Tiny Kittenn is a mixed race (Black, Native American and White) cosplayer, toy/figure collector, and gamer originally from Brooklyn, New York and currently resides in Virginia. Her nerd interests started when she was a tiny child after she picked up the NES controller to play Castlevania and cooled down by watching Aeon Flux. Her first convention was in 2009, her first cosplay was Bubbles from The PowerPuff Girls in 2010, and since then has cosplayed a plethora of characters from different series, Power Rangers/Super Sentai being her most recognized ones. When she's not cosplaying, she works full time as a...
Originally from Serbia, a country where the anime/comic/video game scene is severely underrepresented, Rhoulette deputed her very first cosplay 2.5 years ago here in the DMV! Her fascination started after traveling the world and making friends with fans of Gundam Wing and Sailor Moon. An adamant believer that cosplay is for everyone, she finds it to be the perfect hobby, combining the freedom of creativity with crafting genius. Most recognized for her PROJECT: Leona cosplay from League of Legends, Rhou was invited by the parent company, Riot Games, to partake in a fan experience at their Worlds Championships last year...
Featuring: DJ K-Murdock | Rapper, Eye Q | Electro-rock singer, D&D Sluggers | Rapper, Maverick da Roninn K-Murdock Born in Washington, DC and raised during the golden era of hip-hop, K(yle) is possibly best known for being one half of the progressive hip-hop tandem Panacea, K, along with the group’s emcee Raw Poetic were signed to legendary underground hip-hop label Rawkus Records in 2006 and have released a total; of 6 projects to date; The duo has rocked shows all over the United States, sharing the stage with the likes of Brand Nubian, Planet Asia, Little Brother, Lupe Fiasco &...
Be it the face of dance, pageantry, education, television or film, Jazzy Ellis is a game changer. The African American Female SAG-AFTRA stunt performer, actor, independent filmmaker and non-profit director is determined to level the playing field and add some color to our grayscale expectations. A New Jersey native, Jazzy has spent the bulk of her life integrating spaces. Whether it was at Princeton University as a religion major, in statewide pageants, or in underprivileged NOLA classrooms spreading a message of achievement, Jazzy has always been unafraid to shake the status quo. A survivor of domestic abuse and sexual assault,...
Powered by The Nerdtino Expo Father Evil was born Luis Evilleira in Galicia, Spain in the year 1372. Forty years later, Father Luis Evilleira has become a loyal servant of the church and the head Witchcraft investigator. One of his investigations leads him to a satanic convent that was attacked by one of the local villages. Father Evilleira investigates the convent and begins to "re-purify" holy items of the church that may have been tainted. He finds an ancient text he is surprisingly able to read. Suddenly, a blinding white flash envelopes the room…and no one sees or hears of...
EDO BUSHIDO - The Vibe of the Afro Samurai concert Take a musical journey from Japan to the Boondocks with Substantial: A pioneer of the sonic art form of Jazz Hop who worked with the legendary producer Nujabes, Marcus D and other great soundsmiths. Asheru: A formative underground contender responsible for the classic Judo Chop from the Acclaimed animated series "The Boondocks" and DJ AAROCK: A master on the Decks of Steel - cutting and chopping his way through various forms of sounds to take his listeners on a musical journey. EDO BUSHIDO AFTER PARTY (Friday night dance) DJ AAROCK...
"Hello everyone, my name is Arionn but in the cosplay community I go by "Devilish Vixen". I started cosplaying around middle school in 2009. It has literally been a giant part of my life since then. Not only has it allowed me to find the great friends I have, but it has also built me up as a person. Anime and cosplaying will always be a big part of my life, especially since sewing is one of the biggest stress relievers for myself. Cosplaying for me isn't just about dressing up as a character, I also like to relate to...
Derek Williams always had a desire to do stand-up, and in 2009 he finally stepped on stage. It only took one performance to fully get that comedic bug. Since then, he has become a three time winner of the Funnybone Clash of the Comics, co-founder of a highly successful show 'Geek's Night of Comedy', and has been described as energetic, with a particular fun blend of honest, awkward, geeky/nerdy comedy. Derek has an exclusive perception about how to live life, and also things that provoke him into a fume. Being a father of twins, the doctor gave him a diploma...
