I Photographed the Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con and My Jaw Has Yet to Return from the Floor

If you’ve ever watched someone pour their entire soul into a single garment – every stitch, every bead, every hand-cut piece of metalwork – and then watched that garment walk across a stage in front of thousands of people who get it, you know there’s something almost indescribable about that moment. This July, I had the absolute privilege of attending the Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con as a member of the press, and I am still not fully recovered.

I got to photograph it from the press box. Yes, really. And yes, I am still screaming internally.

Just here for the photos? Check out my full gallery here: Her Universe Fashion Show 2026 Photo Gallery.

What Even Is the Her Universe Fashion Show?

For those who haven’t had the pleasure of knowing about this yet, let me set the scene.

Her Universe was originally founded by Ashley Eckstein – the voice of Ahsoka Tano in the animated Star Wars series. Ashley recognized early on that women and girls who loved Star Wars (and fandom in general) had very little in the way of fashion and merchandise made for them. So she built something.

The Her Universe Fashion Show has become, year after year, one of the most beloved and anticipated events in the entire San Diego Comic-Con lineup. It is, genuinely, the pinnacle of geek couture. Designers from across the US and Canada compete for the chance to show their work on that stage, in front of a packed house, judged by industry professionals who actually know what they’re looking at.

This year’s theme? The DC Universe. Nineteen finalists. One unforgettable night.

And in a world becoming increasingly saturated with digital facsimiles of “art,” this show was a full-throated celebration of human-made design.

The Show Itself Was an Entire Production

Before we even get to the competing looks, can we talk about the show?

Ashley Eckstein herself hosted alongside her Hype Friend Podcast co-host Michael James Scott. The pre-show alone was worth the price of admission – Ashley was transformed on stage in real time into a live superhero. Her outfit was live airbrushed by the team at Launch Live Art. Her hair and makeup? Handled by Veronica Nunez with help from Leibi Carias. And the CAPE. I need you to understand. It was the biggest cape I have ever seen in my entire life.

The performances throughout the show featured some seriously talented dancers – Angelica Lozada Ramos, Luke and Paul Harwerth (aka Twin Sauce – my fellow Kansas Citians), and Emily Kraszulyak. The looks worn by the hosts and performers were created in part by prior winners of the show, which is such a full-circle, community-first detail that I love with my whole heart.

The production elements were also incredible:

• Custom-cut metalwork on Ashley and Michael’s looks was created by Stephen Giumenta, Principal Creative of Architectural Grille
• Motion graphic content by Tony and Ashley Reser of altrd productions created an immersive visual environment throughout
• Six laser projectors were donated by Barco
• Music was performed by DJ Amanda Jones with Danny Chavarin on drums
• Geoffrey Ko arranged “Holding Out for a Hero” and composed the Creation sequence

It was a production, bestie. A full, gorgeous, thought-out production.

The Competing Looks Were Actually Unreal

Okay. This is the part where I have to be honest with you.

These designers have more talent in their pinky fingernail than most people have in their entire body. I am not exaggerating even a little bit.

Each of the nineteen looks was inspired by a DC hero or villain. Before each look hit the stage, the audience got a short video clip showing the designer’s creation and design process. It showed their inspiration, their techniques, and what competing (and potentially winning) meant to them.

And let me tell you, you could feel every bit of that in the garments themselves.

Some of the techniques used across the competing looks included:

• Animatronic wings – yes, actual moving wings
• 3D printing used to replicate the cave structure of the Fortress of Solitude
• Electronics integrated into a garment to mimic lightning and motion blur
• Intricate beading, structural construction, hand-stitched details, and personal artistic flair that made every single design feel completely distinct

You could see each designer’s personality in their work. That’s not something you can fake or mass-produce. That’s craft, passion, and a whole lot of late nights.

And the Winners Were…

There were three official winners, each chosen by a different group:

Judges Winner: Sean Quinn (@seanquinncosplay) with “Jokes on You”

Audience Winner: Ren Wilkinson (@electricseafoam) with “The Beast Within”

Fan Spotlight Winner: Maggie Walker (@maggiewalker4) with “Starfire and Stardust”

The judging panel this year included:

• Marc Malkin, award-winning journalist
• Symantha Perrera, Fashion Design Director for BoxLunch, Her Universe, and Wholesale
• Frankey Smith, DC Studios Showcase co-host and pop culture commentator
• 2025 Her Universe Fashion Show winners Lynleigh Sato (Judges Winner) and Caitlin Beards (Audience Winner)

All three winning looks were extraordinary in their own way, and honestly, choosing between any of the nineteen finalists felt like an impossible task.

Why This Matters (and Why It Felt So Personal to Me)

Here’s the thing. My whole photography practice is built around celebrating people who make things, who love things fiercely, who show up in full costume and full character and dare to be seen.

Photographing the Her Universe Fashion Show felt like being surrounded by my people. Fans who spent months crafting something they love, then walked it out on a stage for the world to see. That takes guts. That takes passion. And that’s exactly the energy I want to bring into every single session I shoot.

Whether you’re a cosplayer who has hand-stitched every detail of your costume, or someone who’s just starting to explore what a fantasy shoot might look like for you, the message is the same: your passion is the point. The energy and feeling come from you, not from whether everything is “perfect.”

These designers proved that in the most spectacular way possible.

Go give all nineteen finalists a follow on social media, check out their work, and support human-made creativity wherever you find it. (I’ve noted designer names and social info throughout this post – go look, go follow, go hype them up.)

Want to Bring That Same Energy to Your Own Photos?

If watching twelve wildly talented designers own a stage in their handmade creations is giving you the itch to finally book that cosplay or fantasy shoot you’ve been thinking about – hi, I’m ya girl, and I would love to help you bring that vision to life.

Your costume doesn’t have to be competition-level. Your look doesn’t have to be finished or perfect. If you love it, it’s exactly the right time for photos.

Come hang out at anniebethphotographykc.com and let’s start planning something that makes you feel like the main character you absolutely are.

All photos in this article by AnnieBeth Photography