Yama-Con Cosplay Contest

Interested in entering our annual Cosplay Contest?
Then you’ve come to the right page! Make sure you review the guidelines and rules for the contest before you enter.

The contest is held on the Saturday of the convention, December 7, 2024. Exact times TBA.

Previous winners list at the bottom of this page.

Contest Preregistration

WHAT IS PRE-REGISTRATION?

We offer a chance for contestants to register for our contest in advance of the convention. This allows our contestants adequate time to plan and prepare their entries without the last minute hassle of entering at the con as well as freeing up your time to enjoy the convention more.

WHY PRE-REGISTER FOR THE CONTEST?

We almost always fill up all craftmanship division spots BEFORE the convention starts. Preregistration is the best way to ensure you are entered in the contest, especially if you are interested in entering in a craftsmanship division. We usually have Exhibition division spots available to register for on site at the convention.

***Pre-registration opens on September 15, 2024 7AM CST.***

NEW FOR 2024:

SUBMITTING AN ENTRY DOES NOT GUARANTEE PLACEMENT IN THE CONTEST. Due to the high volume of entries, all contestants will receive an email notification regarding their status of “accepted” or “waitlisted”. This will generally be first-come, first-served.

Please ensure jessi.gaston@mcaentertainment.org is in your email address book or whitelisted so it is not sent to a spam folder. If you do not see an email within 1 week of your entry submission, check your spam folder. Exceptions will not be made for failure to respond to communications due to spam filters or misspelled emails.

We understand that last minute issues arise but due to the high volume of entries, please be aware that cancellations during the week of the convention, depending on the reason, may mean placement on the waitlist automatically for future entries. No-call/no-shows may mean automatic disqualification of any future entries. If you need to cancel an entry, please email as far in advance as possible so that we can fill your open spot.

Skill Categories

Yama-Con maintains skill and experience-based divisions in order to ensure that both novice and experienced cosplayers have a reasonably equal chance to win one of the big competitive awards given in the contest.

The Novice division is intended for competitors who are new to cosplay crafting or cosplay contests in general. Anyone who is a professional (defined as someone who earns revenue from cosplay or related crafting) is not eligible for this division. This division is generally recommended for those in their first 1-3 years of cosplaying or contests. Anyone who has won major awards at YamaCon at the Novice level already cannot enter this division. If you have won major awards (at least 2) at other similar or larger sized conventions and are unsure if you are ready to move up, please email jessi.gaston@mcaentertainment.org with pictures of your work and we will discuss the correct placement for you.

The Journeyman division is intended for competitors with an intermediate level of skill with cosplay and/or contests who do not feel ready to move up to the Master division yet. Anyone who is a professional is not eligible for this division. Anyone who has won major awards at YamaCon at the Journeyman level already cannot enter this division. If you have won major awards (at least 2) at other similar or larger sized conventions and are unsure if you are ready to move up, please email jessi.gaston@mcaentertainment.org with pictures of your work and we will discuss the correct placement for you.

The Master division is open to anyone who wishes to enter. A professional is required to enter this division. This division is recommended for those with an advanced skill level and/or years of experience entering contests.

The Exhibition division is judged ONLY on stage presence and overall appeal. The costumes in this division are NOT judged on craftsmanship ability. Exhibition contestants are NOT prejudged and only walk the stage during the evening competition. This division is for contestants who did not make their costume or who do not wish to go through the prejudging process. 

Exhibition competitors are ineligible for major craftsmanship awards but can win minor awards based on presentation during the Cosplay Contest at the judges’ discretion.  

Contestants should enter this division if: 

  • They did not make 60% or more of their costume.  
  • The costume is purchased or commissioned (please see details about exceptions for commissioned costumes under Entry Guidelines, rule number 15). 
  • They have already won a major award with the same costume at this convention or a similarly sized one. 
  • They do not wish to go through the prejudging process or there are no prejudging spots left but the contestant still wants to enter in some capacity. 

Exhibition entries that have previously won any type of award at YamaCon may be accepted but classified as “hors concours”, not eligible for any prizes.

The Junior division is for entries age 12 and under. Junior contestants are not prejudged.

If a parent or guardian made the costume, they can enter the costume to be prejudged but in the adult’s skill level division and the adult is considered the winner should any prizes be won. ALL Junior contestants, regardless of judging status, receive a participation prize and walk together in the Junior portion of the contest.