Canvas Cosplay is the project of award-winning artist Philip Odango from Virginia Beach, Virginia. With a background in psychology and over a decade of experience in directing, producing and stage managing more than two dozen productions, Philip fuses design and theatrical performance in his cosplays to create exuberant interactions and visuals. Born in the Philippines and raised in the United States, Philip believes in the transformative power of cosplay to transcend race and gender, and he has been spotlighted in The New York Times, Forbes Magazine and Kotaku. His award-winning Doctor Strange cosplay was officially featured by MARVEL, and he...
Luis Valdez, the Brown Ranger, is a cosplayer who is well known for his large scale Cosplays (Cyborg from Teen Titans, Ikcis from Ahh Real Monsters, Wargreymon from Digimon, Sonic the Hedgehog), he is a champion cosplayer from Milford, Delaware who started cosplaying in 2014 at his first con! Born in Mexico, Luis is also well known as "The Selfie King" every con you can catch him either in an elaborate cosplay, or in front of a camera taking a selfie! The Brown Ranger is all about giving back to the cosplay community and spreading the positivity! Facebook
"We are a group of double minority gamers who are looking to encourage other double minority gamers to continue to play online. We're breaking the stigmas associated with black female gamers. Within our group, Black Girl Gamers, we have several developers, educators, streamers, entrepreneurs, designers and much more! BGG is a place where women of all ages can vent and build camaraderie while playing at our favorite games!" BGG hosts panels and workshops at conventions all across the country on a mission of STEM outreach,as well as inclusion in gaming and game development. "The need to bring awareness on how...
Allen Ryde is a passionate long time cosplayer and artist since 2006 having attended and done masquerade judging and competitions for varius conventions. He is a professional costume commissioner experienced in many different aspects of costuming from accessories to wigs even full on costume ensembles. He specializes in fantasy ballgowns and intricate detailing in his work to give it a special and unique touch with a touch of couture elegance. He has worked for and supplied costumes for professional theatre companies, opera houses, entertainment companies and is a freelance pattern designer and product developer for the well known corset company...
*Brought to you by Nerdtino @ BlerDCon* Allegriana (A-leg-ree-ana) first entered the con scene in 2008 as “The Chainmail Chick”, a fantasy art and pinup model best known for her impressively impractical wardrobe of metal bikinis. Since then, she’s branched out into producing art and costumes of her own: in addition to her cosplay, she is a frequent collaborator with the studios of Organic Armor as well as leather company Ribbons and Rivets. Allegriana currently attends numerous events each year as a promotional model, guest speaker, costume contest judge, and workshop host, and has won several costume and prop contests....
Bryan Newton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and attended Otis College of Art and Design were he earned is BA in Digital Media. He immediately started working as a Flash Designer on "Toddworld" and "Growing Up Creepie" for Discovery Kids. He's done animation and storyboards on shows like "Out of Jimmy's Head", "Problem Solverz", "Mongo Wrestling Alliance" and "The Looney Tunes Show". Recently he's directed shows like "Rick and Morty", "Right Now Kapow!" and "Teen Titans Go!". After over 12 years in the television animation industry he's managed to work in every major studio in LA. Pursuing...
Tony R. Ray is a costumer, actor & activist from Harlem, NY. He’s had a love for comics, science & science fiction as long as he can remember. Since 2007 Tony has been making costumes and cosplaying. He’s known best for Milestone Comics character Static, the SPD Red Ranger & DC Comics character Aqualad. He was on a panel at NYCC for Body Confidence in 2015 and Heroes of Diversity at Atlantic City Boardwalk Con 2015. Having a passion for fighting against HIV/AIDS he does work with the Campaign to End AIDS (C2EA), an organization dedicated to ending the AIDS...
