated a community of fellow gamers who have generously supported my efforts during our charity drives.

I am a streamer on Twitch under the name Minotauries, but you can call me Mino for short. I started cosplaying about 10 years ago with my first cosplay being D.Va from Overwatch debuting at PAX South. From there my love for cosplay grew into a main hobby of mine and have cosplayed characters from video games, animes, and movies such as Syd from Fortnite, Yuno Gasai from Mirai Nikki, and Pennywise from It. In recent years I started incorporating my love for horror into my cosplays and recreating iconic horror characters as well as creating original cosplays. Since I am a horror Twitch streamer, I love bringing these horror characters to life on stream by theming my cosplays around the games I am playing like most recently Yun Jin Lee from Dead By Daylight and Nell for the new Nell's Diner map in Phasmophobia. Cosplaying has been such a fun way to challenge and showcase my creativity. It's been so great seeing my progress over the years and I am honored to be nominated for Cosplay Star!

I’m a plus-size cosplayer and influencer based in Cape Town I create most of my cosplays using what I already have, mixed with commissions, because cosplay should be accessible, not exclusive. My space is about comfort, confidence, and kindness, especially for those who feel uncomfortable in their bodies. And especially for people whose weight is linked to hormonal issues, not choice. Cosplay is for every body. You belong here.

I’m a multiracial streamer and cosplayer dedicated to building a positive, inclusive community where people of all backgrounds can celebrate their love of gaming and cosplay. As a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, I strive to create spaces rooted in empathy, kindness, and connection. These values extend beyond my content and into the college classrooms I teach in, where I work to inspire the next generation with compassion and positivity.

Hi lovies My name is Nicole aka strawberry ,I cosplay as a hobby . Since I was a little girl I’ve feel fascinated by dress up and I am so honoured to be nominated for an award making my inner child feel wholesome and releasing her inner princess.

Noctvrals is a Variety Streamer and Cosplayer that strives to embark on a journey of creativity through video games and cosplay. To be able to create and convey how she is feeling through different mediums is a privilege, and she is not stopping any time soon. She is a gamer who enjoys retro games, storytelling games, etc. It shaped her into the career path she’s in now, to be able to stream new and old games to her audience, and make new experiences with her community brings her joy and she hopes her community feels the same way she does.

My name is NoireCi, I'm a cosplayer that has been cosplaying for 5 years now and I'm honored to have been nominated! I'm just proof that no matter when and how, cosplay is for everyone, so enjoy yourself!

Hello fellow weebs! Like many others I'm a nerd that realized i don't have to wait until Halloween to play dress up! I love cosplaying as a way to not only cleanse my hyper fixation but also the best form of self expression as i love using my autizzy superpower to create cosplays as accurate as possible to bring my fave characters to life. I also like to create reenactments while cosplaying, doing scene specific cosplays bring me so much joy cause its a ifykyk and its a little inside joke while doing what i love.

I’m PixelVixx, a cosplayer and content creator who has been guesting and creating in the cosplay space for over ten years. I approach cosplay as a way to bring characters to life through storytelling and craftsmanship. My goal has always been to make cosplay feel accessible and welcoming to everyone, regardless of skill level, body type, or experience. By sharing my process, growth, and lessons learned, I aim to lower the barrier to entry and inspire others to explore creativity, confidence, and joy through cosplay. Cosplay has been such a passion and source of unity in my life, I love sharing my craft!

I’m a passionate retro game cosplayer. I’m particularly fond of cosplaying characters from games that were released on Amiga computers. As a result, I’m a unique oddity in a male-dominated niche community. My work often goes unnoticed by fans of the mainstream, but I don’t let that stop me! If a retro game character resonates with me, their gender plays no role in my decision to cosplay them. I always do my best to represent them in a way that does justice to who they are. At the same time, I strive to create unique, highly personalised interpretations.

My name is ReckedEm! (say it three times fast) I am a variety streamer who loves dressing up and making people laugh. I am known for my seemingly random cosplay and stream ideas, as well as my ability to break out into song and dance at any moment. The one comment I always get is " I never know what I'm going to get when I click on your stream."

Hello My name is Kayla! Im a Philadelphia based content creator and cosplayer. I started making content 2020, and I enjoy creating prop builds , wig working , and cosplaying along with creating funny videos to bring my favorite characters to life!

Cosplay means the world to me, and I’m so glad you all enjoy the characters I bring to life regardless if they are a cursed cosplay or not. I am so thankful to have a community who loves all my silly sides. Thank you.

I create cosplays and discuss cosplaying within the bounds of a limited budget. Cosplaying as a hobby can feel very exclusionary to people who want to participate but do not have oodles of spare cash to do so. I suggest ways that I have saved money in the past and participated consistently without hurting my wallet. Cosplays bring me a lot of joy, and I do all I can to show anyone interested that this space has room for them too.

I’m Kris, also known as Videogamevixen, a cosplay creator passionate about blending craftsmanship, fashion, and gaming culture. I specialize in detailed builds that combine sewing, fabrication, and character storytelling to bring iconic designs to life. Beyond the costume, I focus on community encouraging others to create boldly, build confidently, and see cosplay as both art and empowerment. Through convention appearances, collaborations, and original concepts, I strive to push cosplay beyond imitation into innovation. My goal is to inspire creators, especially women in gaming, to take up space, express themselves fearlessly, and turn their passion into impact.

Age 30 i'm an black female ADHD Content creator beenonyoutube for 11 years if you like Tribute vids, Gameplays, Live streams, co streams, Adult audiences only🔞

Hi, My name is Zariah and cosplay is where I shine the brightest and where my personality shows the most! Being able to bring my favorite characters to life and inspiring others is the reason why I do this, especially for the black community!