General Information:

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Entry - The participant must have a valid entry to the Saturday of Collector Con 2024. 

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Age - Entrants must be at least 13 years old. Those under 13 are allowed to enter the Kids Cosplay Contest

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Keep it PG-13 - This is a PG-13-rated event. No nudity, profanity, or anything deemed racially or culturally insensitive will be allowed. Excessive gore or other questionable entries may be grounds for disqualification. All entries must comply with the Collector Con Costume and prop policies. Collector Con retains the right to disqualify participants who violate these rules.

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Props - All items you brought onto the stage with you must be removed when exiting the stage. No Confetti, Glitter Bombs, Liquids, messy items, or other objects that may pose a risk to yourself or other participants are permitted on the stage.

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Costume - Any Costume that has won a major award (i.e. Best in show or best in category) at another judged event may not enter. Costumes that were entered at another event but did not win, or that were entered into an audience choice competition may enter.

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Duration - Competitors must be able to wear their costumes for the duration of the contest without causing themselves or others undue harm (i.e. Overheating, Bruising, cutting off circulation). It is also acceptable if a competitor can single-handedly don and doff items to prevent harm.

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Rules: 

• Contestants must enter into the appropriate category. The judges reserve the right to move competitors as they see fit.

• Contestants must have made at least 65% of their costume

  • Found item costumes will only be permitted if the items are heavily altered. 

  • Your physical appearance, gender, mobility aids, and race will not be factors in the judging

  • All props, and wig styling must have been made/styled by the entrant (to count for judging)

  • The judges can only judge you on what you made and the parts you modified

    • Examples: 

      • Dyed purchased item: the judges can only judge you on the dye job, not the construction of the base item

      • Embellishments (such as patches or embroidery) cannot be judged unless the entrant makes them

      • A 3d printed prop can only be judged on the finishing unless the entrant can show that they made the 3d model

• Contestants will enter into one of the following categories:

  • Novice/ Beginner

    • This category is designed for those who:

      • Are new to cosplay contests

      • Have not won awards before, including judge's choice or runner-up awards; 

      • Have participated in less than 4 judged cosplay contests

      • If you have professional training/ schooling/ background in Costuming (& costuming adjacent fields) or make over 50% of your income from costuming (& adjacent fields), you are automatically considered to be in the Advanced Category for this Contest

  • Advanced

    • This category is designed for those who:

      • Are experienced with cosplay contests

      • Have won  Major awards before, i.e. Best in Show, or Best in Category

      • Have participated in 5 or more judged cosplay contests

      • Have professional training/ schooling/ background in Costuming (& costuming adjacent fields) 

      • Are currently employed in a costuming field (including, but not limited to: Breakdown Artist, working in the costuming department for a film/ tv/ stage production, or are a working makeup artist)

      • 50% (or more) of their income from costuming (& adjacent fields)

• Scoring

  • Contestants will be evaluated in the following core areas:

    • Needlecraft

      • This category covers cosplays constructed using sewing, embroidery, knitting, crochet, and other fiber arts

    • Armor

      • This category covers cosplays constructed using the molding of foam, cardboard, thermoplastic, or via 3d printing (and similar techniques/ materials)

    • FX

      • This category covers animatronics, lighting, heavy wig styling, prosthetics, special effects makeup, along with optical and mechanical effects

  • In each area, judges will be looking for the skills used, cleanliness of work, innovation, accuracy of the design, and stage presence

    • Contestants are required to bring 1-5 references for the judges. 

    • A build book is not required, but is encouraged. It will be returned to the contestant following the judging

• Prizes

  • Categories will be as follows:

    • Best in Show

    • Best Needlecraft - Advanced

    • Best Armor - Advanced

    • Best FX - Advanced

    • Best Needlecraft - Beginner

    • Best Armor - Beginner

    • Best FX - Beginner

  • Prizes are subject to change. They will be awarded per entry, not per person.

  • If the judges do not feel that the awards available fit the entries, they can forgo the designated awards and instead grant judges awards instead