‘Mars Attacks’ Cosplay Invades Dragoncon 2023 Competition; Abducts the Big Prize
ACK ACK ACK! Mars Attacks cosplayer Ayla Craft is beaming up some out-of-this-world cosplay at Dragoncon 2023’s cosplay competition!
We’re late, we’re late, to announce a very important date! A new champion has emerged from the DragonCon 2023 cosplay competition. The seamstress extraordinaire known as Ayla Craft is probing us with some expert knowledge of cosplay techniques in her Mars Attacks cosplay and more!
For those not paying attention, DragonCon is one of the hottest cosplay events of the year. Cosplayers and nerd-friends alike plan their yearly calendars around this pilgrimage to celebrate everything pop culture. The caliber of cosplayers who compete in their yearly showcase pushes the bar high for construction, imagination, and pure creative genius.
At DragonCon 2023, it was a Sabrina Morningstar cosplay (from the Netflix show Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) that had us all bowing in submission. We snagged an exclusive interview to gather her thoughts and share some of her epic cosplays!
Sabrina Morningstar Cosplayer Interview with Ayla Craft
Is your cosplay a hobby, a professional pursuit, or somewhere in between?
Completely a hobby; I’m an accountant. But I love making cosplay! I just don’t think that trying to make it a job would make it more enjoyable for me. I love getting lost in the creative process, even though it can get frustrating at times.
What is your strategy for creating a competition cosplay?
The only time I never cut corners is when it is for a competition. Ha! But it’s kinda backward for me. There are some cosplays that when I see it for the first time, I know I wanna do it. And some of those costumes are so beautiful or awe-inspiring that the only way to do them is to give them your all. Which means not cutting corners! So it’s a little like the cosplays decide for themselves if they are going to be in a competition, not me.
What is most important to consider as a competition contestant?
A good handler. (My husband told me to say that).
What advice do you have for first-time competition cosplayers?
Bring snacks and your lipstick, and be prepared to wait around. Sometimes it’s uncomfortably hot, sometimes it’s uncomfortably cold, all while being anxious and nervous. That’s part of why a good handler is so important! But seriously, you’re going to be spending a lot of time working on the cosplay, so make something you love. Cuz there will be moments of frustration and annoyance and wanting to quit. And you’re gonna need that love to be able to come back to it.
What’s one piece of valuable advice you have for cosplayers, competitive or otherwise?
Don’t be afraid to try it. It may not work, but you’ll still learn something. Your first anything is never gonna be your best, so just get it out of the way!
~Join us next week for more Cosplay Coverage~
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