Cosplay Guests of Honor

Kyle and Malinda are an award-winning veteran cosplay duo crafting full-time for their own business: TurtleSmithy.

As cosplayers with over 20 years of experience each, they are well-rounded in a variety of techniques including sewing, wig styling, prop/armor construction, and more!

Malindachan (Malinda) especially loves sewing and wig styling, and you might be familiar with the numerous tutorials she's created for Arda Wigs. Thanks to her clean craftsmanship, she’s been invited as a guest speaker and contest craftsmanship judge internationally. While she was Arda’s house stylist, she collaborated with brands such as Simplicity Patterns, McCall’s Patterns, and Sideshow Collectibles.

TurtleSmithy Cosplay (Kyle) has had a passion for breathing life into his favorite characters since he was a kid. His specialties are armor and props, but he’s no stranger to sewing either. He has traveled far and wide as a cosplay panelist and judge. A few of his accomplishments include being the first winner of C2E2's Crown Championships of Cosplay and creating armor patterns for Simplicity.

Jamila aka Black Bettie Cosplay is a nonbinary cosplayer and photographer that has been creating costumes, props and content for over fifteen years. They have a background in theatre production/costume design and love to bring characters to life by transforming themself with makeup, wigs, and detailed costumes. They have created numerous cosplays over the years and have experience with tailoring, building and styling wigs, foam work, resin and using unconventional/recycled materials. They are also known for their expressive character performance and close attention to details, handy skills as a cosplay and lip-sync contest judge. They work hard to spread that message that cosplay is for everyone and encourage more diverse representation within the community.

Faeliae is an award-winning cosplayer and maker from the Pacific Northwest. She has been cosplaying since 2017, competing since 2022, and has a passion for faux fur and Hatsune Miku! She loves to combine accuracy with realism in her builds with a special focus on aesthetics and cosmetic details. She is a firm believer in transparency and loves to share build books as well as tips and tricks for crafting. As a life-long learner, Faeliae is always looking to grow and improve and to learn from others. Faeliae believes in fostering community through positivity, encouragement, and sharing knowledge!

Eli Ebberts is a cosplayer from the Pacific Northwest with over 15 years of experience and a degree in Theater Arts. Eli has a passion for dazzling performances and sparkling fabrics. She specializes in needlework, and historically inspired costumes. When she’s not at conventions she’s reading YA Fantasy, creating tutorials for her YouTube channel, or dancing with her idol group “Project Constellation”. Eli loves all things sparkly, pink, and cute! She is so excited to return as a Cosplay Guest Judge at Kumoricon and cannot wait to see everyone's incredible costumes. In the meantime she wants to remind you all to Keep Sewing, Stay Positive, and Have Fun!