Bombshell Beckie: The Art Behind Her NYCC Best FX Win

I’m usually drawn to characters I personally connect with, whether they remind me of someone special, inspire me creatively, or offer an opportunity to create something outside the box.

Sometimes a cosplay becomes a dedication piece to someone who has influenced my life. That is a very big part of my process.

I love taking recognizable characters and putting my own unique spin on them. Performance work is a huge part of my cosplay. I don’t want to just wear a costume. I want to become a character.

With Greta Gremlin, for example, I incorporate her voice, personality, and mannerisms to create an interactive experience. For me, cosplay is just as much about storytelling and performance art as it is about the craftsmanship.

Oh, YouTube. Trial and error. And a whole lot of practice.

I grew up watching Face Off on the Syfy channel, which introduced me to incredible artists like Ve Neill and Tom Savini.

YouTube became my greatest teacher. I spent countless hours watching tutorials, experimenting with materials on my own face and body, and practicing over and over again. I did not have formal training or guidance, so I learned through mistakes, persistence, and figuring out what worked for me.

More recently, I have to give a huge shout-out to Mandie Strange. She’s been an incredible influence on my work and, in my opinion, a mentor in special-effects makeup. There’s always something new to learn.

Oh my gosh, Greta Gremlin. Although Fat Bastard is giving her some serious competition.

There’s something magical about putting on Greta’s little green face, her fabulous hair and ears, and her boots. She’s playful, over the top, a little flirty, mischievous, and gives me endless opportunities to interact with people.

Fat Bastard has also been ridiculously fun, especially at Rhode Island Comic Con, where I debuted him, and more recently with my girl Ashley as Austin Powers at New York Comic Con. It was absolutely insane.

Ultimately, I feel Greta wins. She allows me to be fully myself and embrace the performance side of my cosplay work. Getting to create memorable moments with people is what makes it most special.

Without a doubt, Dead Ghoul. I’ll probably never wear him again on a convention floor.

Dead Ghoul features a lot of my illusion and SFX techniques, including a handmade stump-hand illusion. My left hand stays concealed and positioned like a permanent fist. He also has a backpack with Wolverine hanging from it with an arrow through his eye. There’s limited visibility overall.

I spent half the day as Dead Ghoul at New York Comic Con, and my body felt it for literal weeks afterward. The physical mechanics restricted movement, and the lack of vision made him incredibly challenging.

Sometimes I wonder why I put myself through these things, but the answer always comes back to the same result: I love the art. I might bring him back for a Halloween photo shoot or limited engagements in the future.

I’d say about 95 percent. Mystique and Gambit was my true 100 percent. I did every single thing on her.

I try to create as much as possible independently, but I’m also proud to acknowledge the talented artists behind my work. For example, Greta Gremlin’s prosthetic comes from RBF. The wig and ears were created by Mia Monster Mash. I painted the prosthetic and attached it to a hood.

For my Bomb Devil cosplay, I commissioned 3D-printed pieces, including the helmet and cannon arm, but the additional details, paint, and lighting work were all me.

I believe it is important to recognize other artists and their contributions. Competing has encouraged me to develop new skills and push my creative boundaries even further.

My Mystique and Gambit build was a true labor of love and a tribute to three extraordinary people.

Long before I started cosplay, I discovered Frank Sterling, a UK artist whose fusion costumes, illusion work, and puppetry blew my mind. He did a Mystique/Wolverine fusion that totally captivated me. I had dreams for years of doing a Mystique fusion suit inspired by his work.

When I finally decided to move forward, I knew I wanted to fuse Mystique with an X-Men character. Gambit was inspired by another dear friend, known for his Gambit cosplay and special-effects artistry.

My final inspiration came from my friend @annma_arts, whose rhinestone work completely transformed the way I look at costume embellishments. I consulted with her about the best techniques because I wanted the rhinestones on the suit to honor that influence.

The artist behind the rhinestone inspiration: @annma_arts

Bringing these three influences together made the Mystique/Gambit fusion much more than a cosplay. It became a tribute to friendship, creativity, and people who helped me believe in myself.

Believe it or not, getting the suit to fit. Halfway through building her, I realized that the bodysuit I thought was a large was actually a medium.

By that point, I’d already done so much work that I couldn’t start over. I had to add additional fabric, redo the zipper lining, stretch things out, and adapt everything so it could fit my body.

It was frustrating, but it taught me a lot about problem-solving and working with what I had. In the end, I feel like everything came together beautifully. I’m super proud of the result.

It meant everything. I genuinely never expected my name to be called.

Being selected to compete in the Crown Championships was already an unbelievable honor, especially because Mystique and Gambit was my first huge build and my first major competition.

My goal was not to win. My goal was to walk across that stage, show the audience what I created, and hopefully inspire somebody watching to pursue their own creative dreams.

I spent months building that suit, learning new techniques, and challenging myself in ways I never thought I could. Winning Best FX was an incredible bonus to an amazing experience that I will treasure forever.

You don’t have to be an expert to start. You just have to have a dream and believe in yourself.

Disbelief. I was like, “What?” I never imagined I’d be selected for this competition, let alone win a category.

Hearing my name was surreal. Having my friends in the audience cheering me on made the experience even more emotional. It was one of those moments where you realize how far you’ve come, how much you’ve grown, and how many wonderful people have helped you along the way.

I’ll absolutely never forget it.

To me, cosplay has never been about social media popularity or chasing recognition. It’s truly all about the art. Everything else is simply a bonus.

It’s an opportunity to express yourself in ways you might never have thought possible.

Art brings joy. It creates connections. It reminds people that imagination is still alive.

If something I create inspires even one person to pick up a paintbrush, build a costume, try special-effects makeup, or pursue a dream they’ve been afraid to chase, then I’ve won. There’s no award or amount of recognition that can beat that feeling.

There is room for everybody in this community, and I hope to continue creating, learning, and inspiring.

And on that note, I’ll leave you with my favorite thing to say: Stay spooky, my friends.