Local cosplay designer will be featured at this year's Comic-Con

Cosplay was once a hobby Lauren Wilkinson pursued at Richmond Raceway. This Thursday, it’s taking her to one of the world’s biggest pop culture stages: the San Diego Comic-Con.

Wilkinson, a Midlothian-based cosplayer whose stage name is “Ren,” has spent roughly a decade bringing fictional characters to life through elaborate costumes, wigs and makeup.

Cosplay, short for "costume play," is the art form of wearing costumes and accessories to become a specific fictional character.

Wilkinson's origin story begins at a Richmond Raceway fan convention, where she and her friends met up with fellow readers of “Homestuck” — a webcomic that ran from 2009 to 2016. The creativity and enthusiasm she found there inspired her to give cosplay a try.

“I saw the creativity and passion that people had with their outfits and how much they really cared and loved for the characters,” Wilkinson said. “I really connected with them.”

At the time, Wilkinson had little experience sewing, styling wigs or any of the other skills cosplay demands. But she threw herself into learning. Nearly a decade later, she’s built a following of more than 17,000 on Instagram.

“I've been hooked, for better or worse,” she said, chuckling.

That dedication earned Wilkinson a spot in Her Universe’s annual Geek Couture Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con, where selected designers interpret the year’s theme — 2026’s is DC Comics — through high-fashion cosplay.

This isn’t her first go-around. That was in 2022 when she dressed up as a chic version of Hawks, a winged hero from the Japanese animated series “My Hero Academia.” At the time, she was in college and saw that a few of her favorite cosplayers had participated in the fashion show in the past. She applied, and to her delight, was selected.

While backstage, Wilkinson said she was moved by the contestants’ camaraderie. They took turns cheering each other on and helping make last-minute alterations.

“I love the Her Universe community,” Wilkinson said. “They are a wonderful group of designers. They’re passionate and talented.”

Preparing a look for the runway demands a different perspective than a typical cosplay, which is meant to be shown off at fan conventions or on social media. You can’t focus on those bite-sized, video-friendly moments, Wilkinson said. The designers’ goal is to make the most of the few moments they’re on stage.

That setting shift has been freeing. It’s forced Wilkinson and her fellow designers to consider what will make the most beautiful piece overall.

“It’s a little bit more nerve-wracking, especially since you know that all eyes are on you,” Wilkinson said.

“This has been such a group effort; usually cosplay is … very solo.”

It has taken a village to help Wilkinson make the most of her moment. Her sister has been painting parts of her outfit, while her boyfriend is sanding 3D-printed elements. She’s also leaning on her makeup-savvy friends’ expertise to perfect a “smudgy” look.

As for Wilkinson, she’s been focusing on “trying to make a mechanism work, and that’s all I’m going to say about that.”

“I’ve been a fan of DC for a really long time,” she said. “It’s really fun to bring one of these characters to life that has inspired me for such a long time.”

Even selecting the character was a group effort. She sat down with her family and binge-watched as many movies as possible — they’re still debating which actor was the best Batman. 

While she can’t reveal too much about her final design (including which character inspired it), she’s thrilled to unveil it Thursday.

“In today’s world of social media, everything seems so distant and a little cold,” Wilkinson said. “To be part of this community is just such a treat and such a pleasure.”

Contact Eleanor Shaw at eshaw@richmonder.org. She is a Report for America corps member.