Belgium 🇧🇪

Avalon (solo): Hi ! My name is Avalon, and I’m a Belgian cosplayer since 2018, passionate about bringing video game-inspired costumes to life. Specializing in sewing, 3D printing, and leatherworking, I combine traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques to create detailed and expressive costumes. I’ve had the honor of representing Belgium in several international competitions like E2C 2022, GICOF 2023 and ECG 2024. What I love most about cosplay is constantly learning, taking on new creative challenges—and of course, meeting other passionate people!

Pixie Dust (duo): My name is Pixie Dust, but in reality my name is Caroline. I’m 44 years old and a mother of three. I own themed guest rooms and love creating unique worlds. I’m generous and a jack-of-all-trades, and I share my passion for cosplay with my family — it’s truly a joyful and creative time we spend together.

Kementari (duo): My name is Kementari, but my real name is Anaelle. I’m 23 and I study musical theatre in Paris. Passionate, creative, and meticulous, I live my passion on stage… and beyond! Thanks to cosplay, I bring princesses to life for children’s birthday parties, combining dreams, performance, and magic in everyday life.

How did you discover cosplay and what made you start in this hobby? How long ago?

Avalon (solo): I accompanied my brother to a convention. I discovered cosplay there and was immediately hooked. In 2018, I officially launched with a cosplay of Merida from the movie Brave. The costume honestly wasn’t great, but it made me want to improve and start studying fashion design and sewing to perfect my skills. And today, cosplay is a very important part of my life.

Pixie Dust & Kementari (duo):  We originally went to FACTS in September 2018 to meet Tom Felton. When buying our tickets, we noticed that «cosplay» tickets were cheaper. So we decided to wear a simple Harry Potter cape to pay less. But it was really in August 2018 that everything changed — we met some girls who would later become our friends, and that’s how we entered the world of Disney cosplay. Just a few weeks after FACTS, we dove into this wonderful world that is cosplay (2018).

What does cosplay mean for you? And what is your favorite part of the hobby?

Avalon (solo): Cosplay means a lot to me. For me, it’s first and foremost about encounters. Thanks to cosplay, I’ve met wonderful people from all over the world and I’m very proud to say that some of them have become people very close to my heart. Apart from the social aspect, cosplay is also a world of possibilities. I’ve always loved creating and inventing stories for myself, cosplay is literally a hobby that allows me to do this. I love discovering new techniques, forcing myself to surpass myself, to succeed in doing things I would never have imagined attempting. Cosplay is the way I’ve found to constantly surpass myself.

Pixie Dust (duo): Cosplay is a way for me to express my creativity and enjoy being on stage. What I love most is the creation process: choosing fabrics/materials, picking techniques to use.

Kementari (duo): I would say cosplay is a natural continuation of my journey. Since I was little, my mom would make costumes for carnival — like Donkeyskin’s sun-colored dress or Cinderella’s dress from Ever After. I’ve always loved performing and becoming different characters; it’s a way to express myself. I think my favorite part of cosplay is performing on stage, though I also love selecting fabrics and materials.

What changes do you see in the cosplay community in your country compared to when you started?

Avalon (solo): I don’t necessarily have an answer to this question. I don’t think the changes I’ve noticed are very positive, so I don’t really want to talk about them. Despite everything, I find that the community remains very welcoming, and I tend to only approach people who are open to discussion and have a positive mindset, so I mainly only see the very positive aspects.

Pixie Dust & Kementari (duo):  We don’t think we’ve been in the cosplay community long enough to say it has truly changed. But over time, we’ve met wonderful people and now we’re lucky to have great friends to share our passion with — while in the beginning, it was just a family activity.

Why did you choose that project for the ICL national selection? Have you already decided on your finals project for Madrid? Can you give us a hint?

Avalon (solo): I fell in love with her design and the world of the game «A Plague Tale.» It’s set in the Middle Ages, and the costume is full of details and techniques that I wanted to experiment with. When I started designing this costume, I really wanted to give her the opportunity to perform on stage! And Amicia is a character I enjoyed discovering, who goes through many states and gradually discovers the strength and character she’s capable of to save what’s dear to her. She’s a strong and fascinating young woman.

For the finale, I can remain vague, but I’d say the rats won’t be far behind, and a certain alchemist’s daughter should make a comeback.

Pixie Dust (duo): My daughter showed me the costume booklet after returning from London. While flipping through it, I saw Elsa’s version and saw it as a new challenge. We had already made a Frozen costume from the animated film and won third place at FACTS 2022.

