Guest Cosplay Judges
Goff Cosplay
Goff Cosplay is a long-time cosplay duo out of St. Louis, Missouri. Brian & Vicky have been cosplaying together since 2006 and separately for many years before that, and are now veteran competitors, skilled cosplay contest judges and have cosplayed professionally at events across the US. They love to bring characters to life through a combination of skills from sewing to armor construction & prop building. Goff Cosplay is passionate about helping other cosplayers by sharing the tips, tricks, & skills they’ve learned, so that you can make your cosplay dreams a reality!
Follow Goff Cosplay for how-to’s, inspiration, and heartwarming high jinx:
Instagram: @goff_cosplay | Twitter: @GoffCosplay
Kaleleaf Cosplay
Kaleleaf is a multi-award winning cosplayer based in Minnesota. She is a costume print graphic designer by day and a cosplay crafter by night. Kaleleaf loves dabbling in the many crafts within cosplay from sewing, wig styling, resin casting, 3D printing, and more. Kaleleaf loves tackling the many problem-solving opportunities within the process of making a costume and sharing her discoveries with others. When Kaleleaf isn’t crafting, you can find her making art, playing video games, and spending some time with her corgi Beemo. She is very excited to be bringing her crafting knowledge to judging at AniAmes where her cosplay journey began at Iowa State!
Instagram: @kaleleaf.cosplay
AniAmes Guests
Alys Belyn
Alys Belyn is an award-winning cosplayer, professional model, and retired ballet dancer. She spends her days creating various crafts and thinking of new ways to incorporate fashion accents into upcoming cosplays. She recently made an Effie Trinket cosplay for Des Moines Con 2024, using historical patterns and drafting techniques. Her abilities as a seamstress have also given her opportunities to create unique pieces for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
Instagram: @alys_belyn
LaRire Cosplay
LaRire Cosplay is a long time competitor and contest runner, having won many awards for her performances and craftsmanship capabilities (just ask her about her hand embroidery!) as well as being gifted the opportunity to judge at many Midwest events ranging in size from local 1 day conventions to Colossalcon North. She has been active in the Cosplay community since 2011, and an active competitor from 2013-2019. Since 2019, she has put more focus on her volunteer work for Cosplay departments by either assisting or running local shows.
She has supported the community through the years by being a resource for new cosplayers to bounce ideas off of, answering questions as a veteran competitor and long-time performer (since she was 8 years old, back in 1997!) as well as offering help to the conventions she attends.
She is really looking forward to meeting all of the contestants, and getting back in the saddle for the 2024 Convention year!
Instagram: @larirecosplay
DawnStarCosplays
My name is Mariah Winchell, originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and now residing in Maquoketa, Iowa. I am a convention and cosplay veteran, having attended 20+ conventions as well as cosplaying and honing my craft over the last 14 years, including previous convention guesting experience.
From wig-styling to armor construction, I love to learn and widen my horizon on all aspects of crafting. I wish to share what I’ve learned with my fellow cosplays, spreading the love of this hobby wherever I can. I’ve had the privilege of attending multiple conventions and hosting various panels across my time as a cosplayer.
With my love for the craft and passion for spreading the word of cosplay body positivity, I hope I can continue to grow my skills and share my knowledge to help others enter this wonderful crazy world of cosplay and conventions!
Instagram: @dawnstarcosplays
Margeannebutterstick
Hi, my name is Marge. I've been a cosplayer for a little over a year and a half now. I primarily cosplay One Piece characters but have several other interests. I love content creation and tuning in with not just One Piece fandoms but others as well.
Instagram: @margeannebutterstick
Umi Kyoku
Umi Kyoku is a yandere whale shark VTuber, voice actor, and singer. Recently making her debut on YouTube, she has entertained audiences worldwide for years, performing at conventions like DoKomi in Germany and AniManGaki Malaysia. Despite being a virtual entertainer, she shares her music and storytelling globally. Her first single, "ENDLESS BLUE," pays tribute to one's perseverance and accompanies her latest single "Night of Fallen Stars". With her charisma and powerful voice, she captivates audiences with a range from ballads to idol music to capture the hearts of many. She will be featured during a brief intermission for the cosplay competition awards so come check out her music!
X: @KyokuUmi