Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carly Rae Prescott. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Carly Rae, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on was my competition piece in 2022. Every year, I compete in an internationally recognized cosplay competition where participants are judged on both their performance and the craftsmanship of their costumes. For the 2020 competition, I had convinced my Nana to join me on stage to perform as Margaery and Olenna Tyrell from Game of Thrones. Unfortunately, the 2020 competition was canceled, and by the time it returned in 2022, my Nana was nervous about COVID-19 and had to back out. I went ahead with the competition, bringing two of my best friends on stage with me for the performance, and was awarded Best in Class for my workmanship that year.

After the competition, I finished working on my Nana’s Olenna Tyrell costume and convinced her to join me for a photoshoot. She kept joking that she was probably one of the oldest cosplayers! Watching her shine during the shoot was something I’ll never forget—a core memory for sure! I shared the photos on TikTok, and the video went semi-viral. It was incredibly sweet to show my Nana all the kind comments people had left for her.

Last year, my Nana passed away after a long battle with cancer. I have the photos hanging on my walls and use them as my desktop backgrounds, so whenever I miss her, I can relive one of my favorite memories with her. Even though that costume was a winning piece, the real prize was the memories I shared with my Nana.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Carly and I am a Master level Cosplayer. I first got into cosplay in my last year of high school. While helping a friend with his sewing company, I discovered my passion for piecing garments together. Around that time, some of my friends decided they wanted to make their own live action version of Avatar The Last Airbender. They asked if I could do the costumes, and even though I had no experience making a costume from scratch, I agreed! I managed to create several wearable costumes using whatever scrap fabric I could acquire. Looking back, I’m surprised any of the costumes fit, let alone looked like the characters, but somehow I made it happen! Even though we never ended up making the movie, the costumes I made sparked my love of costume design.
When applying for colleges that year, I ran across a program at Sheridan College called Craft and Design – Textiles. I used one of my applications for that program, but at the time I didn’t see myself pursuing it. As my college acceptance letters came in for the other programs I’d applied for, I began to realize just how much I wanted to go to Sheridan to pursue this new dream of working with costumes. A few weeks later, I got my acceptance letter, and the next year I went away to college to learn about textiles!
The program was not at all what I’d expected, but I wouldn’t change anything. I had imagine learning about pattern drafting and the proper ways to construct a garment. Instead, the program really focused on the fabric itself. I learned techniques like screen printing, dyeing, knitting, crochet, weaving (my favorite!). My work over those three years tended to be very narrative, I was always looking for ways to tell a story with my projects. For my thesis project I created a series of 32 weavings based on the dresses worn by the Disney Princesses. Each 8×10 inch weaving took between 4-12 hours to create. This final project was a beautiful call back to my love of costumes. I ended up receiving a 92% as my final grade, and the pieces were displayed in two galleries.
After college, I returned to cosplay, applying the skills I had learned to improve my costumes. My creations from this time were rough around the edges, with unfinished seams and puckered fabrics, but each new project taught me something.
In 2018 I was preparing for the convention season by looking through the schedule for Anime North. I came across their masquerade, a competition where you were judged on your workmanship and a performance. I was so inspired by the idea of this competition, that with 30 days to go, I started working on my first competition piece. I chose Padme’s picnic gown from Star Wars Episode II. It had always been a costume I loved, but one I had previously felt would be too much work. I spent 110 hours over those 30 days on just the embroidery alone. I still don’t know how I managed to pull it all together (along with two other costumes) but somehow I finished in time for the convention.
I’ll never forget sitting backstage in the Green Room watching the competition on the screen and realizing that I was supposed to have a performance prepared. Somehow, I had thought I would just be walking across the stage to music and striking a couple of poses. That was something my shy self could tolerate. An actual performance though? There was no way I could get over my stage fright and make it happen! That year, I twirled on stage for a total of 6 seconds and ran off, the performance video is hilariously awkward. That year, I was awarded an honorary mention for my embroidery.
After winning that first award, I was hooked! Competitions gave me the push I needed to pour my all into the costumes I was working on, learn new techniques, and tackle designs that once intimidated me. I competed in many competitions at smaller conventions that year, but I couldn’t wait for the next Anime North!
In 2019, I competed as Suki from Avatar the Last Airbender. I made that costume at a really challenging time in my life, and so when I didn’t win an award for my workmanship I wasn’t surprised. What did surprise me was winning a performance award for being the Most Elegant.
