Every year, cosplayers from around the world show off their creations at conventions, compete in competitions, and pose for hundreds of photos. Cosplay is an important way to express yourself and get creative and South Africa isn’t short of its own hot glue experts who have put together expertly crafted cosplays and even won accolades at international competitions.

For those who don’t know where to start making cosplay or love to see their favourite fictional characters brought to life, here are some of the best local cosplayers to follow.

Ludus Cosplay – @Ludus.cosplay

If you’ve been to our big conventions like Comic Con Africa or Comic Con Cape Town, you might have seen Ludus Cosplay judging a competition or hosting on stage. Ludus is renowned for his expert craftsmanship in creating cosplays and props, often sharing his progress on Instagram and YouTube. 

Ludus is an award-winning cosplayer both locally and internationally. He has won Best in Show at the CCA Crown Championship 2022 and secured 2nd place at the C2E2 Crown Championship of the Cosplay World Finals 2023, along with placing in five Master division categories.

His past looks range from iconic game characters like Link from The Legend of Zelda to Aratak from Horizon Zero Dawn, anime characters such as Sanji from One Piece and Overhaul from My Hero Academia, and DC characters like Aquaman and Captain Boomerang.

Ludus is particularly skilled in prop making, often using a variety of materials and techniques to create highly detailed and realistic props. His Instagram and YouTube channels are rich with tutorials and behind-the-scenes looks at his creative process, making them valuable resources for aspiring cosplayers and prop makers.

Socials: Follow Ludus Cosplay on Instagram and YouTube.

Jinxie Cosplay – @Jinxie.cosplay

The crown champion of CCA 2019, Jinxie returned to Comic Con Africa in 2023, winning again with her stunning Princess Zelda cosplay from The Legend of Zelda. She’s also triumphed at C2E2, winning the championship in 2020 and 2024 in Chicago. Her success as a cosplayer has led her to international events, most recently serving on the judging panel at Comic Con Arabia alongside cosplay legends like Leon Chiro.

Jinxie originally started cosplaying because of her love for Game of Thrones, wanting to replicate the intricate outfits from the show. She discovered cosplay to be a fantastic creative outlet with endless possibilities and has since embraced every aspect of the craft, from wig styling to prop making. Each cosplay she creates is an opportunity to learn a new skill, often incorporating historical techniques to add an extra layer of authenticity to her work.

Jinxie has brought to life iconic video game characters such as Ciri from The Witcher 3, Fenyx from Immortals Fenyx Rising, and Ezio and Eivor from the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Highlighting her capability and recognition as a talented cosplayer many of these cosplays have been in association with Ubisoft the studio behind these games.

Jinxie encourages new cosplayers to start small, enter competitions, and engage with the community to develop the skills needed for larger undertakings, such as competing in global events.

Socials: Follow Jinxie Cosplay on Instagram and Facebook

Princess Sachiko – @princess___sachiko

A cosplay influencer, Princess Sachiko has amassed a huge following across social media, even being recognized by TikTok as the Top Entertainment Creator of the Year. This recognition has allowed her the creative freedom to work with big brands that she personally resonates with.

Her cosplay journey began out of her love for all things geeky, and she soon fell in love with the craft in all aspects, from attention to detail to intricate makeup. She can also be found making short content for her Instagram or streaming gameplay on Twitch.

In 2023, Sachiko was invited as one of the special guests at Comic Con Africa, where she promoted and encouraged cosplay as a creative outlet for young people, helping them to find their voice. Being recognized as a pro cosplayer has led her to attend many overseas events as an international guest. She’s also partnered with Disney, attending premieres for movies such as The Marvels and Wish, brilliantly dressed as characters from the films.

As her name might suggest, she often cosplays Princess Peach from Mario, but she has also cosplayed iconic characters across shows, anime, and games such as Alastor from Helluva Boss, Nezuko from Demon Slayer, Zhongli from Genshin Impact, and even her own original characters.

Social Media: Follow Princess Sachiko on TikTok, Instagram and Twitch.

Toonibug – @toonibug

Toonibug got her start in cosplay because, she says, she “always took dressing up way too seriously”. When she moved to Joburg, she found the cosplay community to be a welcoming and very encouraging environment for what she initially thought was just a hobby. She also finds cosplay to be a great creative outlet.

