Image: Acoustica Photography

Photography: Acoustica Photography

Hello, I'm Alyssa Axen!

I am a Scottish Cosplayer, Artist and I hold a 1st Class (Hons) Degree in Costume Design and Making!I have been Cosplaying for 10 years and hand-make my costumes. I have both professional and personal costume making experience and enjoy acting in cosplay, cosplay makeup and especially enjoy constructing and patterning fantasy costumes!
I am especially open to work such as cosplay competition judging and guesting.I am willing to travel, hold a passport and love to talk about Cosplay crafting to guests! I will be appearing as a cosplay guest at Okamicon Ireland as a Judge and Panellist in August 2025!I was chosen as the UK Solo rep for ICL (International Cosplay League) at MCM London May and will be representing the UK in Madrid in September!I have also Guested at Rai Con (ACME Scotland) 2024. In addition to prejudging and guesting, I hosted a panel on making choices in cosplay focusing safety and accessibility, originality and individuality. I have also judged two days of Cosplay competitions at GFCC 2023. I answered questions, talked with visitors at my table and hosted panels. I have panels on a host of subjects like storytelling through creative choices, costume run throughs and how to create cosplays safely, creatively and perfectly individualised.I have experience performing on stage in cosplay in competitions, in videos and have acting experience. At insomnia 72, I provided two skit style entertainment in cosplay during the half time section.

Photography: Alasdair Watson Photography

Skills and crafting focuses

  • Pattern making and drafting, with fitting experience

  • Historical costuming

  • Fantasy costuming

  • Handsewing

  • Corsetry and stay making and fitting

  • Prop making

  • Wig styling

  • Mixed media builds

  • Face painting and makeup

  • Weathering

  • Video editing and filming

  • Self photography and editing

  • Fabric painting and embellishing

  • Character Design

  • Safety and accessiblity in Cosplay

  • Rigging and attachments

  • Storytelling in design

My Experience and What I Can Do For You?

Previous Guesting/Judging ExperienceUpcoming-
Okamicon Ireland August 2025-Cosplay Judge for Comic Con Alba 2025
- Panelist and Judge for Rai Con 2024
- Panelist and Judge for Glasgow Film and Comic Con 2023 (2 day event)Panelling and Performance Work- Panellist at Cosplay Con Scotland in Cosplay Q&A 2024
- Provided two full cosplay performances on both days of Insomnia Gaming Festival 2024, for the Cosplay Masquerade and ECG halftimes according to the rules of both for each show. I also assisted with some backstage work.Winning Costumes
- ICL Qualifier Solo Rep - Qifrey from Witch Hat Atelier
- C3 Rai Con Superstar (1st overall) 2023 with Jester from Critical Role
- GFCC 2024 1st place with Weiss Schnee V7
- Podium placement 2017 at DeeCon with Weiss Schnee V4Professional Experience:1st Class Honours Degree from Queen Margaret University.
My dissertation was on:
“How effectively costumed are characters of the fantasy video game “Dragon Age: Inquisition” and how do these costume designs contribute to believable characters and fantasy worldbuilding."This involves several personal making projects, multiple on set an in-theatre placements and professional experience in both stage and screen costuming in a workroom and backstage (dressing, maintenance etc). I'm always happy to present evidence of my university work on request, and I use my breadth of experience to inform my cosplay making work and my judging experience and knowledge.Ready to Go Panels- "One of a kind: Make your cosplay perfect for you."A panel focusing on how to make your costume perfect for you, the cosplayer. Covering how to make your costumes more comfortable, accessible, and unique - focusing on fitting, sensible attachments, how to make good choices with a high focus on personal safety as a cosplayer with training and health requirements! Every small choice you make makes the costume yours, and I will go over ways to enhance and make a costume more enjoyable to wear as well as easy ways to make it unique and fun to look at.In production or On Request:"Interpreting Costume Designs - How to do research, investigate and begin to build a costume. "Specific Cosplay Breakdowns and explainations and Q&A's always welcome.

Social Media and Contacts

The full portfolio of my Cosplaying and costume work can be found on Instagram (alyssaaxen) and Facebook (Alyssa Axen Cosplay)!
I use these sites for photo sharing and reels, as well as creating TikToks.
I also have video editing experience and run a youtube channel.My email is [email protected] and I can be reached via DM or email. I'd love to hear from you!

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