Not winning for workmanship pushed me to try to make my dream cosplay, Margaery Tyrell’s wedding dress from Game of Thrones. In 2019 I recruited the help of my family and friends and managed to hand roll 150 roses. I also convinced my Nana to compete with me as Olenna Tyrell. In early 2020, I patterned the base of the wedding dress. Then, COVID-19 hit.
The competition was cancelled in 2020 and 2021, and when it was announced that it would return in 2022 I didn’t intend to compete. COVID-19 had really destroyed my inspiration, and I hadn’t sewn anything in over a year.
One day after work, I was going through my craft room, and rediscovered the bag of roses. I felt inspired for the first time in ages, and before I knew it I was making the dress once more. I took away all pressure, and told myself I wasn’t doing it for the competition, and that I just needed to finish this project for myself. I started documenting my progress, and began posting videos on Tik Tok to share how I was making it. I hoped the videos might help someone else have the courage to work on their dream cosplay too.
To my surprise, I finished the dress months in advance, so I had no excuse not to enter it in the competition. My Nana was still concerned about COVID-19, so she backed out of the competition. Instead, I made my friends some Tyrell hand maiden dresses, and they joined me on stage! I ended up winning Best in Class, meaning the next year I would go up a division and compete in Artisan. That summer, I got to do a photoshoot with my Nana as Olenna Tyrell. It is my favorite cosplay memory, and something I’ll always hold close to my heart.
Going into the Artisan division was horrifying. I felt very intimidated, I’d been watching the competition for three years now and I knew the level of work I’d encounter in artisan. I was so worried that I wouldn’t be able to stand up in comparison, so I picked a costume I knew would be a challenge. I started working on Queen Amidala’s throne room dress from Star Wars Episode I. The dress had 24 panels, and trying to pattern it was a nightmare. I finished the costume the night before, and rehearsed my performance late into the night. The next day, I walked onto the stage and felt comfortable for the first time! I still felt the underlying stage fright I’d started with, but I didn’t let it hinder my performance. That year I was awarded Best Recreation for my workmanship. I had been so worried that year about being in way over my head, and to have it all work out felt incredible!
Last year, I rewatched The Hunger Games movies. While watching Catching Fire, I felt a sudden wave of inspiration during the interview scene where Katniss’s wedding dress transforms into a mockingjay dress. I was struck with the blind confidence that I could make that.
The Mockingjay dress gave me an excuse to revisit shibori dyeing, a technique I had loved in college! I dip dyed the dress 5 times to get the desired patterns and color differences, and I couldn’t have been happier with the result! I hand painted the design on the bodice to finish it off.
Next, was the wedding dress. I found myself lost in a sea of ruffles. I had to ruffle each of the 5 layers of the skirt, and add ruffle detailing. I also added red, orange and yellow ruffles on the interior of the dress so that when I removed it, it would look like flames.
Then, it came time to figure out the wings. I created two fabric wings on stiff pieces of interfacing, and glued on layers of feathers. Then, I covered a rectangular piece of cardboard with fabric. This piece would slip into the back of the dress to hold the wings in place. Then I used screws and nuts to attach the wings in a way that would let them open out and fold back down.
Finally, I had to figure out the logistics of the performance. Instead of sewing the side seam of the wedding dress shut, I used velcro as the closure. That way, while on stage I could simply undo the velcro and toss the dress aside to reveal the dress underneath. I did several dress rehearsals at home until I felt confident that I was ready.
Backstage at the competition, I met two really nice people, one of whom was competing in Masters. They were both so kind, and really helped me feel confident in the work I’d done. They helped me put the wedding dress on for judging, and helped make sure everything was sitting right before I went on stage.
I’ll never forget the moment I spun and heard the gasps in the audience as I revealed the mockingjay dress beneath. As I went back to the green room, one of my new friends ran to give me a hug and tell me how amazing I had done. At the end of the show, even the MC came back to tell me how shocked she was to see the reveal done on stage, she had no idea it was going to happen!
The next day, at the award ceremony, I was honored with Best in Class for both my workmanship and my performance. If you had told me back in 2018 that I’d win for my stage performance, I never would have believed it! Envisioning a concept, learning and teaching yourself new skills to bring it to life, and watching your creative ideas come to fruition is incredibly satisfying.
This year will be my first year competing in Masters. I’m currently hard at work on Glinda’s bubble dress from the new Wicked movie! Anime North is in exactly three months, so wish me luck!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2018, I was preparing for Anime North’s masquerade competition, an event that would become a turning point in my cosplay journey. I had just 30 days to create my first competition piece: Padmé’s picnic gown from Star Wars: Episode II. On top of the intricate embroidery, I was juggling two other costumes, and I honestly didn’t know how I was going to finish everything in time. I spent 110 hours on just the embroidery, working late into the night and pushing myself past my limits. But somehow, I got it done.

