We spoke to Audience Winner Raeven K. about winning at the Her Universe Fashion Show, her design, and her advice for future contestants. The 9th annual Her Universe Fashion Show took place last week during San Diego Comic-COn and celebrated 100 years of Disney with a standing-room-only crowd of 2,000 fans. The show featured a one-of-a-kind couture design by Ashley Eckstein, performances by Michael James Scott, and 25 talented designers from around the country.
Interview with Her Universe Fashion Show Audience Winner Raeven K.
Audience Winner Raeven K. tells us about winning her journey with the Her Universe Fashion Show, her design, and her advice for future contestants.
Monica Duarte (Temple of Geek): Congratulations on winning at the Her Universe Fashion Show. Last night when you went on stage, you had one of the loudest applauses in the crowd. It was very audible when you came out on stage in your gown. What made you want to enter the Her Universe Fashion Show?
Raeven K. (Audience Winner): Oh, my gosh. I can’t even tell you who told me about it. At this point, it feels like it’s been a part of my life for so long now. I heard about Her Universe and I was like, immediately, I have to enter into this competition. I have to be in this, I need to do this. Last year, I wanted to enter. Life happens and I couldn’t get around to it. This year I entered and I got in and I was shocked.
Called everybody I knew and told them that was coming. And it’s going to be great. And then me coming out here and actually doing the thing has been probably one of the most fun things I’ve done in a really, really, really long time. Everyone was so nice and I had such a good time.
Mistress of the Elements look inspired by X-Men’s Storm
Monica: Â I am so excited about your dress and you. Can you tell me a little bit about what inspired it?
Raeven K.: Yes. Obviously, everyone’s seen Storm’s Hell Fires Gala outfits. I wanted to do I guess the Raeven K. rendition of what I would have dressed her in. And so I really wanted to kind of explore the more elegant side of things. Most of the time you kind of see Storm in a little bit more sporty things. And I wanted to give her a full-column mermaid dress and just really do it with all the glitz and glam and way too many sparkles, to be honest. Lots and lots of sparkles.
Monica: So can you tell me a little bit about the moment when they announced you as the audience winner? Have you processed it?
Raeven K.: Not really the fact that I’m holding a mic and talking to you is crazy to me. I’m not going to lie. It took me a second. I watched the video back because in my head it felt like I stood there for like 30 seconds and didn’t move. Apparently, I walked, so that’s good.
But I just. I couldn’t believe it. I’m from the middle of absolute nowhere. Like I’m a very small designer. I teach 1 to 1 classes out in Austin. So it’s like it’s very it’s always been a one-woman show. And so winning this and getting to be a part of this team has been amazing. And it’s only day one. I don’t know what we’re doing next, but it will be great. I’m so excited. But, you know, winning was, it was a shock.
Advice for those interested in entering the competition next year
Monica: What would you tell aspiring fandom geek designers out there who have like, seen it online, who have, you know, probably been in your shoes, right, thinking like, oh, maybe I should enter? What would you say to them at home right now watching it?
Raeven K.: So please do it. Do it. Honestly, the amount of times people kept telling me that everyone was so nice and so genuine and you’re going have so much fun, It really it’s not like a weird competitive thing. You’re really going to have a good time. I don’t do cons this is my first con. I think this is my first big con, first competition like this. And I guess I don’t know why I haven’t been doing this my whole life. To be honest. I really enjoyed myself and everyone was really. They really are as nice as they say.
The Her Universe Fashion Show
Ashley Eckstein opened the show with a groundbreaking couture design that combined technology and fashion. The design featured flexible OLED screens that wrapped around her like a film strip, playing video content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. Disney Producer & Director John Gleim curated the video content with Eckstein, and designer Andrew MacLaine created the look.
Special co-host Michael James Scott wore two couture looks designed by Andrew MacLaine (Genie and Darth Vader) and one by Kristi Siedow-Thompson (Thanos). He also serenaded the audience with performances of “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” from Disney’s Cinderella and “Friend Like Me” from Disney’s hit Broadway musical Aladdin.
The evening was a love letter to the fans, with Ashley Eckstein and Michael James Scott giving away a multitude of incredible prizes, including a new Ahsoka Tano lightsaber set, Disney on Broadway prize packs, premium figures from Sideshow Collectibles, D23 Gold Memberships, FŪL Bags Disney Minnie Mouse Rolling Luggage 3 Piece Set, and a three-night stay in a two-bedroom villa at the brand new The Villas at Disneyland® Hotel.
@templeofgeek Michael James Scott known for playing the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin musical sings “Friend Like Me” at the Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic Con. #disneysaladdinmusical #aladdinmusical #michaeljamesscott #friendlikeme #sandiegocomiccon2023 #SanDiegoComicCon #sdcc #sdcc2023 #heruniverse #heruniversefashionshow2023
The excitement reached a new peak when it was announced that the winning designers would create two collections for Her Universe: one with Hot Topic and one for Disney Parks. The winners were selected from an audience vote and a judging panel that included 2022 Her Universe Fashion Show winners Cindy Guillermo and Michael Burson, SVP Hot Topic Merchandising Robin Motts, Director of Concept Art and Story Development at Disney Consumer Products George McClements, and actor, artist, and owner of Bungalow Modern Bret Iwan.
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