Detroit's Youmacon convention is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a bang, drawing thousands of anime and pop culture fans to Huntington Place for a weekend of excitement. The highlight of the event will undoubtedly be the cosplay - intricate and creative costumes that showcase the creativity and dedication of cosplayers.
According to Emily Wallin-Kale, the head of Youmacon's cosplay department, the trend has exploded in popularity over the past decade, with corporate sponsors on board to support the event. "We literally start in January," she says. "Me and my team, we start reaching out to different companies to see if they'd be willing to do prize sponsorships." The result is a snowball effect, with more and more brands wanting to get involved.
This year's prizes are worth $7,000, with gift cards from popular retailers like Arda Wigs, We Love Colors, and Bernette sewing machines. Wallin-Kale remembers when she was competing in the region as a cosplayer, receiving small gifts like $25 coupons, which would help her plan for the next event. Now, she loves giving these out to attendees, watching their faces light up when they receive their awards.
The growth of cosplay is undeniable, and Wallin-Kale attributes it to the explosion in popularity of anime, manga, and video games over the past two decades. "It's definitely growing," she says, recalling attending sewing expos around 2013 as a cosplayer. "People just thought it was so weird, like, 'Why are you wearing costumes? What are these costumes for?' Because these conventions were filled with quilt ladies who thought the future of sewing is just people who make quilts."
One thing Wallin-Kale loves about cosplay is its ability to bring people together and transcend borders. She recalls attending her first international event in the Netherlands, finding a community eager to share resources to help each other with last-minute costume fixes.
This year's Youmacon will feature the Integrated Cosplay Contest, which will send winners to compete in Spain and Portugal. For the first time ever, cosplayers will also be invited to Hiroshima, Japan, where they'll participate in a "miniature world cosplay summit." Wallin-Kale describes it as a fellowship event, where attendees can meet other cosplayers, make friends, but with no pressure or competition.
As for herself, Wallin-Kale plans to dress up as Hatsune Miku, an anime pop star from Japan. It's a lot of scrambling ahead of time to prepare, but she says it's worth it once she's in costume surrounded by other fans.
With tickets starting at $75 and available online, Youmacon is set to be a must-attend event for any fan of anime, manga, or pop culture.
According to Emily Wallin-Kale, the head of Youmacon's cosplay department, the trend has exploded in popularity over the past decade, with corporate sponsors on board to support the event. "We literally start in January," she says. "Me and my team, we start reaching out to different companies to see if they'd be willing to do prize sponsorships." The result is a snowball effect, with more and more brands wanting to get involved.
This year's prizes are worth $7,000, with gift cards from popular retailers like Arda Wigs, We Love Colors, and Bernette sewing machines. Wallin-Kale remembers when she was competing in the region as a cosplayer, receiving small gifts like $25 coupons, which would help her plan for the next event. Now, she loves giving these out to attendees, watching their faces light up when they receive their awards.
The growth of cosplay is undeniable, and Wallin-Kale attributes it to the explosion in popularity of anime, manga, and video games over the past two decades. "It's definitely growing," she says, recalling attending sewing expos around 2013 as a cosplayer. "People just thought it was so weird, like, 'Why are you wearing costumes? What are these costumes for?' Because these conventions were filled with quilt ladies who thought the future of sewing is just people who make quilts."
One thing Wallin-Kale loves about cosplay is its ability to bring people together and transcend borders. She recalls attending her first international event in the Netherlands, finding a community eager to share resources to help each other with last-minute costume fixes.
This year's Youmacon will feature the Integrated Cosplay Contest, which will send winners to compete in Spain and Portugal. For the first time ever, cosplayers will also be invited to Hiroshima, Japan, where they'll participate in a "miniature world cosplay summit." Wallin-Kale describes it as a fellowship event, where attendees can meet other cosplayers, make friends, but with no pressure or competition.
As for herself, Wallin-Kale plans to dress up as Hatsune Miku, an anime pop star from Japan. It's a lot of scrambling ahead of time to prepare, but she says it's worth it once she's in costume surrounded by other fans.
With tickets starting at $75 and available online, Youmacon is set to be a must-attend event for any fan of anime, manga, or pop culture.
So I'm thinking what's wild is how far cosplay has come since back in the day when it was kinda seen as weird... like, people thought cosplayers were just sewing quilters gone wild 
Now it's a major thing with brands on board and thousands of fans flocking to events everywhere. And it's not just about the creativity – it's also about community and connection. I mean, who doesn't love seeing all those amazing costumes in person? The fact that Youmacon is sending winners to Japan for this "miniature world cosplay summit" sounds like an absolute dream come true! 
like, it's crazy how far cosplay has come - remember when my friends and I used to make our own costumes from scratch? now there are so many awesome brands sponsoring the event and making prizes worth thousands of dollars 
. and can you even imagine having a mini world cosplay summit in Japan?! 
i wish i could go, but i'll just have to live vicariously through the cosplayers' Instagram pics 
. emily wallin-kale is like, so cool - i love how she's been able to bring people together and create this amazing community of cosplayers 
. btw, has anyone seen the designs for this year's integrated cosplay contest? 
! I love how it brings people together from all over the world, like Emily Wallin-Kale shared about her experience at that Dutch event 
. I'm definitely down for dressing up as Hatsune Miku myself ( maybe next year 
). If you're an anime/manga/pop culture fan, Youmacon is a total must-attend event! Get those tickets now before they sell out 
now its like a community, people supporting each other and sharing resources. that's really cool 
emily wallin-kale seems like an amazing person too, she's so passionate about cosplay and giving back to the fans. $7k in prizes is insane! 
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, and that's what makes it so beautiful! it's not just about wearing a costume, but about the creativity, dedication, and community that goes into making it happen. Emily Wallin-Kale's story is a great reminder that even small gestures can make a big impact, like those $25 coupons back in the day 
. and who knows, maybe one day we'll see a Youmacon-style event in our own city 
from small gifts to $7k prizes, it's a total snowball effect 
and i love that it's bringing people together from all over the world 