Due to the various levels of craftsmanship skill and experience that may exist within a single group entry, Yama-Con does not maintain a major group award. It is possible for a group to win the major award “Best in Show” but for this condition to exist, every costume worn by the members of the group must have been made by at least one member of the group. Having one group member in a commissioned costume (unless it follows rule 15 in the entry guidelines) will make the group ineligible for any Major craftsmanship-based awards. However, it is possible for individual members within the group to win a major craftsmanship award. 

Groups must share any awards won. No additional rosettes, trophies, money, etc. will be supplied for all group members. 

Award Categories

The Cosplay Contest operates under the principle “Excellence Deserves Award”. What this means is that we want to recognize all instances of excellence in craftsmanship. If an entry shows merit, it should receive an award.

Yama-Con maintains two classes of awards: Major and Minor. Major awards affect future division placement. These awards are classified as “Best in Show” or “Best in Division.” Minor awards do not affect future division placement. They include any “runner-up,” Judge’s Choice, and non-Craftsmanship based awards.

This award is granted to competitors who have the overall highest aggregate score. Only skill-based entrants who have gone through the prejudging process are eligible for this award. Winning “Best in Show” will impact future division placement.

These awards are usually granted to competitors who have the highest aggregate score in their respective divisions, however; the contest judges retain the discretion to grant the “Best in Division” award to another competitor based on our “Excellence Deserves Award” principle. Only skill-based entrants who have gone through the prejudging process are eligible for this award. Winning a “Best in Division” award will impact future division placement.

This award is granted to outstanding presentation in the Junior/Youth Division. While this award is designed to recognized a single outstanding youth contestant, all youth participants receive a certificate for participating in the contest. Winning this award will not affect future placement.

These awards are granted to competitors based on the “Excellence Deserves Award” principle. While contestants may not have necessarily achieved the highest aggregate score in their divisions, judges may choose to grant these awards based on other criteria. All contest participants are eligible for minor awards, including Exhibition entries. Winning these awards will not effect future placement.

Yama-Con no longer maintains a fixed list of minor awards.

Yama-Con has developed the following guidelines to adhere to the International Costuming Guild’s guidelines for ensuring fair competition. By aligning with these established standards, we hope to make cosplayers of all skill levels feel more comfortable and welcome in our annual contest! 

  1. Only contestants who have submitted their costumes for prejudging are eligible for Major awards.
  2. Contestant costumes are expected to adhere to Yama-Con established Safety and Weapons policies.
  3. Contestants must wear their costume to prejudging.
  4. Contestants who are entering the contest under the Exhibition category do not submit their costumes for pre-judging. They will just walk the stage during the evening show and be judged purely on overall presentation.
  5. A contestant who misses their appointment will be rescheduled as time permits. Although we will try to accommodate the contestant, if we are unable to do so, the contestant will be reclassified as an Exhibition and will not be eligible for a major award
  6. Contestants are expected to provide some kind of visual documentation for their costume. A reference photo is required for all contestants submitting to
    prejudging. Progress photos taken during the construction of the costume are not required but are highly encouraged. Contestants who registered for pre-judging online can submit their photos with their application and do not need to provide them again at the convention. It is the policy of Yama-Con not to print out reference photos for contestants. Using an image on a cell phone for a reference is frowned upon but may be considered in extenuating circumstances with the approval of the Director. Due to the use of the reference photos as guides for the judges who may not be familiar with the character, it is strongly encouraged that these pictures be both clear and in color. Due to the increased costs of color printing, contestants are NOT required to leave their photos with the judges unless they choose to.
  7. Contestants must walk in the Cosplay Contest evening show in order to be eligible for any awards.
  8. Contestants must walk in the Cosplay Contest in the same costume they submitted to prejudging.
  9. Contestants are expected to arrive in the Main Event room at the time designated by Yama-Con Staff in order to be placed in the line-up. This is usually an hour before the Cosplay Contest begins. Contestants who do not arrive on time run the risk of not being able to walk during the Cosplay Contest and will no longer be eligible for any awards.
  10. Contestants in the Junior/Youth divisions must be accompanied by an adult throughout the Cosplay Contest.
  11. Contestants with large and elaborate costumes are welcome to bring a handler with them to assist them during the Cosplay Contest. If a contestant requires extra assistance, a Yama-Con volunteer will be assigned to help.
  12. Contestants are responsible for keeping up with their own personal belongings. Yama-Con personnel cannot secure personal items for contestants. They are advised to leave anything of value somewhere safe or with someone they trust. We discourage wearing your badge while on stage.
  13. Contestant costumes must be self-contained (i.e. utilize a battery back) as Yama-Con cannot provide any power sources for costumes on stage.
  14. Contestants are responsible for alerting staff members or volunteers of any problems they may be experiencing during the contest. This includes overheating in costumes. Contestants will not be penalized for removing part of their costume in the case of an emergency.
  15. Commissioned costumes are only eligible for craftsmanship awards and entry into the Novice, Journeyman, or Master divisions if the creator of the costume is present for prejudging. In this scenario, any awards, if won, are presented to the creator. The individual wearing the costume is considered a model only.
  16. Contestants are not permitted to throw any objects on or off the stage. This includes but is not limited to silly string, glitter, props, etc. Any contestant who violates this rule is responsible for the cleanup fees incurred by the convention center.
  17. Any part of the costume that a contestant wants to remove while they’re on stage is the sole responsibility of the contestant. The contestant (or their handler) must pick up and remove the discarded costume pieces on stage at the conclusion of the contestant’s stage walk. The removed pieces may not be thrown off the stage or at any person or equipment on stage. Any damage to the stage rigging or electronics is the sole responsibility of the contestant.
  18. Costumes entered in the Exhibition division that have previously won any type of award at YamaCon may be accepted but only allowed to compete as “hors concours”, not eligible for any prizes.

