Me and my partner had work on Friday and couldn't attend the first day, but made it for Saturday and Sunday. We entered the Cosplay Masquerade in the Novice Craftsmanship category and even arrived late for prejudging because we couldn't find the Con entrance. We left that day with the Best in Show award and certificate. I'm still processing how we managed to win such an award. We're on the far right in the photo below.

Our Cozmez cosplays have been a labor of love, grief and healing that took about 14-15 months to complete due to the passing of four of my family members and multiple illnesses throughout the creation process of these cosplays. We tried to compete three times in these cosplays before EvilleCon, but had to withdraw due to a new emergency happening the week before every single con we applied to the contest for causing me to repeatedly pause working on these builds.

Each time we had to withdraw from a competition due to not finishing our cosplays plunged me deeper and deeper into an awful mental space that was already in tatters due to the traumatizing year I had.

Within twenty-four hours of the EvilleCon Cosplay Masquerade, we had four moments where we thought we weren't going to be able to compete.

Since we don't live together, I wasn't able to test fit my Partner's pants, the waistband did not fit them at 11pm the night before the con. I stayed awake until 5am that morning making the repairs. We got out of bed to get ready at 6am.

My partner had left our printed build book at their work desk, which we had to pick up before our pre-judging slot.

We arrived at the prejudging booth late because we couldn't find the door, and without our shoes on because we were afraid to scuff the paint on the way in.

When it was time to line up in the room the Cosplay Masquerade was held in, we didn't have the orange stickers on our badges that served as our proof of being a contestant. The kind staff at the cosplay booth couldn't find our names.

Despite all of that, we were able to walk across the stage and then step onto it a second time to receive the highest honor of the night.

I can't think of a better reward for making it through to the end of this build despite all the set backs that occurred, the frustration I felt, the blood, sweat and tears that were spilled in the process. It feels like it was all worth it and my efforts were seen and appreciated. I feel like I was given the closure I so desperately needed for everything I went through when the only thing holding me together was this build.

I can't believe this was given to me.

The entire time the judges were hyping up the best in show winner, me and my partner were discussing how we needed to approach this group for tips on how WE could improve for next time. And then our cosplay names were called? And I started sobbing, my partner screamed at the top of their lungs. I was crying the entire time I was on stage.

The judges for this competition were some of the sweetest and most excited I have seen in a while. I am so thankful for their feedback, their compliments, their encouragement and support.

We were told that our build book was one of the best they had ever seen. It told them everything they needed to know about our characters, answered every question they had about our process, and even provided a digital download link in the form of a QR code I added just in case. They told me they were going to steal that idea from me for their own build books. I can't think of a higher compliment.

Thank you so much to SorasStyle, Cosplay_Cam, RivalSkies, and ScissorWizardCos for this opportunity and all of your hard work and passion.

Thank you EvilleCon for the opportunity and the award. I couldn't stop crying for the rest of that night. I'm so honored and thankful.

Got to walk around on Sunday with my build book in tow in my new lolita coord I've been dying to wear for months. Ended the day filled with so much love and so many little girls begging for a picture with me in this coord. I haven't been this happy in so long. I'm so thankful and feel rejuvenated.