Hello!
I'm Rynn (short for Kathryn) and I'm a veteran cosplayer from Chicago, IL, USA.
I started cosplaying back in 2003, when I begged my very generous mother to make me my first costume: Princess Jupiter from Sailor Moon. I wore the costume to Anime Central and, although no one knew who I was supposed to be, I had so much fun, I knew that cosplaying was something I wanted to do again.
So I did. Again and again and again.
Through trial and error, guidance from my mom/friends, and hundreds of YouTube videos, I learned how to make my own costumes. In the years following, I joined Ninja of the Night, a cosplay performance group based out of PNW, which kindled my love of creating skits and solidified cosplay as my primary creative outlet for years to come.
In recent years, cosplay has presented with some incredible opportunities: I have served as a judge and cosplay guest at conventions across the country, appeared on television, and represented the US in in three major International cosplay events with my friend, Sumikins: World Cosplay Summit (Japan, 2010), CICAF (China, 2017), and C4 (The Netherlands, 2019). And yet, all of that pales in comparison to the amazing friends I have made through this bizarre little hobby.
It's amazing to me that the arbitrary decision to dress-up like a cartoon character in 2003 has had such a powerful impact on my life, but...well, here we are.
I started cosplaying back in 2003, when I begged my very generous mother to make me my first costume: Princess Jupiter from Sailor Moon. I wore the costume to Anime Central and, although no one knew who I was supposed to be, I had so much fun, I knew that cosplaying was something I wanted to do again.
So I did. Again and again and again.
Through trial and error, guidance from my mom/friends, and hundreds of YouTube videos, I learned how to make my own costumes. In the years following, I joined Ninja of the Night, a cosplay performance group based out of PNW, which kindled my love of creating skits and solidified cosplay as my primary creative outlet for years to come.
In recent years, cosplay has presented with some incredible opportunities: I have served as a judge and cosplay guest at conventions across the country, appeared on television, and represented the US in in three major International cosplay events with my friend, Sumikins: World Cosplay Summit (Japan, 2010), CICAF (China, 2017), and C4 (The Netherlands, 2019). And yet, all of that pales in comparison to the amazing friends I have made through this bizarre little hobby.
It's amazing to me that the arbitrary decision to dress-up like a cartoon character in 2003 has had such a powerful impact on my life, but...well, here we are.
Honors
2nd Place Overall, C4 - AnimeCon 2019, Netherlands (Medusa's Revenge)
C4 "Team USA" Winner - Youmacon 2018 (Medusa's Revenge)
2nd Place Overall - CICAF 2017, China (The Moon Girl & Forest Girl)
CICAF "Team USA" Winner - Holiday Matsuri 2016 (The Moon Girl & Forest Girl)
Best in Show Craftsmanship - Colossalcon 2013 (Diao Chan)
Best Comedic Performance - Fanime 2013 (Dragonball Z: The Ultimate Battle)
Best Advanced Craftsmanship (Individual) - Fanime 2012 (Doll)
Best Dramatic Presentation - Fanime 2011 (Insert Subject Name Here)
Best of Saturday Craftsmanship - Youmacon 2010 (Sakura)
Honorable Mention Craftsmanship - Youmacon 2010 (Rosette)
World Cosplay Summit "Team USA" Winner - Fanime 2010 (Miaka)
Best in Show - Sakuracon 2010 (How 2B A Master)
Best of Friday Craftsmanship - Youmacon 2009 (Ai w. Persona 4 group)
Judges Award for Craftsmanship - Youmacon 2009 (White Rose)
Best Journeyman Presentation - Youmacon 2009 (Saga Frontier)
Best in Show - Sakuracon 2009 (Sora the Explorer)
Best in Show - Anime Central 2008 (Game of Life)
Honorable Mention Craftsmanship - Youmacon 2007 (Fighter)
Best Veteran Skit - Sakuracon 2007 (Super Elric Brothers)