While it is Yama-Con’s policy to try to reach an amicable solution to any challenges during the Cosplay Contest, the department does maintain certain conditions in which a contestant may become disqualified, banned from future competitions, and escorted off of the convention floor.

  1. Contestants who are found to have purposely misled the judges on either the construction of their costume or on their level of experience and skill in order to compete in a lower-division will be immediately disqualified. In the cases where this is not discovered until after the competition has ended, the contestant will be banned from participating in future Yama-Con Cosplay Contests.
  2. Contestants who are found to have presented a commissioned costume (and the creator is not present for prejudging) or a store-bought, mass-produced
    costume as a constructed costume will be immediately disqualified. In the cases where this is not discovered until after the competition has ended, the
    contestant will be banned from participating in future Yama-Con Cosplay Contests. Any instance where the individual misunderstood the rules or criteria and entered the costume in good faith will simply be reclassified as an Exhibition contestant or given a score of 1 for every part that was not created by them.
  3. Any contestant who displays nudity on stage during the Cosplay Contest will be disqualified and dismissed immediately.
  4. Contestants who make profane, political, religious, or any other disruptive statements, including through the use of signage or clothing, during the Cosplay Contest will be disqualified and dismissed immediately.
  5. Any contestant displaying physical or verbally abusive behavior to any YamaCon Staff members and Volunteers, convention center staff, judges, other
    competitors, or convention attendees will be disqualified, dismissed from the Cosplay Contest, and banned from future competitions. Extremely serious infractions will result in having convention membership revoked and being escorted off the premises immediately.
  6. Any contestant who fires a projectile from the stage during the Cosplay Contest without the expressed permission and pre-approval of the Yama-Con Cosplay Director will be disqualified.
  7. Any contestant who throws silly string, glitter, or any other product that leaves residue on the stage or convention floor/walls/chairs will be solely responsible for the cleanup fees incurred by the convention center and disqualified from entering any future cosplay competitions at Yama-Con.
  8. Contestants are discouraged from performing any acrobatics on stage for safety reasons. This includes but is not limited to flips, kicks, and high jumps. Performing a maneuver that was not approved by the Yama-Con Director may result in disqualification.
  9. The use of explosive devices is expressly prohibited. The use of one by a contestant will result in disqualification and dismissal from the Cosplay Contest
    as well as having their membership revoked and being escorted off the premises.
  10. Contestants who are visibly intoxicated will not be allowed to participate in the Cosplay Contest. Any contestant found to be intoxicated during the contest will be dismissed and disqualified.
  11. The Director and other executive-level Yama-Con staff maintain the right to dismiss and disqualify contestants for reasons that are not expressly listed here.

Previous Winners

2023

Judges: BewitchedRaven, Catnip Cosplays, Krazy Kat Studios
Host: DJ Aazera
Best In Show

