Winning Cosplay Designer Prepares For Wales Comic Con’s Next Event At Glyndwr

Wales Comic Con’s winning cosplay designer already has her eyes on the prize as new Wrexham dates are announced. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sophie Johnson, 18, won first prize for Best Craftsmanship for her cosplay outfit in last month’s Wales Comic Con, held in Wrexham. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She designed her whole outfit based on a character called Vi from the computer game League of Legends. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sophie has just finished her first year at Wrexham Glyndwr University studying Applied Art, and is already making a new costume for Wales Comic Con’s next event at the university in November. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sophie said: “Last year was the first time I entered the competition and I came runner-up, so this year I thought I’ll pull out all the stops and aimed to win. Most of the costume I handmade and customized. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There were people from all over the world at the event, so I was against about 24 adults in my category. It was so much fun being part of the event and meet other eager people who love cosplay. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s great seeing all the children excited and coming up to me and people asking for my advice for their own cosplay.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wales Comic Con have announced they are returning to Wrexham Glyndwr University for another fun-packed weekend on November 5-6. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Acts already lined up include Dean-Charles Chapman, from Game of Thrones, Allison Mack from Smallville and James Marsters and Nicholas Brendon from Buffy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sophie won various prizes at last month’s event including a trophy, VIP passes to November’s Wales Comic-Con weekend and subscription to SFX, a science fiction and fantasy magazine. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Her next costume is based on the character Princess Mononoke from the Japanese anime film. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sophie, from Kinmel Bay, Conwy, said: “My costume is steam punk again but it is more complicated than Vi was. There’s electrics and moving parts on this new costume and I’m making a full mask, so I’m designing everything myself. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m eager to enter again, I don’t care if I win or not as it’s just for fun but I’m working hard on my costume.
“My university work has helped me develop an understanding of what I can do with my costumes and what materials to use. I like to visit the wood department and use wood for my outfits so it’s helped me understand what and how to use it and build more complex costumes.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​