C4 "Team USA" Winner - Youmacon 2018 (Medusa's Revenge)
2nd Place Overall - CICAF 2017, China (The Moon Girl & Forest Girl)
CICAF "Team USA" Winner - Holiday Matsuri 2016 (The Moon Girl & Forest Girl)
Best in Show Craftsmanship - Colossalcon 2013 (Diao Chan)
Best Comedic Performance - Fanime 2013 (Dragonball Z: The Ultimate Battle)
Best Advanced Craftsmanship (Individual) - Fanime 2012 (Doll)
Best Dramatic Presentation - Fanime 2011 (Insert Subject Name Here)
Best of Saturday Craftsmanship - Youmacon 2010 (Sakura)
Honorable Mention Craftsmanship - Youmacon 2010 (Rosette)
World Cosplay Summit "Team USA" Winner - Fanime 2010 (Miaka)
Best in Show - Sakuracon 2010 (How 2B A Master)
Best of Friday Craftsmanship - Youmacon 2009 (Ai w. Persona 4 group)
Judges Award for Craftsmanship - Youmacon 2009 (White Rose)
Best Journeyman Presentation - Youmacon 2009 (Saga Frontier)
Best in Show - Sakuracon 2009 (Sora the Explorer)
Best in Show - Anime Central 2008 (Game of Life)
Honorable Mention Craftsmanship - Youmacon 2007 (Fighter)
Best Veteran Skit - Sakuracon 2007 (Super Elric Brothers)
Cosplay Judge & Guest Experience
Cosplay Guest and Craftsmanship Judge (with Sparkle Motion) - IkkiCon 2019, Austin, TX
Hall Craftsmanship Judge - Anime Central 2019 Chicago, IL
Hall Craftsmanship Judge - Anime Central 2018 Chicago, IL
Cosplay Guests and Masquerade Hosts with NOTN - Kumoricon 2014, Portland, OR
World Cosplay Summit Event Emcee - Anime St. Louis 2014, St. Louis, MO
World Cosplay Summit US Finals Judge - Anime Matsuri 2013, Houston, TX
Cosplay Guest and Craftsmanship Judge - Anime Matsuri 2013, Houston, TX
Cosplay Guests and Event Emcees with NOTN - Kumoricon 2012, Portland, OR
Cosplay Guest and Craftsmanship Judge - Anime Matsuri 2012, Houston, TX
World Cosplay Summit US Preliminary Judge - Katsucon 2012, Washington, D.C.
Cosplay Guest and Craftsmanship Judge - Anime Matsuri 2011, Houston, TX
Hall Craftsmanship Judge - Anime Central 2019 Chicago, IL
Hall Craftsmanship Judge - Anime Central 2018 Chicago, IL
Cosplay Guests and Masquerade Hosts with NOTN - Kumoricon 2014, Portland, OR
World Cosplay Summit Event Emcee - Anime St. Louis 2014, St. Louis, MO
World Cosplay Summit US Finals Judge - Anime Matsuri 2013, Houston, TX
Cosplay Guest and Craftsmanship Judge - Anime Matsuri 2013, Houston, TX
Cosplay Guests and Event Emcees with NOTN - Kumoricon 2012, Portland, OR
Cosplay Guest and Craftsmanship Judge - Anime Matsuri 2012, Houston, TX
World Cosplay Summit US Preliminary Judge - Katsucon 2012, Washington, D.C.
Cosplay Guest and Craftsmanship Judge - Anime Matsuri 2011, Houston, TX
Panel Experience
International Cosplay Contests with Sparkle Motion - IkkiCon 2019
Greener Cosplay with Sparkle Motion - IkkiCon 2019
The Masquerade Experience with NOTN - Newcon 2015
Cosplay Skits with NOTN - Kumoricon 2014
Legends of the Hidden Temple of Time (Interactive Event) - Kumoricon 2014
World Cosplay Summit Q&A - Anime St. Louis 2014
Cosplay Skit Production - Anime St. Louis 2014
Cosplay Performance Panel - Anime Matsuri 2013
Cosplay Accessories Panel - Anime Matsuri 2012
Cosplay 101 - Anime Matsuri 2012
Cosplay for Beginners - Anime Matsuri 2011
The World Cosplay Summit Experience - Anime Matsuri 2011
Cosplay "Dos and Don'ts" - U-Chicon 2007
Greener Cosplay with Sparkle Motion - IkkiCon 2019
The Masquerade Experience with NOTN - Newcon 2015
Cosplay Skits with NOTN - Kumoricon 2014
Legends of the Hidden Temple of Time (Interactive Event) - Kumoricon 2014
World Cosplay Summit Q&A - Anime St. Louis 2014
Cosplay Skit Production - Anime St. Louis 2014
Cosplay Performance Panel - Anime Matsuri 2013
Cosplay Accessories Panel - Anime Matsuri 2012
Cosplay 101 - Anime Matsuri 2012
Cosplay for Beginners - Anime Matsuri 2011
The World Cosplay Summit Experience - Anime Matsuri 2011
Cosplay "Dos and Don'ts" - U-Chicon 2007
Leadership Roles
World Cosplay Summit US National Staff 2013-2014