The Baltimore Comic Con and Hard Rock Cafe Baltimore have announced the winners of the 14th Annual Cosplay Contest. The contest took place on Saturday, September 9, 2023 for both amateur and professional adults, and Sunday, September 10, 2023 for kids. Visually stunning costumes ranged from classic superheroes to video game, TV, and movie characters and beyond, and the contest has proven to be one of the most anticipated events at the show, for cosplayers and fans alike.

This year’s cosplay contest was split into novice, intermediate, and advanced contests, and a separate contest was held for kids as well.

The grand prize winner for Best in Show Costume, and the recipient of the $1,000 cash prize, was Cara “theflufcat.cora” for Belle from Beauty the Beast.

Winners for this year’s contest include:

Overall Best Costume (Best in Show): Cara “thefluffcat.cora”, Belle from Beauty the Beast

Grand Prize Adult 2023

Advanced:

1st Place: Christopher Melk, Steampunk Xenomorph

Runner-Up: Adam “Thruhim Art” as Isaac Clarke from Dead Space

Intermediate:

1st Place: Harrison “All-Star Cosplay”, Bat Fate

Runner-Up: Sydney “Sydnycsply”, Wonder Woman (Death Metal)

Group: Poppy’s Playtime Group as Green/Yellow Wack-a-Wuggy, The Player, and Poppy

Novice:

1st Place – Alicia “Miss Jettii”, Mighty Morphing Yellow Ranger

Runner-Up: Jonathan Butterfield, Mandalorian Inquisitor

Group: Mark Kendall (Fred), Melissa Kendall (Wilma), Makayla Kendall (Betty), Bryan Cortez (Barney), Fred and Wilma Flintstone with Barney and Betty Rubble

Judges’ Awards:

Intermediate: Jayson “Darthbroja”, OC StarWars Sith Lord

Intermediate: Vinnie “SirnaCosplay”, King Randor

Novice: Jenna Oliner, Hunter (Epilogue)

Novice: Chris “Verdecosplay” as Bilbo Baggins

Novice: Kristina “EmpCosique”, Baby Groot

Kids:

Best in Show: Jacqueline “Jack” Pantoulis, Morro from Ninjago

1st Place, Ages 0-11: Eliza Blumberg, Jinx

1st Place, Ages 12-17: Sarah Bagley, Mavis Vermillion

Runner-Up, Ages 0-11: Theodore Osborne, Zagreus from Hades

Runner-Up, Ages 12-17: Ethan Markulik, Invincible

Judges Awards:

Ansel Cassorla, Jawa

Ashton Arteaga, Miles Morales

Luca Milliken, Sundrop

Alex Sullivan, Louis from “Ghostbusters”

Addison Black, Tomura Shigaraki from “My Hero Academia”

Eva Almendarez, Airy