Midlothian cosplay designer heads to Comic-Con
TL;DR: Midlothian cosplay designer Lauren Wilkinson will showcase a DC-inspired design at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 in the Her Universe Fashion Show.
Quick facts
- Who: Lauren Wilkinson (stage name Ren), cosplay designer from Midlothian
- What: Selected as one of 20 designers to compete in the 12th Annual Her Universe Geek Couture Fashion Show with DC Comics-themed designs
- When: Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 6 PM PT (Comic-Con runs July 22-26)
- Where: Harbor Ballroom at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego
The story
Lauren Wilkinson, a cosplay designer from Midlothian known online as "Ren," has been selected as one of 20 designers competing in the 12th Annual Her Universe Geek Couture Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. The show will take place Thursday, July 23 at 6 PM PT at the Harbor Ballroom at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.
Wilkinson's journey in cosplay began about a decade ago at a Richmond Raceway fan convention, where she started with minimal sewing or costume-making experience and taught herself through dedicated practice. She has since built a following of over 17,000 on Instagram and previously competed at Comic-Con in 2022 with a stylized Hawks costume from "My Hero Academia" while still in college.
For this year's Her Universe show, all 20 designers must create high-fashion interpretations of DC Comics characters. Wilkinson is keeping her character selection secret until the runway debut, though she revealed it came after family movie marathons. Her current design is a family collaboration, with her sister painting outfit elements and her boyfriend sanding 3D-printed components that are part of an undisclosed mechanism in the costume.
The competition is hosted by Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein and actor Michael James Scott. Two winners will be selected, one by judges and one by audience vote, each receiving a $2,000 USD cash prize and the opportunity to co-design a future fashion collection with Her Universe. Wilkinson praised the supportive atmosphere, saying "I love the Her Universe community. They are a wonderful group of designers."
Key players
- Lauren Wilkinson: Cosplay designer competing in Her Universe Fashion Show
- Her Universe: Fashion show organization hosting the 12th annual event at Comic-Con
- Ashley Eckstein: Her Universe founder and host
Key dates
- 2026-07-23: Her Universe Fashion Show runway debut at 6 PM PT
- 2026-07-22 to 2026-07-26: San Diego Comic-Con 2026 (Preview Night July 22, main event July 23-26)
Why it matters: Wilkinson's selection highlights the creative talent in the local community and shows how cosplay has evolved from fan hobby to competitive art form. Her appearance at Comic-Con represents a significant achievement for a designer who is largely self-taught and underscores the role of community and collaboration in the craft.
Places
Development timeline
- 2016Lauren Wilkinson begins cosplay: Started cosplay approximately a decade ago at a Richmond Raceway fan convention with minimal prior experience in sewing or costume-making [[source]](https://www.richmonder.org/local-cosplay-designer-will-be-featured-at-this-years-comic-con/)
- 2022First Comic-Con appearance: Competed at San Diego Comic-Con while in college with a stylized Hawks costume from 'My Hero Academia' [[source]](https://www.richmonder.org/local-cosplay-designer-will-be-featured-at-this-years-comic-con/)
- 2026-07-23Comic-Con 2026 Her Universe Fashion Show runway appearance: Selected as one of 20 designers to compete with DC Comics-inspired haute couture designs; show takes place at 6 PM PT at Harbor Ballroom, Manchester Grand Hyatt [[source]](https://www.richmonder.org/local-cosplay-designer-will-be-featured-at-this-years-comic-con/)
Related links
Read the original at The Richmonder →
Sources
- Richmonder: Local Cosplay Designer Featured at Comic-Con
- San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Schedule
- Her Universe Fashion Show 2026 DC Theme
- Her Universe Reveals 20 Designers