Blerdcon welcomes this kinetic, dynamic dancer and cosplayer to our event! Tyler is a mixed race cosplayer (Black,White, Puerto-Rican) whom began portraying Spider-Man and numerous incarnations of him since 2012. Tyler has been featured in many cosplay articles (Buzzfeed, MoviePilot, ESPN) and viral YouTube videos over the years performing his acrobatic breakdancing theatrics combined with his love of Spidey to make an entertaining combination. Tyler also performs for children and is dedicated to creating entertaining joy for children and adults alike. He is an ambassador for RPC Studio who creates his new costumes every few months to showcase to the...
Jibrii Ransom, or as the costuming world knows him, Spectra, has been crafting and cosplaying since 2012. His work has taken him to lead dozens of cosplay panels across the country, helping to educate and inspire other to achieve their best. Known for his Frozone, Cyborg, & Finn costumes he specializes in making armor & props which He was self taught. He has also judged numerous contests throughout the years and even been a leading correspondent with publications such as Nerd Caliber and Aggressive Comix. Jibrii aims to not only be the best, but help everyone else be their best....
Sooyong inherited her nerd-dom from her Black American father and her artistic talent from her Korean mother. Combining that with a lifelong love of Japanese anime and video games, she discovered her passion for cosplay while in high school and hasn’t stopped even after moving to Japan and living there for 5 years. During that time, she shared her hobby openly with her Japanese co-workers, students and friends. After getting over the anxiety of being a foreigner with a darker skin tone in Japan, she attended and cosplayed at several events including Comiket, World Cosplay Summit, and Tokyo Game Show,...
Hello! I'm Celeste Stewart aka SobaNoodlez Cosplay! I'm from St. Louis, MO and I work at the comic shop Star Clipper. In my free time I cosplay! I was first interested in cosplaying in 2008 - right before I graduated high school. It was right after I went to Anime St. Louis for the first time and saw so many cool costumes. Unfortunately, I was only able to cosplay as L from Death Note before I went to college. At the time I didn't have any friends interested in the con scene or in cosplaying so I was completely unaware...
Myron is a salsa dance instructor turned cosplayer from Atlanta, GA. He first experienced cosplay while on his lunch break at his daytime IT job, which is located less than a block away from the action of Atlanta's DragonCon. After a few years of being a bystander, he decided to attend and cosplay for the first time in 2012, and has been enamored with the cosplay scene ever since. Myron is known for his epic Star Wars + Quentin Tarantino mash-ups, "Jules Windu" and "Django Fett", the latter of which has been featured on websites such as moviepilot.com and has...
A native of Taipei, Taiwan, Shirlz Vegas is a Maryland Cosplayer who made her cosplay debut at MAGFest 2016, showing off her moves as Street Fighter’s Chun-Li. Falling in love with the creativity of cosplaying and exciting atmosphere of conventions, Shirlz continued to build on her next costume. With Mortal Kombat being one of her favorite video games, she developed a sexy female version of Scorpion, which she debuted during Awesome Con 2016 in Washington DC. Appearing in numerous photos during Awesome Con, Otakon, and Anime USA, her Scorpion instantly became a huge fan favorite. Aside from playing fighting games,...
Rio is a mixed race (Caribbean/English) cosplayer based in London, UK. She's had a fond interest in all things geeky since she was little and started attending conventions in 2009. She didn't start cosplaying until 2012. She has cosplayed characters such as Fran from FFXII, Dante from Devil May Cry, Blanche from PokemonGo, Pirotess from Record of Lodoss War, Kida from Atlantis, Jecht from FFX, Kasumi from Dead or Alive, Korra from the Legend of Korra and Urd from Oh My Goddess! among others. "I'm really excited to be part of the event. Being brought up and living in Europe,...
We're Pretty Brown and Nerdy, a youtube channel ran by three nerdy girls Jazmine, Cheyenne and Camille! Through our channel we excitedly discuss all things nerd culture through our unique perspective; whether it be who are favorite badass anime ladies are, or what new superhero movie trailer has us hype, or Let’s Play gaming videos, or skits where we incorporate our nerdy lives into funny situations for our viewers. The channels inception in 2014, was born out of us finding a hole in the community that we knew we could fill with our passion and knowledge combined for different things...
