Please welcome our judges and MC for this year's Masquerade!

Grace Knight is an award-winning cosplayer based in New Mexico. She’s been cosplaying for over twelve years and competing for four years. Cosplay is her passion and she loves getting to teach others and get them involved in cosplay. You will most likely see her with her mother who taught her how to sew and also loves conventions. In her free time, she streams, plays video games, and watches anime. Her favorite video games are Fallout, Overwatch, and Dead By Daylight. She is known for her anime costumes, like Inuyasha, as well as Miss Joke for My Hero Academia. Instagram @graceknightcos.

Maggie (aka PaisleyandGlue) (she/hers) has been working professionally as a costume cutter/draper for theatre and tv/film for nearly 15 years in the Chicagoland area. She has been a staff draper and freelancer for several regional theatres in the area. She is currently the interim Head of Costume Technology at The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago. Additionally, she is also a veteran award-winning cosplay maker with 8 years experience creating cosplay costumes for herself and others and is the author of Smocking Secrets (C&T Publishing, 2022). Her work has been published in several cosplay and theatrical magazines and has been featured on websites such as CosplayCentral, Kotaku and marvel.com. She creates educational maker content online under the name PaisleyandGlue on all social media accounts.

"Professional Cosplayer & Artist. Twitch Streamer. Magic Maker! 

AmberSkies is no stranger to the world of creation and overall nerd-dom! She has been involved in the creative arts and enthralled in the world of anime since she was just 8 years old when Pokemon and Sailor Moon came blasting into her life. In the years since, she has harnessed the power of the fandoms she loves-- and has built up her nerdy empire and transcended to the professional cosplay stage!

Amber has taken on increasingly elaborate and complex costuming builds, proudly working hand in hand with amazing companies via material sponsorships with Plaid Crafts, and costuming work with the one and only Marvel Studios, Fox Entertainment, and the Walt Disney Company.

She uses her self taught arsenal of creative skills to transform herself oftentimes from scraps and recycled goods into fantastic heroes and beasts across all fandoms-- specializing in detailed prosthetic/makeup work, elaborate paint jobs, and Armor/Prop Building. 

She has professionally competed with her cosplays and won First Place or Best in Show at Disney's D23 Expo, San Diego Comicon International, Phoenix Fan Fusion, Long Beach Comic Expo, and more. She now spends her con days mostly as a veteran cosplay craftsmanship judge, utilizing her teaching skills as a crafting panelist, and being MC for various creative endeavors at Fan Expos and Conventions. She also loves working her Artist Alley Booth as a vendor (AmberSkies Creations) showcasing her many gorgeous fan art prints and unique merch.

Amber continues to grow her online presence through taking to the streaming platform Twitch, and pursuing the route of gaming and live entertainment via bodypainting, FX makeup, and loads of fun with her online community at AmberSkiesTV. She loves crushing hugs, lives for building others up, and spreading cosplay positivity for all-- leaving a sprinkle of sunshine wherever she wanders!"

Billy Bolt is a New Mexico-based cosplayer, propmaker, and entertainer who describes himself as a "professional nerd". Since 2013, Billy has been debuting elaborate foam and light-up cosplay at conventions, from Doctor Strange's magic disks to Escanor's "Rita" axe. In recent years, his work has grown into a side business, selling props and wall art through his social media and Etsy shop. Billy's work has received 5 awards (including Best Prop and Judge's Favorite), been featured at MakerFest, and has made appearances on multiple Marvel red carpet premieres in two countries Billy always strives to brighten someone else's day, whether through comedy, paneling, cosplay, or a simple smile. He enjoys lending a helping hand to other cosplayers, providing crafting advice and emotional support to help create a more positive community.

Sabaku Con's Halftime Show will be performed by Kazha!

The Masquerade will be 7pm to 9pm in Main Events on Saturday, May 27th. https://www.sabakucon.com/programming/panel/view/3u4cpqlg1d3hno

Online Registration for the Masquerade ends Monday, May 22nd at modnight. There will be at con registration at the Cosplay Desk.

Please register here: https://www.sabakucon.com/programming/panel/view/3u4cpqlg1d3hno