Her Universe Fashion Show 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Are you ready for the 12th Annual Her Universe Fashion Show? This celebration of geek couture has become a staple of San Diego Comic-Con and one of the week’s most highly anticipated events for aspiring designers, cosplayers and fans. Those of us who follow Ashley Eckstein (Her Universe founder and voice of Ahsoka Tano) always anticipate her delightful hosting skills and outfit changes with baited breath. Ashley is joined in hosting the Fashion Show by Hypefriend podcast cohost and Broadway star Michael James Scott (The Genie in Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway). This will be Scott’s fourth year co-hosting the iconic SDCC kickoff event.

This year, the Her Universe Fashion Show is entering the world of DC! Twenty talented designers will transform iconic DC Super Heroes, Super-Villains and stories into one-of-a-kind high-fashion creations. We can’t wait to see how the designers bring the DC Universe to life on the runway!

The Her Universe Fashion Show 2026 Presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products takes place Thursday, July 23, at 6:00 p.m. PT in the Harbor Ballroom at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego.

Meet the 2026 Her Universe Fashion Show Designers!

This year’s competition features 10 first-time participants and 10 returning designers.

First-Time Participants

• Aibrean Glaister (they/them)
  • Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
  • Social: @raven.glayster
• Ayana Martin (she/her)
  • Hometown: Maitland, FL
  • Social: @ayana_destiny
• Brooke Young (she/her)
  • Hometown: Anaheim, CA
  • Social: @starlinecosplay
• Eden Hite-Ruecker (she/her)
  • Hometown: Encinitas, CA
  • Social: @edenkillsrockstars
• Gina Iwata (they/she)
  • Hometown: Sacramento, CA
  • Social: @pixiegiftfashions
• Jax Foss (they/he)
  • Hometown: Springfield, PA
  • Social: @candescent_cosplay
• Lisa Truong (she/they)
  • Hometown: Corona, CA
  • Social: @supreme_leader_honeypot
• Maggie Walker (she/her)
  • Hometown: Clovis, CA
  • Social: @maggiewalker4
• Marlena Dougherty (she/her)
  • Hometown: Valley Stream, NY
  • Social: @cobaltcosplay
• Ramon Sosongco (he/him)
  • Hometown: Riverside, CA
  • Social: @effekted

Returning Participants

• Cat Gravereaux
  • Previous appearances: 2023, 2024 and 2025
  • Hometown: Fort Edward, NY
  • Social: @kyasarin.cosplay
• Christine Geiger
  • Previous appearances: 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024
  • Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
  • Social: @geigeruppercut
• Jen Wolff
  • Previous appearance: 2025
  • Hometown: Houston, TX
  • Social: @jwolff501
• Katherine Everything
  • Previous appearance: 2025
  • Hometown: Lancaster, CA
  • Social: @katherine_everything
• Katie Strube
  • Previous appearances: 2024 and 2025
  • Hometown: Kissimmee, FL
  • Social: @Kstroobzcosplay
• Mandy McLean Couch
  • Previous appearances: 2023, 2024 and 2025
  • Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
  • Social: @defiantly_mandy
• Paige Campbell
  • Previous appearances: 2022 and 2025
  • Hometown: Ransomville, NY
  • Social: @quasar__creations
• Ren Wilkinson
  • Previous appearance: 2022
  • Hometown: Midlothian, VA
  • Social: @electricseafoam
• Sean Quinn
  • Previous appearance: 2024
  • Hometown: Santa Clarita, CA
  • Social: @seanquinncosplay
• Terence Johnson
  • Previous appearances: 2023, 2024 and 2025
  • Hometown: Van Nuys, CA
  • Social: @terencebjohnson

Here are just a few of last years incredible designs to whet your appetite:

Meet the 2026 Her Universe Fashion Show Judges

The 20 designers will present their DC-inspired creations before an expert judging panel representing entertainment, fashion and fandom.

Marc Malkin: Award-winning and Emmy-nominated journalist Marc Malkin returns to the judges’ table following his 2025 appearance. Malkin is Variety’s Senior Editor of Culture and Events and one of Hollywood’s most recognizable entertainment journalists and red-carpet correspondents.

Symantha Perrera: Fashion Design Director for BoxLunch, Her Universe and Wholesale, Symantha Perrera joins the judging panel with extensive experience in high fashion, slow fashion and mass production.

Frankey Smith, “Fantastic Frankey”: Media personality, host, producer and pop culture commentator Frankey Smith joins the panel after building a dedicated audience across comics, film, television, anime, tabletop gaming and fandom culture. She brings enthusiasm, insight and a deep appreciation for the DC Universe to the judges’ table.

The judges panel will also include 2025 Her Universe Fashion Show winners Lynleigh Sato and Caitlin Beards.

Sato, the 2025 Judges’ Winner, and Beards, the 2025 Audience Winner, will serve as judges for the first time. Having experienced the competition themselves, they can offer an invaluable perspective on the designers’ creativity, craftsmanship and runway presentations.

“The Her Universe Fashion Show has always been about celebrating the creativity and passion of fans, and this year’s DC theme takes that celebration to an entirely new level,” said Jillian Wendt, VP Marketing, Her Universe and BoxLunch.

“Marc, Symantha and Frankey each bring a unique perspective that represents the very best of entertainment, fashion and fandom, while Lynleigh and Caitlin offer invaluable insight as past winners who have experienced this competition firsthand. We are thrilled to have them join us as we celebrate the incredible designers bringing the iconic world of DC to life.”

How the Her Universe Fashion Show Winners Are Chosen

Two winners will be selected during the 2026 Her Universe Fashion Show:

• One winner will be chosen by the expert judging panel.
• One winner will be selected through the audience fan vote.

Each winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize and may also be offered the opportunity to design a fashion collection with Her Universe.

How to Attend the Her Universe Fashion Show

While the event is open to the public, advanced wristband distribution is required for entry. Wristbands are typically distributed the morning of the Fashion Show, so stay tuned to the HerUniverse social channels at @heruniverse on Instagram, X and Facebook for up-to-the-minute information. Use hashtag #HerUniverseFashionShow for special behind-the-scenes event content.

We will be sharing highlights from the event on the @skywalkingpod social channels throughout the evening, so be sure to follow along!

Which DC Super Hero, Super-Villain or story are you most excited to see reimagined as high-fashion couture? We can’t wait to see these 20 designers take the runway during San Diego Comic-Con!