SAPHIRIA COSPLAY – LORD CELESTANT FREYA SKYHELM / WARHAMMER: AGE OF SIGMAR

Master 1st Place

ALICIA THE BARD – MUSHRAMBO/ SHINZO

Journeyman 1st Place

THE GEEKY SAIYAN COUPLE COSPLAY – Y’SHTOLA/ FINAL FANTASY XIV

Novice 1st Place

PORT 53 COSPLAY – YOUR BEST PALICO/ MONSTER HUNTER RISE

Best Up & Coming Cosplayer

ARIEL – RAINBOW FOX/ ORIGINAL CHARACTER DESIGN

Master Runner-Up

PRAYING MANIS CREATIVE – FLAREON/POKEMON

Journeyman Runner-Up

IRON WORKS COSPLAY – STEINER & WARKY THE CHOCOBO/ FINAL FANTASY 9

Novice Runner-Up

EMMA OF THE VAST – RANNI THE WITCH/ELDEN RING

Judge’s Choice

THE DANCING JEDI – AHSOKA TANO/STAR WARS REBELS

WEEBYBABY – KURANOSUKE KOIBUCHI/PRINCESS JELLYFISH

ROME – XIE LIAN/HEAVEN’S OFFICIAL BLESSING

Host’s Choice

DEEDEE THE CHARACTER CREATOR – VEX’HALIA/CRITICAL ROLE

Big Bite Award

JEDI VARIANT COSPLAY – JINX/ARCANE

Flower Power Award

THE COSPLAY SISTERHOOD – LILLY & FLORA / ORIGINAL CHARACTER DESIGN

Rhinestone Cowboy Award

WINN-CHAN – SAILOR COSMOS/SAILOR MOON

Winter Wonderland Award

FAITH – SNOW HATSUNE MIKU/VOCALOID

World’s Best Mom Award

AMBER – HAWK’S MOM/THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS

Drama King Award

JAYSON – NERO/DEVIL MAY CRY

Fly Away Award

LILY & PEYTON – PANTY & STOCKING/PANTY & STOCKING WITH GARTERBELT

Hold Me Closer Ribbon Dancer Award

SEALYNX COSPLAY – BARBADOS/GENSHIN IMPACT

Drink the Kool-Aid Award

HERO_GRAVITY – LAMB/CULT OF THE LAMB

Nightmare Childcare Award

KAYLA & KYLIE – SUN & MOON/FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S: SECURITY BREACH

2022

Judges: NomNomGabbity, BewitchedRaven, Catnip Cosplays
Host: DJ Aazera
Best In Show

THE DANCING JEDI – MOON KNIGHT/MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE

Master 1st Place

COSPLAYTHEFAMILYWAY – EDWARD AND ALPHONSE ELRIC/FULL METAL ALCHEMIST

Journeyman 1st Place

ALICIA THE BARD – MIKAZUKI MUNECHIKA/TOUKEN RANBU

Novice 1st Place

WINN-CHAN – BELL/BELLE

Best Up & Coming Cosplayer

KAYLA – THE OVERLORD/BAD END THEATER

Master Runner-Up

VIVEBLEU COSPLAY – NINETAILS GIJINKA/POKEMON

Journeyman Runner-Up

KAYLA – SAKURA KINOMOTO/CARDCAPTOR SAKURA

Novice Runner-Up

HACKERCAT – KIRIN HUNTER/MONSTER HUNTER WORLD

Judge’s Choice

BUNNY – OOGIE BOOGIE/THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

RAY – GUTS/BERSERK

ELISE – DRAGOON/FINAL FANTASY 14

Host’s Choice

STARCL COSPLAY – KIRIKO/OVERWATCH 2

Best Prop Award

CRAZYJACK28 – ALEX MERCER/PROTOTYPE

Santa’s Slay Award

BUNNY – MARIN MITAGAWA/MY DRESS UP DARLING

Rising Star Award

SKYLOW COSPLAY – SNOW MIKU 2017/VOCALOID

Screen Accurate Award

ISABELLE – USO GIRL/CAPTAIN AMERICA

Nuts For You Award

CLAIRE – DR. STEIN/SOUL EATER

(Not) Sponsored by Pepsi Award

THE PEPSILORIANS – THE PEPSILORIAN, THE MAXILORIAN, THE PEPLING/THE PEPSILORIANS

Best Stage Presence Award

SHIBBY – BELLE/BELLE (2021)

Best Couple Award

ALEXIS & ABBY – HUA CHENG & XIE LIAN/HEAVEN’S OFFICIAL BLESSING

Best Wig Award

MOON-TEA – PRINCESS SERENITY/SAILOR MOON

Happy Helper Award

IRONWORKS COSPLAY – CID HIGHWIND/FINAL FANTASY 7

2021

Judges: Ms. Pepper Potts, BewitchedRaven, Catnip Cosplays
Hosts: Venus Ann Serena, DJ Aazera
Best In Show

MADE IN CHINA COSPLAY – JINX/LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

Master 1st Place

TALIA DE NEKO – LADY LOKI/MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE

Journeyman 1st Place

MELISSA – INOSUKE HASHIBIRA/DEMON SLAYER

Novice 1st Place

VIVEBLEU COSPLAY – HIGH ELF ARCHER/GOBLIN SLAYER

Master Runner-Up

LOCHLAN – ALOLAN NINETAILS/POKEMON

Journeyman Runner-Up

PHANTXSIE COSPLAY – NINETAILS/POKEMON

Novice Runner-Up

IRONWORKS COSPLAY – BARIOTH HUNTER/MONSTER HUNTER WORLD

*Best Up & Coming Cosplayer was not awarded in 2021 because there were no Junior entries.