BlerDCon welcomes Noir Caesar as GOLD sponsor for the upcoming convention happening at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA June 30 to July 2, 2017! Noir Caesar is a digital entertainment and publication company dedicated to the production of diverse and original content that will be making its official launch at Blerdcon! Among its upcoming projects are a “Shonen Jump” style anthology publication, “Hype Magazine”, and an anime whose trailer has been getting a lot of attention called “<a href="#" target"_blank">Primus 7</a>" Advance copies of their manga will be available for FREE to all attendees! Blerdcon and Noir...
We are thrilled to give you the one and only Maki Roll's Chop Shop! She will be joining us for panels, cosplay contest judging, picture taking and autograph signing for all her fans, old and new! Maki Roll is the "Cosplay Cutie Turned Burlesque Beauty". The DC native started her journey as a cosplayer in 2007, and through going to conventions and networking, has branched out to various forms of entertainment and modeling. She has made over 30 costumes, but gained extreme recognition for her portrayal of Ryuko Matoi's Senketsu Fashion Week from the anime Kill La Kill. When not...
Les Price - Alpha Furyan Blerdcon welcomes this Bodyguard to the stars, celebrity look alike and cosplayer to our event! Les is a Biracial cosplayer (Black,Italian) whom began portraying "RIDDICK" and numerous incarnations of him at conventions in the early 2000's. Les has been featured on "Wendy Williams" as a guest look alike, because of his uncanny resemblance to Vin Diesel. He has been featured in various cosplay articles (Cosplay Coulture, MoviePilot, Men's Fitness, Comingsoon.net) dawning his "King Xerxes", "Absorbing Man", and "Mr.Clean" cosplays. By day he makes a living as a celebrity look a like and Bodyguard. He recently...
Les Levi is a black queer cosplayer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Beginning with Wizard World in Philly last year crossplaying as Rita Repulsa from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers but since then, they’ve cosplayed characters; like HIM [PowerPuff Girls], Misty [Pokemon] and most recently Storm [X-Men/Marvel]. “I just started cosplaying in June of 2016, combing my nerdiness with my love for drag artistry, it’s like Halloween all year round.” Before joining the legion of cosplayers Levi headed a student program that went across the college campus educating peers, faculty, and staff on a variety of diversity and social justice issues....
For Khaleesi Cosplay, what started as a fascination has grown into 10 years of cosplay thanks toencouragement from her friends and family. Known for her award winning Anthy Himemiya and well received Hermoine, Khaleesi uses cosplay to exercise her creativity and build on it. Khaleesi Cosplay joined the family because she describes Blerdcon as "a convention that embraces the message I’ve always tried to embody in my cosplay. " Along with having fun, she hopes to send a message of representation in cosplay to the brown girls that aren't sure if there is a place for them.
Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson had a problem with bringing the magic of the Sorcerer Supreme to the big screen—namely, he didn’t know how he should do it. Should Strange mutter incantations? Use a wand like Harry Potter? He found the answer, surprisingly, on YouTube, in the videos of a dancer who goes by JayFunk. “I think that magic tends to be something where you cast a spell and then the camera sits back and you watch something happen,” Derrickson told Vulture. “I didn’t want it to be that. I wanted it to be in the action, I wanted it...
Charlie Rocket is a model, photographer and cosplay personality. Born and raised in Maryland, she was brought up on sci fi, comic books and cartoons. Charlie got her start with photography in high school, which later lead her to modeling through her university's modeling troupe. With the help of fellow members of Evalesco models, she learned about fashion, design and creating the impossible. Charlie now lives in NC where she was introduced to the convention and cosplay scene. After her well-known Catwoman costume, Charlie has become a swiftly rising cosplayer who has made sure to make the community her number...
"I've been cosplaying for the better half of four years now and my only regret is that I didn't start sooner. I finally have an avenue where I can express myself in a big way, which is a great change of pace because I've always been shy and withdrawn for most of my life. In this rather short time, I've met so many wonderful people, made many great friends, and have had so many amazing experiences. So far, my cosplays have been centered around Elder Scrolls and Fallout, two games series from Bethesda, a gaming company I hope to work...