Toonibug is known for crafting amazing armour, as showcased in her awe-inspiring cosplay as Lilith from Diablo 4. Her skills have earned her several awards, including the rAge Armour Champion at rAge 2019, CCA Armour Champion 2022, and 3rd place CCA Armour Master 2023.

As a frugal cosplayer, Toonibug is adept at whipping up cosplays quickly and using available materials to make them as affordable as possible. In 2022, she co-hosted the Sew-a-thon and has hosted panels at conventions, encouraging young people to start cosplaying and offering advice on cosplay planning and how to cosplay on a budget.

Quote: “I love encouraging young people and beginners and creating a safe and creative space for them to thrive as cosplayers.”

Social Media: Follow Toonibug on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Baka Sakura Cosplay – @iambakasakura

Another icon of the local cosplay scene, Baka Sakura can often be seen hosting on stage or serving on judging panels. Growing up immersed in all things geeky, Baka Sakura was led to cosplay as a way to bring her favourite characters from video games, anime, and more to life.

Baka Sakura has won various awards over the years, most recently taking first place as the Needlework Champion at Comic Con Cape Town 2021. She has also had the incredible opportunity to represent South Africa at the World Cosplay Summit (WCS), one of the largest and most prestigious events a cosplayer can participate in.

She has cosplayed a wide range of characters, including Ms. Bellum from Powerpuff Girls, Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil, Kaileena from Prince of Persia, Scorpion from Mortal Kombat, Daphne from Scooby-Doo, and Katen Kyokotsu from Bleach.

Baka Sakura loves travelling to conventions, and meeting fans and fellow cosplayers. Her panels on how to start cosplaying emphasize that the “play” in “cosplay” is crucial, teaching that the journey of creating your cosplay should be as rewarding as wearing it.

Social Media: Follow Baka Sakura Cosplay on Instagram and Facebook.

CashmereTart – @cashmeretart

An upcoming cosplayer and streamer, CashmereTart found her love of cosplay in video games with iconic characters like Lara Croft, a look she’s recreated many times. One of her favourite aspects of cosplaying is the recognition when you dress up as someone’s favourite character and the emotional connection that creates over this shared passion.

CashmereTart uses her skills as both a makeup artist and fabricator to create her stunning looks. She has brought to life characters such as Mystique and Emma Frost from X-Men, as well as classic villains like Poison Ivy and Catwoman from Batman & Robin and new ones like Harley Quinn from the game Suicide Squad: Kills the Justice League.

Her Instagram is a great place to follow her progress with cosplays, see what events she’s attending, and get updates on her room and gaming setup. You can also catch her on Twitch, where she streams games, chats with followers, and crafts her cosplays live.

Social Media: Follow CashmereTart on Instagram and Twitch.

Psycadillo – @psycadillo

Another cosplayer and streamer to look out for is Psycadillo. She’s a graphic designer who’s equal parts creative and geeky. Psycadillo has judged at an international cosplay competition in the UK and partnered with major brands like Netflix, Comic Con Africa, and Logitech.

Psycadillo has created some amazing Assassin’s Creed cosplays, inspired by the way the games combine history with gaming. In 2021, she became the first South African to be awarded the title of Star Player by Ubisoft, recognizing her passion for their franchise.

Her killer Assassin looks and iconic Wonder Woman cosplay showcase her talent for making impressive armour and props. Other standout cosplays include her two different takes on Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite and Lady Liberty from Jupiter’s Legacy, which she did in partnership with Netflix.

Over on her YouTube channel, you can find breakdowns of her cosplays, tech reviews of different gamer gear and more.

Social Media: Keep up with her on Instagram and YouTube.

Comic Con and on

The cosplay scene in South Africa is a vibrant and welcoming community, and while Comic Con is the best place to meet and see cosplayers, there are smaller events like Markets and meet-ups happening all the time that you can keep up with by following CosplayCapeTown on Instagram. Or, of course, by bookmarking the Tech, Gaming and Animation section on What’s on in Cape Town!

So whether you’re looking to start your cosplay journey or simply enjoy the incredible artistry, give these talented cosplayers a follow.