Judge’s Choice

SARAH NORMAL – BARONESS ZEMO/THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER

THE DORKY DEMON – AL-AN/SUBNAUTICA BELOW ZERO

KAY – FUMIKAGE TOKOYAMI/MY HERO ACADEMIA

Host’s Choice

LUCA – LADY BELLA/IDENTITY V

Most Wholesome Award

HENNIE – BARBIE AS ODETTE/BARBIE PRESENTS SWAN LAKE

Most Thorough Award

PRAYING MANIS CREATIVE & AMES TO COSPLAY – BEL CRANEL & AIS WALLENSTEIN/IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON?

Best Details Award

WINN-CHAN – SPIRIT BLOSSOM AHRI/LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

Best Prop Award

BRITNEY R. – KRAMPUS

Best Horror Award

RAY – DENJI/CHAINSAW MAN

Tallest Award

CHRISTOPHER – WITCH KING OF ANGMAR/LORD OF THE RINGS

Best Makeup Award

THE DANCING JEDI – AHSOKA TANO/STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS

Best Holiday Spirit Award

JESSICA – CHRISTMAS LOLITA/ORIGINAL DESIGN

Most in Character Award

THE THOT PATROL

The Show Must Go On When the Shoe Comes Off Award

CLAIRE – DR. STEIN/SOUL EATER

2019

Judges: Ms. Pepper Potts, BewitchedRaven, SoraKohaku
Host: Venus Ann Serena
Best In Show

EVA – GIORNO GIOVANNA/JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE

Master 1st Place

ARTEMIS THE BATTLE FAUN – ORIGINAL DESIGN COSTUME

Journeyman 1st Place

PRAYING MANIS CREATIVE – DOVAHKIIN/THE ELDER SCROLLS 5: SKYRIM

Novice 1st Place

CLAIRE – LLENN/SWORD ART ONLINE: GUN GALE ONLINE

Best Up & Coming Cosplayer

SYDNEY – SAILOR CHIBI MOON/SAILOR MOON

Master Runner-Up

SARAH – JING WEI/SMITE

Journeyman Runner-Up

ZOE – MEI/OVERWATCH

Novice Runner-Up

IRONWORKS COSPLAY – GOBLIN KNIGHT/GOBLIN SLAYER

Judge’s Choice

PURPLEBIRD STUDIOS – MAMI TOMOE/MAHOU SHOUJO MADOKA MAGICA

ASHLEY – ROSE QUARTZ/STEVEN UNIVERSE

SINS COSPLAY – YIP YIPS/SESAME STREET

Host’s Choice

AJAH – HOLIDAY BARBIE/BARBIE

Best Body Paint Award

CRISPIN BLACKCAT – V/DEVIL MAY CRY

Best Wig Award

MELISSA – AMICIA DE RUNE/A PLAGUES TALE: INNOCENCE

Best Wings Award

VIVEBLEU COSPLAY – PIT/SUPER SMASH BROS.

Mr. Congeniality Award

ARMATA_X – MINORU MINETA/MY HERO ACADEMIA

Most Forward-Thinking Award

ADRIANNA – RUBY ROSE/RWBY

Dynamic Duo Award

ONE FOR ALL COSPLAY – PERIDOT & LAPIS/STEVEN UNIVERSE

Best Stage Presence Award

STEVEN – SKULL KID/LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA’S MASK

Most in Character Award

HANNAH – JIRAIYA/NARUTO

  • Convention: Yama-Con

  • Theme: ZODIACS- YEAR OF THE DRAGON
  • Date: December 6th-8th 2024
  • Location: LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, TN

Don’t Miss out!

Yama- Con

Tier 1 Registration: March 1st 7 PM EST – March 31st 11:55 PM EST

Tier 2 Registration: April 1st 12:00 AM EST– August 31st 11:55 PM EST

Tier 3 Registration: September 1st 12:00 AM EST– December 8th