guests & judges

Want feedback from a top-tier judge? A photo with your cosplay idol? An autograph from a voice actor? It’s all happening - and you’re invited. Explore the guest lineup and see who’s coming to UniCon.

Doug Cockle

USA
Actor / Director

For nearly two decades, Doug Cockle has carried the growl, wit, and weary soul of Geralt of Rivia.

That unmistakable voice - the one that teases “Come on, Roach,” and makes us all pause at a single thoughtful “Hmm.”

As Geralt, he didn’t just speak the lines - he became the Witcher’s voice, his calm before the storm, his dry humor in the face of monsters. His performance earned him a BAFTA nomination, a Golden Joystick Award, and the hearts of fans who still can’t settle the question: Triss or Yen?

And yes - you can finally ask him that question yourself.

Beyond the microphone, Doug is a teacher, a creator, and a lifelong adventurer. He’s got that rare mix of wisdom and mischief - the kind that draws you in, whether he’s sharing tales from the recording booth or swapping Dungeons & Dragons adventures.

At WinterCon, you’ll get to see that spark up close - hear the stories, the laughter, and the way he brings every world he touches to life.


So, grab your silver sword (or your camera), and get ready to meet the White Wolf himself.

Who knows - you might even hear him whisper it live… “Winds howling.”

Signature Works

Geralt of Rivia - The Witcher

Bhaal (God of Murder) - Baldurs Gate 3

John Victor - Hunt: Showdown

Maul Cosplay

Germany
Cosplayer / Stuntman

With over two decades of experience and the instincts of a stuntman, Maul Cosplay brings characters like Geralt, Kratos, and Joel Miller to life in a way that feels unmistakably real.

It’s not just the look - it’s the presence, the heartbeat of the hero that makes you forget you’re looking at cosplay at all.

He’s the kind of creator who never backs down from a challenge. Every project becomes a new mountain to climb, every character a story he’s determined to tell right.


But behind the armor is a creator who remembers the small conventions, the sleepless nights, the first time hot glue burned his fingers. A fan who simply never stopped - and somehow made it his life.


At WinterCon, you won’t just see his work - you’ll hear the stories behind the armor, the laughter over failed prototypes, and the quiet pride of breathing life into a hero.


Come with your questions - and with that spark that made you start cosplaying in the first place. Because Maul will remind you why you fell in love with it.

Signature Works

Joel Miller - The Last of Us

Kratos - God of War

Zane - Borderlands 3

Frostylva

Norway
Cosplayer

Frostylva has spent over a decade mastering the grittier side of cosplay - the smell of paint, the hum of a 3D printer, the quiet thrill of turning blueprints into armor that looks like it’s survived a hundred battles.

A self-taught creator, she builds, sculpts, prints, and weathers every piece until it feels alive. Her work has inspired countless cosplayers - not only through her stunning builds, but through her panels and workshops, where she teaches the craft with the same passion she puts into every prop.

Beyond the workshop table, she’s one of the main organizers of Magicon, Norway’s largest cosplay convention, and a seasoned judge who’s lent her sharp eye and deep respect for the art to competitions around the world.

Her mission? To see cosplay stand tall - as an art form, a subculture, and a media subgenre in its own right.

Signature Works

Dober Armor - Kaiju No. 8

Mina Ashiro - Kaiju No. 8

The Female Titan - Attack on Titan

TaeYeon

South Korea
Cosplayer

TaeYeon (also known as Minemes☆) is a veteran cosplayer from South Korea who began her journey in 2003.

Fluent in Korean, English, and Japanese, she builds bridges between cultures through the shared language of creativity. Over the years, she’s joined conventions worldwide as a guest, judge, translator, and MC.

She proudly represented Korea at the World Cosplay Summit (WCS) and claimed the champion title at Asia Cosplay Meet (ACM) in 2011. In recent years, she’s served on the WCS Rules Committee and as an international judge - always striving to create a more fun and enjoyable cosplay scene for everyone.

Whether she’s on stage, behind the judging table, or chatting with fans, TaeYeon’s mission is clear: to celebrate cosplay as a bridge between people, stories, and worlds.

Signature Works

Shinobu Kocho - Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Marie Antoinette - Fate/Grand Order

D.Va - Overwatch

Fenix Fatalist

Ukraine
Cosplayer / Content Creator

Fenix Fatalist (Maria Karpenko) is an international cosplayer from Kyiv, Ukraine, with over 15 years of experience and nearly a hundred projects inspired by games and anime.

Known for her thoughtful approach to characters and storytelling, Fenix brings emotion and meaning into every build. Her collaborations with PlayStation and Cygames highlight the global recognition her work has earned and the creative trust she inspires.

As a co-owner of FD Cosplay Studio, she understands every layer of the craft - from the first sketch to the final stitch - and uses that insight to help others bring their visions to life. Her latest project - an e-course “Marketing for Creators”, where she helps other artists navigate the challenges of creative careers and shares her experience.

For Maria, cosplay is about more than creation - it’s about connection, resilience, and the courage to do what you love.

Signature Works

Aloy - Horizon Zero Dawn

Sophie Hatter - Howl’s Moving Castle

2B (YoRHa No.2 Type B) - NieR: Automata

PonPon

Lithuania
K-Pop dancer / Cosplayer

PonPon, also known as The Strawberry Godfather, is a Lithuanian designer, cosplay maker, and K-pop dancer who lives and breathes performance.

With over 7 years in the K-pop scene, PonPon has seen competitions from every side - on stage, at the judges’ table, and even behind the curtain helping others shine. Through it all, one thing never changed - their love for the energy, emotion, and connection that K-pop brings to the stage.

