Going to the Wrong Convention Led Me to Win My First Cosplay Contest

Sometimes the most important cosplay moments happen because everything goes slightly wrong.

A few weeks before Anime Riverside 2026, I accidentally went to the wrong convention.

Not the wrong building. Not the wrong entrance. I bought tickets, got fully dressed in my Derpy Warrior cosplay, got in the car, and headed to Comic Con Revolution in Ontario because I misremembered where the giant inflatable Derpy from KPop Demon Hunters would be.

The giant Derpy was at Anime Riverside. I had seen their social media post for it about 2 months before the event.

By the time I realized the mistake, we were already on the way, so we decided to keep going. I had no idea that showing up to the wrong convention would be the thing that finally pushed me toward entering my first cosplay contest.

The Contest I Almost Entered

Comic Con Revolution ended up being a really fun day. I met kind people, saw amazing costumes, and even got to meet Spencer Grammer, the voice of Summer Smith from Rick and Morty.

Throughout the day, several people encouraged me to enter the cosplay contest in my Derpy Warrior costume.

I had never competed before, and the idea made me incredibly nervous. I kept questioning whether my cosplay was good enough and whether I belonged in a contest at all.

Eventually, I worked up the courage to ask about entering.

The sign-ups had already closed.

It was disappointing, but I stayed to watch the contest anyway. Seeing everyone walk across the stage, show off their work, and celebrate the time and creativity behind their costumes made me realize that I really did want to try.

I had missed that contest, but I left knowing I did not want to miss the next one.

Getting Derpy Ready for Anime Riverside

I already planned to attend Anime Riverside to finally see the giant Derpy Tiger that had caused the entire mix-up in the first place.

Before the convention, I added a few more finishing details to my Derpy Warrior cosplay. One of the biggest additions was the 3D-printed flower pot detail inspired by one of Derpy’s most memorable scenes in KPop Demon Hunters.

I made a flower pot medallion for the belt and a smaller magnetic version for the center of the corset. The smaller flower pot could sit upright or tilt to reference the moment when Derpy knocks it over.

These were not major changes to the full costume, but they helped strengthen the character recognition and storytelling behind the design. The bigger challenge was not the costume. It was convincing myself to enter.

Entering My First Cosplay Contest

When I arrived at Anime Riverside, I was still nervous about competing. I had already talked myself out of it several times in my head. I kept wondering whether the costume was polished enough, whether my work would stand up next to more experienced builders, and whether applying would just make me feel embarrassed. But after missing the opportunity at Comic Con Revolution, I knew I would regret walking away again.

So I applied as a Novice and entered my first cosplay contest. During judging, I explained the concept behind Derpy Warrior: an original humanoid warrior reinterpretation of Derpy Tiger rather than a direct creature adaptation.

I talked about the EVA foam armor, headdress, painted details, faux fur, Sussie prop, flower pot elements, and the choices I made to keep Derpy recognizable while creating something original. Then I waited.

The Moment I Thought There Had Been a Mistake

When the awards were announced, my name was called for 1st Place Journeyman. I was completely confused. I had applied as a Novice, so I honestly thought there had been a mistake. Afterward, I checked with the judges because I could not understand why I had been placed in a higher category.

There was no mistake. The judges felt that the foam work, painting, headdress, originality, and overall craftsmanship belonged at the Journeyman level. Derpy Warrior also placed 3rd Overall after Best in Show and Masters. For my first cosplay competition, I had somehow won 1st Place Journeyman and placed 3rd across the entire contest!

The Wrong Convention Was the Push I Needed

Looking back, going to the wrong convention was one of the best mistakes I could have made. If I had not ended up at Comic Con Revolution, I might not have had so many people encouraging me to compete. Most importantly, I might have talked myself out of entering Anime Riverside.

The experience taught me that sometimes you do not need to wait until you feel completely ready. You may never feel completely ready. Sometimes you enter nervous. Sometimes you think everyone else is more qualified. Sometimes you accidentally go to the wrong convention first, or maybe that's just me. And sometimes you enter anyway and win!

Watch the Video Story

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