Then came the real challenge. Backstage at the competition, I realized I hadn’t prepared a performance. I’d assumed I’d just walk across the stage, strike a few poses, and be done. I was faced with the reality that I needed to perform. Panic set in, and my shy, introverted self was terrified. There was no way I could stand on stage and perform—I thought I might crumble under the pressure. I did my best, but once I stepped on stage I felt the pressure get to me. I twirled on stage for 6 seconds and ran off, feeling incredibly awkward. When I watched the video later, I cringed.

Instead of letting that moment define me, I used it as fuel. I could’ve let that awkward performance discourage me and make me walk away from cosplay competitions altogether, but I didn’t. I came back the next year, and this time, I won a performance award for being the Most Elegant with my portrayal of Suki from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

That first competition could have broken me. I could have let my fear and embarrassment keep me from trying again, but instead, I embraced the discomfort. I took that awkwardness and turned it into motivation to improve. I learned how to face my stage fright head-on, and I learned that resilience isn’t about avoiding mistakes—it’s about learning from them and coming back stronger.

That experience was a pivotal moment in my journey, a reminder that even when things don’t go as planned, I can keep going. The most important part isn’t the mistake—it’s the decision to try again, to push forward, and to use my setbacks as stepping stones to get better.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn being too much of a perfectionist. My first two competition pieces, though something I’m ultimately proud of, were a constant source of stress. At the time, I was always beating myself up over the smallest imperfections. Perfectionism, I thought, was the key to pushing myself and improving. But it ended up leading me straight to burnout in 2020. I was so focused on achieving perfection that nothing ever felt good enough. No matter how hard I tried, I felt like I was falling short, and it took a toll on me.

That burnout led me to walk away from cosplay for over a year. It was a frustrating place to be. When I finally got back into working on Margaery Tyrell’s wedding dress, I decided to do things differently. I told myself not to overthink and just enjoy the process. For the first time, making a costume felt fun rather than stressful. It was such a relief to feel joy in my work again.

And then my cat clawed the dress while it was on the mannequin. In the past, I would’ve spiraled, obsessing over the small tear, wondering how I could fix it to make it perfect. But this time, I didn’t let it derail me. I threaded the pulled thread into a sewing needle and sewed it back, hiding the pull between the inner and outer fabric. Sure, you can still see it if you look closely, but now, instead of seeing it as a flaw, I see it as a funny story—my cat leaving his mark on the costume too. It’s a reminder that life is imperfect, and that’s okay.

I’ve learned it’s so easy to be your own worst critic, especially in the arts. Over time, I’ve realized that instead of letting my self-criticism drag me down, I’ve learned to take a step back and celebrate what I’ve accomplished. Sure, my Katniss Everdeen skirt wasn’t film accurate, but I made that! My Queen Amidala headdress doesn’t always sit perfectly, but I made that! I’m proud of those pieces, imperfections and all. It’s about finding pride in what I create, instead of constantly searching for reasons to critique myself.

Now, when I look at my work, I focus on the victories—on how far I’ve come, not on how close I am to some unattainable idea of perfection. Because in the end, the process, the joy, and the memories are what matter the most.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carlyraeprescott.wixsite.com/website
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__carly.rae__/
• Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@__carly.rae__

Image Credits

Mockingjay_013, Mockingjay_042, IMG_7026, web_carly_001, IMG_2033, PRINT_220813_18_56_06 and PRINT_220813_18_38_09 – @stephanieluxtonphoto on instagram

DSC00187 and DSC07906 – @kmvalor on instagram