The 9th annual Her Universe Fashion Show returned to San Diego Comic-Con to a colossal crowd of more than 2,000 fans for a standing-room only celebration of geek couture fashion. The evening celebrating 100 years of Disney was presented by Her Universe and Hot Topic and hosted by acclaimed actress and Founder of Her Universe Ashley Eckstein with multi-talented co-host Michael James Scott.
Her Universe Fashion Show hosts Ashley Eckstein and Michael James Scott.
Her Universe Fashion Show 2023
Ashley Eckstein opened the show with a one-of-a-kind couture design that infused technology and fashion in a way that has never been done before. Teaming up with Walt Disney Imagineer Daniel Joseph, an incredibly talented inventor and illusionist who brought his unique set of skills and ideas to this creation, Eckstein’s design featured flexible OLED screens, which wrapped around Eckstein like a film strip, played video content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars.
Special co-host Michael James Scott donned two couture looks designed and made by Andrew MacLaine (Genie and Darth Vader) and one by Kristi Siedow-Thompson (Thanos, one of Marvel’s most powerful villains) while serenading the audience with performances including a special rendition of “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” from Disney’s Cinderella and “Friend Like Me” from Disney’s hit Broadway musical Aladdin.
Her Universe Fashion Show co-host Michael James Scott
A Night at Her Universe Fashion Show
Throughout the evening, the competition runway was ablaze with couture designs from the 25 talented designers from around the country, all eager to impress with their inspired creations. The crowd was wowed with designs inspired by Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, National Geographic and more!
The evening reached brand new heights of excitement when it was revealed the winning designers would be creating two collections for Her Universe: one with Her Universe and Hot Topic and one collection with Her Universe envisioned for Disney Parks. Two winners were selected from an audience vote and the 2023 judging panel which included 2022 Her Universe Fashion Show winning designers Cindy Guillermo and Michael Burson, SVP Hot Topic Merchandising, Robin Motts, Director of Concept Art and Story Development at Disney Consumer Products, George McClements as well as actor, artist and owner of Bungalow Modern, Bret Iwan.
This year’s winning designers, who will begin their work starting today at Comic-Con, are below:
Judges winner – Rachel Petterson (@pigsinpajamas) for her Totally Minnie look inspired by Minnie Mouse
Photo Credit Mark Edwards
Audience winner – Raeven K. (@thatssewraevenk) for her Mistress of the Elements look inspired by X-Men’s Storm
Ashley Eckstein on Her Universe
Temple of Geek’s Jenna Wrenn had the opportunity to speak with Ashley Eckstein about her experiences and love for the Her Universe Fashion Show on episode eleven of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast.
Disney is literally a part of me. It’s my fandom. It’s a part of literally I like to say my DNA and the fabric of my entire being and the inspiration of Disney. The fact that the impossible can become possible, that a dream is a wish your heart makes, and the dreams that you wish can and do come true is the theme and the message not only of this year’s show, but of our show in general.
I hope that anyone that is a part of our show or literally that just comes to our show or watches our show online, I hope that they understand and believe that it starts with the dream and that you can do it and that it’s just it’s possible one step at a time.
Host and executive producer of the Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast, Jenna Wrenn, is also an entertainment correspondent for Temple of Geek. Jenna has conducted interviews with talent such as Max Brooks, Christopher Paolini, Rachel Smythe, and Ashley Eckstein and has written several articles for Temple of Geek covering conventions, anime, pop culture, and much more.
A historian by trade, a writer by passion, and a cat mom by birthright. Jenna loves to travel, forge new connections, and cosplay. Jenna is excited to bring more fascinating interviews to viewers/listeners of the Portrait of a Fangirl podcast.
Posted by 