Kementari (duo): First of all, Frozen is my favorite Disney movie. Secondly, I’m a huge fan of musical theatre. I saw the beautiful musical in London in 2024 and fell in love with the costumes.

Is this your first time competing in an international cosplay competition? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start cosplaying or join competitions?

Avalon (solo): This isn’t my first international competition. I got a taste for it in 2022, and I’ve since had the immense opportunity to participate in an international competition every year.

The advice I would give to someone who wants to get started is to do it for yourself first and foremost, to have fun, and to try lots of things: cosplaying solo, in a group, making your own costume or buying one, doing photoshoots, going to conventions, entering contests… discover what motivates you and inspires you in cosplay. We’re not all equal when it comes to what brings us joy, and everyone should be free to cosplay however they want <3

And from a more practical point of view, go find cosplayers, talk to them, ask them questions; it’s the best way to learn and build relationships.

Pixie Dust (duo): My advice to someone starting out in cosplay or competitions is not to go for something trendy (for a contest), as it avoids comparisons between cosplayers for the judges. Then I’d say: take your time and enjoy making your project. Whether it takes two weeks or two years, only the result matters. Have fun and don’t compare yourself to others. We do this for our own pleasure, not for others.

Kementari (duo): My main advice would be to be yourself and do what you love. It doesn’t matter what your body, gender, or age is. Cosplay is freedom — so do what makes you happy and don’t care what others think.

What has been your most memorable cosplay experience so far?

Avalon (solo): I would say my participation in the ECG. We created such a strong bond with all the 2024 representatives that, a year later, we are still in regular contact and we have been able to meet again at several conventions across Europe. This experience represents so much of what the goal of an international competition is: to meet people just as passionate as you and to build bonds. My point of view on international competitions is that reaching the final is already a win, regardless of the final podium, we all come out of this kind of experience grown and we make wonderful encounters that will lead to solid friendships. And that is worth all the prizes in the world.

Pixie Dust & Kementari (duo):  We think there are two truly memorable moments in our cosplay journey so far.
The first was when we won first place in the performance contest at FACTS in April 2022. We created the Madrigal family costumes and joined the contest just to have fun as a family. During the results, our cosplay “life” changed. We admired all the other cosplayers — especially one duo who blew us away. When they announced the winner, due to bad audio, we congratulated that duo, thinking they had won. They looked surprised and said, “Why aren’t you going up on stage? You’re the winners!”

The second was being selected for ICL. We applied thanks to our friends’ encouragements, never thinking we’d get this far. It was an incredible moment when we were told we’d get to live this amazing experience.

What inspires your work the most—series, characters, craftsmanship, other artists…?

Avalon (solo): I mainly draw my inspiration from cosplayers or craftsmen that I follow on the networks. I am a big consumer of tutorials and I never hesitate to ask an artist how he achieves this or that technique. For me, art, whether it is cosplay or any other form of art, is shared. I always take immense pleasure in sharing advice, tips or techniques with others, it allows everyone to evolve and it is always beneficial.

Pixie Dust & Kementari (duo):  We’re both Disney fans, so definitely Disney. But also artists like Nikitacosplay, Blondie.vegas, Nadcosplay, lily_on_the_moon, etc. As well as fanart illustrators such as sunsetdragon and amaysancha.

What are your expectations for your visit to Spain? Is it your first time in the country?

Avalon (duo): I already had the opportunity to visit Seville a few years ago, and I’ve always wanted to return to Spain.

I feel very lucky to be able to represent Belgium in Madrid. I’m looking forward to meeting all the other representatives and interacting with them. I’m also looking forward to presenting my project to the juries and the public. I hope you like it <3

Pixie Dust (duo): To meet new cosplayers that I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet elsewhere. I’ve also already traveled to Spain.

Kementari (duo): What I’m hoping for from my visit to Spain is to meet new people and discover new cultures among the cosplayers. It’s not my first time in the country, but I think I still have so much to discover there.

Describe the cosplay community in your country using five words.

Avalon (solo): open, talented, growing, surprising

Pixie Dust (duo): Creative, passionate, friendly, talented, diverse.

Kementari (duo): Friendly, good vibes, talent, creativity, diversity.

Link to your Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter (add other social media if relevant):

Avalon (solo): https://www.instagram.com/avalon.cosplay/

https://www.facebook.com/creationsdAvalon

Pixie Dust (duo): https://www.facebook.com/share/1LWUkkoN2h/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/_pixie_dust_cosplay_

Kementari (duo): https://www.instagram.com/kementari_cosplay

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FFAsAhNZ1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Avalon, Pixie Dust and Kementari were selected at Le Festival Made in Asia.