As both a creator and dancer, PonPon believes the magic happens when technique meets presence, and when performance becomes a full-body celebration of who you are.

K-pop, in their eyes? A true quintuple-threat of the performing arts - and that’s what makes it so exciting!

This year, PonPon returns to UniCon as part of the K-pop+ judging panel, ready to cheer you on, celebrate your sparkle, and most importantly - remind you to have fun and make memories you’ll carry long after the music fades.

Alexia

Estonia
Member of X.EAST & Nymph cover teams

Alexia is a cover dancer from Estonia whose journey began back in 2008 - and who’s been lighting up stages ever since.

As a member of the internationally recognized teams X.EAST and Nymph, she’s performed across the globe, shared stages with idols like EXO, TWICE, RED VELVET, SEVENTEEN, and TAEMIN, and earned awards like the KCDF 2017 Grand Prize in Seoul, KCDF 2020, Twitter’s Most Social Group, and the YouTube Silver Play Button.

From FEEL KOREA to K-EXPO, Alexia’s love for K-pop has taken her far - but her heart is always with the community. With years of experience behind her, she still believes every dancer brings something new, something powerful, and something worth celebrating.

At UniCon 2025, Alexia joins the K-pop+ judging panel, ready to cheer for every bold move, heartfelt performance, and shining moment.

Leave all worries behind and take up on the stage with joy - give it all you have! Alexia and other judges will be right there supporting you every step of the way.

Rani

Finland
Dancer / Choreographer

Rani is a dancer and choreographer from Finland with a background as dynamic as her style - from classical ballet to street styles and K-pop, she’s done it all.

Over the years, she’s built a versatile portfolio: winning national K-pop and street dance competitions, performing as a backup dancer for Finnish artists, and appearing on some of Finland’s biggest music festival stages. Whether on stage or in the studio, Rani brings precision, energy, and emotion to every move.

Always curious, she trains around the world - drawing inspiration from different styles, people, and places. For her, it’s all about musicality, detail, and that spark that makes a performance feel real.

At UniCon 2025, Rani joins the K-pop+ judging panel, ready to celebrate individuality, strong delivery, and the passion behind every performance!

Dizzymonogatari

Italy
Photographer

Dizzymonogatari is a Filipino photographer based in northern Italy with over 12 years of experience capturing the art of cosplay.


Starting out as a cosplayer, he eventually moved behind the camera - bringing with him a deep understanding of character, costume, and the creative process. Today, he’s known for his polished style and dedication to the craft of cosplay photography.

At UniCon 2025, Dizzymonogatari will join the Photo Cosplay Contest jury and will be available for photoshoots throughout all event days - so get your best look ready!

Koyo

Belgium
Photographer / Cosplayer

Koyo is a Belgian photographer, cosplayer, and performer whose creative journey spans both sides of the camera.


With over 10 years of cosplay experience, Koyo stepped into photography in 2018 - first for friends, then for the love of capturing the craft behind every costume. Today, he brings that same passion to both his portraits and performances.

Koyo’s creativity doesn’t stop at visuals - he’s also deeply passionate about voice acting and stage presence, which led to a major milestone: competing at the World Cosplay Summit 2023, where he and @umaruu.n earned the Best Sound Direction award.

At UniCon 2025, Koyo will join the Photo Cosplay Contest jury and will be available for photoshoots throughout all event days - so get your best look ready!

N8e

Belgium
Photographer

N8e is a Belgian photographer whose passion for cosplay began behind the lens - and has taken him to conventions across Europe.

Known offstage as Kristof Nachtergaele, he discovered the world of cosplay in 2007 through a colleague, picked up his camera, and never looked back. What started as a local hobby quickly turned into a creative pursuit that’s led him to capture some of the biggest contests and most striking cosplays across the continent. With flash photography, N8e captures each shot with clarity and impact.

At UniCon 2025, N8e will join the Photo Cosplay Contest jury and will be available for photoshoots throughout all event days - so get your best look ready!

James

Lithuania
Artist / illustrator

James "Jamie" Amatus is an artist from Lithuania who has graduated from a high school of art, gained a BA degree in Graphic Art, and is now pursuing a MA degree in Illustration.

He did some projects and won some awards that all sound very serious, but his favorite thing is to balance all that seriousness with fun. He likes to use bright contrasts, interesting shapes and impactful compositions. He draws, he plays games, and oh, he's a catboy.

Siins

Latvia
Artist

Sintija Ukše, also known as Sīns, is a Latvian visual artist who is most interested in illustration and character design, especially abstract stylization and unusual forms.

Sīns’ first personal exhibition MONSTER GIRLS was held in June in MASA gallery, during the Riga Pride program, exploring their identity through monsters and their relationships. Since 2019 they have taken part in Baltic and Nordic popculture convention artist alleys, but online they have been working as a freelance artist for more than a decade.

Poco. Peach

Latvia
Digital artist

Poco. Peach is a digital artist from Latvia who loves creating cute and dreamy illustrations inspired by her favorite video games and animated worlds. Her work is full of vibrant colors, eloquent lines, and a gentle sense of wonder.

She first joined Artist Alley back in 2016 at WinterCon, and has been tabling ever since - from local and neighboring events to international conventions. Along the way, she’s met amazing artists, made friends, and grown as part of the creative community.

When she’s not at a convention, Poco. Peach is studying at the Art Academy of Latvia, currently working on her master’s thesis in the “Motion. Image. Sound” department.