We’re so excited to be running the Cosplay Masquerades at MegaCon Live Birmingham in just a few short weeks’! Now our entrants have submitted their applications, it’s time to announce our judges for the weekend. We’ll be introducing one judge a day and you can meet all of them right here.
Announcing our second judge for the Sunday Cosplay Masquerade: TipsyGamer99.
Tipsy has always loved dressing up for Halloween, and was instantly hooked on all the fabulous outfits from her first convention! From the moment she wore her first costumes – from Five Nights at Freddy’s and Call of Duty – she felt incredible, and she’s continued to grow as a cosplayer and crafter over the years. Now, cosplay is more than just a hobby, but a pastime that encourages her to grow as an individual as well as a creative.
“I’m a proper magpie when it comes to adding lights to costumes,” she says. “I love seeing them added into props and costume pieces. I find they make everything look so magical.” EVA foam has also become a particular favourite material. “It’s so universal, and you can make the craziest things from it,” she says. Tipsy is proud that she does all her work by hand, from modelling, to sewing, to painting, and loves pushing how own crafting boundaries. “I’ve been told my crafting process is one of organised chaos!”
“My Seer costume is probably my favourite, and was a true test of my abilities, including sewing, LEDs, and prop work, but one of my biggest cosplay challenges in recent years was creating tentacles for my Marina costume that would move like an octopus, could be wearable, and weren’t too heavy. After a lot of trial and error I created a result that I still love to this day. I really enjoy tinkering with armatures to make projects move; one day I’d love to use motors!”
Her first competition was MCM Birmingham in 2021, and wasn’t without its wardrobe malfunctions! “I was so nervous,” she says, “but once you step out onto the stage, once you hear the cheers of the audience and see the lights hitting you, everything changes, and you feel the character run through you!” Since then, she’s been lucky enough to be invited to the LEC cosplay finals in France with her Star Guardian Senna costume.
She loves hyping up other entrants backstage, along with sharing tips and tricks, and has made some lifelong friends through competitions. “I honestly don’t think I would be as invested in cosplay as I am if it wasn’t for my cosplay family to build costumes and hang out with, and to motivate each other.”
Her best advice for nervous performers? “Cosplay is for fun, and as long as it brings you joy then your mission has been accomplished. It doesn’t need to be perfect, and it certainly doesn’t need to be expensive – it just needs to put a smile on your face. I’ve always found that simply having fun on stage is what people love, and respond really well to. Remember that you’re mostly performing for yourself!”
