
The 11th Annual Her Universe Fashion Show took place last night, July 24th, at SDCC with its biggest audience yet. Presented by Universal, the show celebrated Wicked, Wicked: For Good, and Universal Pictures fandoms with the theme of “Defying Fashion: Fashion That Defies Expectations.” Photo Coverage for Jedi News by Brian Sims.
The 11th Annual Her Universe Fashion Show made its triumphant return to San Diego Comic-Con on July 24 with its biggest audience yet. Presented by Universal, the show celebrated Wicked, Wicked: For Good, and Universal Pictures fandoms with the empowering theme of “Defying Fashion: Fashion That Defies Expectations.”
Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein opened the night with a message from the heart:
“When we rolled out our very first runway eleven years ago, it was just a small spark of an idea. Tonight, that spark has become a supernova. Watching geek couture explode in this powerhouse of a community—overflowing with creativity, inclusivity, and sheer joy—absolutely takes my breath away.”
Before stepping into the Seaport Ballroom at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, fans were treated to an immersive Wicked-themed experience. The lobby was transformed into a celebration of Oz with interactive pop-ups including a KISS Nails booth, photo ops, costumes from the films, LEGO sculptures, and a product showcase with early looks at Wicked: For Good merchandise.
Ashley Eckstein’s grand entrance set the tone for the magic ahead. She floated down the runway on a remote-controlled platform inspired by Glinda, engineered by special effects sponsor AOA. The room transformed into the World of Oz with stunning motion graphics by ALTRD Projections and high-end visuals powered by Barco projectors.
Eckstein, alongside co-host and Broadway star Michael James Scott, debuted six dazzling Wicked-inspired outfits designed by Andrew McLaine and Hannah Kent. Hair and makeup artists Veronica Nunez and Leibi Carias brought the fantastical looks to life.
In a first for the show, Eckstein and Scott performed a medley of songs from Wicked, ending with Scott’s powerful rendition of “Defying Gravity.” The live musical moment brought the house down and brought the spirit of Broadway directly to Comic-Con.
Special guest judge Marissa Bode, who appears in Wicked: For Good, joined the judging panel that included Variety’s Marc Malkin, Hot Topic’s Robin Motts, and last year’s winners, Wes Jenkins and Candice Miller. Bode praised the event’s energy and inclusive spirit, calling the evening “Wicked-ly memorable.”
While votes were tallied for the audience award, Scott returned to the stage for his “90s Mixtape” performance from his solo symphonic show A Dream is a Wish, which had the crowd on their feet.
For her final look of the night, Eckstein wore a show-stopping tulip dress made with 2,400 fresh flowers. Designed by McLaine and assembled on-site by floral artist Rochelle Leigh Wall, the dress was a living tribute to the tulip fields of Wicked and one of the most unique couture pieces the show has ever seen.
This year’s two winning designers are:
• Judges’ Winner: Lynleigh Sato from Redondo Beach, CA (@lynleighsato)
• Audience Winner: Caitlin Beards from Randolph, NJ (@ladyavadesigns)
Each winner will receive $2,000 and the opportunity to design a fashion collection with Her Universe.
Every attendee went home with the exclusive LUG Coupe XL Crossbody bag, plus Wicked-themed swag including KISS nail and lash products and new Wicked: For Good dolls from Mattel.
For more about Her Universe, visit heruniverse.com.
Fans can watch the full show next week on the Her Universe YouTube Channel. For more content and behind-the-scenes moments, follow @heruniverse on social media and use the hashtag #HerUniverseFashionShow.
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