S2 E5 The Cosplay Crunch W/ Victoria Bane

Cosplay is NOT THAT SERIOUS! In this episode of The Cosplay Crunch, we bring in Victoria Bane for a very reflective look at the cosplay community, con culture, and how cosplay has evolved from the early 2000’s to today. We explore Vickie’s journey from her early days in the community to her expertise, and now business, in professional wig styling, as well as her experiences with inclusivity and representation in cosplay and the challenges faced by cosplayers who did not “fit” a specific physical appearance. We break down the uber commercialization of conventions, and the significance of maintaining a healthy balance between cosplay and personal life. Now… we could NOT have Ms. Vickie Bane on the pod without getting her essential tools for wig styling and her personal wig-stress advice. And wait for the end of the pod when we throw it ALL the way back to the VERY memorable times of roof running at Oni-Con 2!

Victoria Bane is a DFW based cosplayer with 22 years of experience in multiple cosplay. mediums including sewing, leather working, resin casting, foam smithing, general prop making, 3D printing and modeling with an intense focus on wig styling. In addition to cosplay, she has a special interest in wafuku and wasai (Japanese traditional dress and dress making techniques) and is also actively working on creating a guide for making and buying kimono and yukata. Always focused on improving and honing each new skill she learns, as well as improving upon old ideas, Victoria is always eager to assist newbies and cosplay veterans alike, sharing the knowledge she’s amassed during her cosplay journey! Currently she is working on a new wig styling tutorial series that will focus on building a strong foundation of basic styling skills, understanding terminology and wig anatomy as well as working up to more complicated techniques. Victoria has a strong belief that if even one person finds the information she can provide useful, her mission has been accomplished!

Find Vickie on Instagram @vickiebane

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vickiebane

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@VickieBane9

Photo by @lemon.ikonphotography