San Diego Comic-Con opened with an unforgettable night of fandom, fashion, and theatrical showmanship as the 12th Annual Her Universe Fashion Show, presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products in partnership with DC, delivered a superpowered fusion spotlighting “the human in superhuman.” High-fashion runways made their way to San Diego to celebrate legendary DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains with original couture, stunning performances, and an interactive fan experience.
Behind the Scenes & Ashley’s Blank Canvas Transformation
Veronica Nunez did her hair and makeup. The real magic began with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Ashley Eckstein getting ready, makeup, hair, wardrobe, and everything in between. Veronica Nunez did her hair and makeup with help from Leibi Carias, and her looks were designed by Hannah Kent and Andrew MacLaine, the first-ever Her Universe Fashion Show winner. Stephen Giumenta of Architectural Grille created custom-cut metalwork across the hosts’ looks.
When the show started, Eckstein walked out wearing a completely blank canvas. Artists from Launch Live Art began airbrushing and painting her look in real time. Meanwhile, people were also painting one of the runway walkups, leaving everyone wondering what was going on. The anticipation was absolute agony, until the reveal hit: the painted runway walkup became her incredible DC-inspired cape! The moment beautifully highlighted how artists start with a blank canvas and create something breathtaking. Eckstein hosted in three stunning looks celebrating over a decade of community and creativity.
Showstopping Songs & Stunning Costumes
Co-host Michael James Scott brought pure Broadway showmanship to the stage. Both Scott and Eckstein treated the crowd to live music, and their performance of “Holding Out for a Hero”, arranged by Geoffrey Ko, was a complete showstopper. Scott also performed his original song “Brighter,” accompanied by dynamic choreography from Anna White and dancers Angelica Lozada Ramos, Luke & Paul Harwerth (Twin Sauce), and Emily Kraszulyak.
Both hosts cycled through multiple stunning costumes throughout the night. Michael’s Superman costume, featuring custom-cut artisan metalwork, was a standout favorite.
The stage environment was enhanced by motion graphics from Tony and Ashley Reser of altrd productions, six Barco laser projectors, and live music by DJ Amanda Jones with Danny Chavarin on drums.
Crowd Favorites and Runway Designers
For the first time ever, every designer was tasked with creating original couture inspired exclusively by DC characters. Finalists traveled from across the U.S. and Canada, and the crowd loved every single design. The judging panel included journalist Marc Malkin, Symantha Perrera (Fashion Design Director for BoxLunch, Her Universe, and Wholesale), Frankey Smith (DC Studios Showcase co-host), and 2025 winners Lynleigh Sato and Caitlin Beards.
Terence Johnson’s “Static Shock” design drew a massive, electric reaction from the crowd. Given the deafening cheers, it was genuinely surprising he didn’t take home the audience choice award.
The official winners were:
Judges Winner: Sean Quinn (@seanquinncosplay) with “Jokes on You”
Audience Winner: Ren Wilkinson (@electricseafoam) with “The Beast Within”
Both earned cash prizes and consideration to design a collection with Her Universe. Attendees can also vote for the Her Universe Fan Spotlight Award at the SDCC booth through the weekend.
Fun Lobby Photo Ops & Puppy Cuteness
The excitement started early, with fans lining up as early as 4:00 AM. The lobby was packed with fun activities, including interactive photo ops with larger-than-life comic panels, fandom displays, and custom streetwear by past winners Candice Miller, Vivien Lee, and Rachel Petterson.
The absolute best part of the lobby experience was “Krypto’s Corner,” hosted with Best Friends Animal Society. The adoptable puppies from Paws of Coronado provided the exact fluffy cuteness everyone needed after a long day—honestly, it was the kind of setup where you could have stayed with the puppies all night.
Produced by Dream Three Productions and Executive Producer Jeremy Merrifield, full footage of the show will stream exclusively on the Her Universe YouTube channel next week.
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