Bryan Tillman is currently an Assistant Professor for Graphic Design at Norfolk State University. He has an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design, with a focus in sequential art and a minor in drawing. Bryan is the owner and CEO of the Kaiser Studio Productions, a production studio for comics, toys, animation, and games. Within Kaiser Studio Productions Bryan Tillman wears many hats. He is a sculptor for toys. He is the editor for all the comic books that come out from the studio. He also does layout and illustrations for multiple projects that are being worked...
Blerdcon is happy to announce amazing panelists and podcasters, The Black Tribbles, will be LIVE on the scene with their signature style and blerdiness! There has been a significant Black presence throughout the entirety of Star Trek's history - it spans rank, political affiliation, and species, establishing a legitimate presentation of a cosmic African diaspora. As we've watched these characters through the years, we've experienced their individual trials and 'Tribbulations' alongside them. In solidarity, many of us compare the struggle of these beloved characters to the multitude of today's social issues. What would Uhura think of the mysterious death of...
Blerdcon is happy to welcome this cosplayer, panelist, entertainer and stylist to our fold! Aside from being steeped in the black cosplay community for years, he has contributed to the inception, creation and support of many of your favorite cons, including Blerdcon! Look for him on the stage, the panels and throughout the event! "One of the least understood aspects of cosplay is that it requires style. And whatever that style is, it needs to be intrinsic. It’s that special something that one personally brings to their cosplay — not the exact replica of the costume, but that which makes...
"Well, I'm 23 years old and originally from PA, but recently moved to Virginia last April. I've been cosplaying since 2010, and it's my true passion. I started off making armor with cardboard and have progressed immensely throughout the years. I tend to make more armor based cosplays and props because I enjoy crafting and seeing how it all turns out. Im a huge gamer. I've been gaming since 1st grade, and have been Twitch streaming since July of 2016. My cosplays are based off of games that I play around animes that I watch. So, to sum me up...
Ashley is a cosplayer based out of Maryland/Delaware. After only cosplaying at Otakon for years, Ashley didn't join the community until 2015 at the start of their Robin cosplay, after spreading out and going to many different Delmarva and Tri-state Area cons. Being both Asexual and Agender, including always wearing the Asexual pride button with Robin, Ashley is excited to help represent the LGBT+ community at Blerdcon. Check out their page on™ Facebook.
Bellexi is a self taught, Maryland based cosplayer, that has been part of the cosplay community since 2014. She is a Plus-sized cosplayer promoting self-confidence and self-love at any size. She is best known for her portrayal of Roadhog from the game Overwatch, even gaining the attention of Blizzard, the games developer. Her unapologetic portrayal of Roadhog has gained her features in articles by Kotaku and Mic.com. She is a strong believer of inclusion in cosplay and hopes to continue to be a positive force in the cosplay community for many years to come. Check out her cosplay page here....
Tasha is a UK based mixed race (Black Jamaican & White British) Cosplayer. She has been cosplaying since 2012 and has been a guest at many events throughout the UK, running workshops, giving talks and judging competitions, which she always considers an honor. She has also been a big gamer nerd as long as she can remember & streams via Twitch. She is a Presenter for the Machinima SBOC (a London based geek culture society). "I can't wait to be part of this convention supporting all underrepresented geeks!" Social Media: Facebook Twitter Twitch Website
Ronald Seaman is an Army Veteran who served in the military for 25 years. His military career ended due to nerve damage and severe central vertigo which put him in a wheelchair. Once he regained some health in 2013, his son, Ronald III, introduced him to cosplay. Seaman decided to read up on cosplay after his son introduced him to it. His interest was piqued. “In two weeks I made my first Ironman suit,” Seaman said. The best part for Seaman was that it kept him active. “I was staying out of bed,” he explained. Cosplay built his strength physically...
Based in Philadelphia, Jourdan Barnett (aka BLERD Vision) has been cosplaying for a little over two years. First con was New York comic con. Since then he’s cosplayed characters like Superior Spider-Man, New 52 Flash (Wally West), Firestorm, Sam Wilson Captain America, Deadshot and Cyborg. He’s been featured in magazines like Cosplay Culture Magazine and websites like Kotaku, Obsev Entertainment and Fashionably Geek. He is famous for his hilarious comic and scifi memes on his Instagram profile @blerd.vision with over 325,000 followers, and his work as admin for the official @justice.league.memes with over 370,000 followers! His celebration of nerd comedy...
Ashe is an Atlanta cosplayer and full time college student who cosplays in her spare time. Having cosplayed for only a year and a half, Ashe has made big waves with her Avatar and Wild Thornberry pictures going viral and her being featured in the official “20 Years Tomb Raider” book by Meagan Marie. She’s been featured in Buzzfeed and Afropunk multiple times with her Roxanne, Neytiri, Wild Thornberrys and Saitama cosplay innovations. “Roxanne was the first cosplay that got my name out there. I make goofy dancing videos which people seem to like, so I guess people dig my...
Eric Moran is Philadelphia native. The former United States Marine was also a professional wrestler for companies like Gorgeous Ladies of Outrageous Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, Cyberspace Wrestling, and Women's Extreme Wrestling. Eric has appeared on television shows including The Jenny Jones Show and Heavy Sedation. Eric is one the founders of Together Brothers Productions, an independent film production company based on the east coast. He's worked as film writer, director, producer, and actor with over ten independent films and web series like, The Deep End, Legacy, and Trek Isolation . In 2014, The Smoke became a household name in...
The amazing Kay Thomas of Kaybear Cosplay has signed on to join us as a Featured Cosplayer! Kay is a talented artist and cosplayer based in Atlanta who has amassed a huge international fan base in three short years! Her crafting and makeup skills are top notch and she's taking on armor and weaponry so keep an eye out for her workshops! Kay has been present for the ongoing discussion on race, gender and inclusion in cosplay at scores of conventions and special events across the country. She believes in the Blerdcon mission and will be a must-see highlight for...
Shrek Enthusiast. Ice Cream Shoe Junkie. With her base of operations in Downtown Toronto, Bec has dedicated most of her free time to the art of cosplay. She first entered the community wearing only Kairi from Kingdom Hearts to a few local conventions, but has added closets full to her repertoire since then. Spanning Disney to DC, her costumes have evolved to catch the attention of a hugely diverse following on Facebook and Instagram. With a passion fueled by the kawaii promise of cute cosplay, this devoted gamer and seamstress will drop your jaw with a glimpse of her Cosplay...
Vishavjit Singh is a New York City based cartoonist, writer, performance artist and creator of www.Sikhtoons.com who was born in the nation’s capital. He is also a Media Fellow at SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund). He began cartooning during the hate/bias crime-wave following the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks. In the midst of being targeted with fear and intolerance from fellow Americans, Vishavjit armed with turban, beard and humor creates art to build bridges connecting not just with those who empathize with his plight, but also those who judge him based on his countenance & perceived immigrant...
Panterona is a Caribbean cosplayer from the island of Trinidad and Tobago. She has been actively cosplaying for the past 12 years and has won a number of cosplay competitions locally in Trinidad and Tobago, across the Caribbean and recently the London Film and Comic Con Cosplay Championships in 2015. She has also been the resident head judge for the Caribbean Cosplay Championships from its inception three years ago. She is also the Executive Director of the biggest pop culture convention in her country, “ALIAS Entertainment Expo” and the Editor in Chief of the only pop culture magazine of its...
We are happy to welcome this dynamic duo, writing, sewing and cosplaying their way into our geeky blerd hearts! Coming from Minnesota, they’re going to bring some amazing panels, workshops and hugs to Blerdcon this June! About Brichibi: 15 years ago Briana Lawrence (Brichibi Cosplays) and Jessica Walsh (SnowCosplays) were two fanfiction writing ladies who geeked out over Gundam Wing boys and Resident Evil. Now? They’re still geeks and still have their fandoms, but they’re also a cosplaying couple who write books, make crafts, and are generally nerdy women. Snow is the seamstress of the couple, meanwhile, Brichibi talks about...