‘More than anything, I hope my story encourages someone else out there, especially a young person who might be struggling to fit in or who feels that their interests are a little unconventional.’
Johannesburg, South Africa (22 October 2026) – At Comic Con Africa, which took place in Joburg in September, local game design lecturer Brendan Jackson was crowned Overall Champion of Cosplay.
The win earns Brendan the honour of representing South Africa at the 2027 Cosplay Central Crown Championships of Cosplay, where he’ll stand alongside some of the most talented cosplay artists and costume makers from around the world!
Brendan’s love of cosplay started when he was a teenager, at a time when he was searching for where he fitted in, he tells us.
“I first got into cosplay as a teenager, over 12 years ago. Growing up, I didn’t always feel like I fitted in, and I was sometimes bullied for my geeky and nerdy interests. Like many kids who felt a little different, I found comfort in fictional worlds, video games, comics and the characters within them.”
He discovered he could step into the shoes of the heroes he admired, through a creative outlet that suited him perfectly.
“I’ve always loved making things, figuring out how things work, and bringing ideas to life. Cosplay was this incredible combination of all those interests. I could take a character that existed only on a screen or a page and figure out how to recreate them in the real world.”
View this post on Instagram
Tshwane SPCA Pooches Pampered With a Parlour Day
11,154 Young Capetonians Gain Skills to Lead, Work and ThriveIt started as a refuge, but it has grown into one of the biggest passions of his life. Brendan still cosplays with just as much joy, more than a decade later. And he’s fallen in love with the community around him.
“As I became more involved in cosplay, I also began to realise just how special the community surrounding it was.” he says. “Cosplay introduced me to so many wonderful people who shared my interests and enthusiasm for creativity, and over the years I’ve tried to do my part to help grow and support the South African cosplay community.”
On social media, SA’s national champ uses his platform to encourage, inspire and connect with other cosplayers.
“I started creating tutorials on social media to teach others how to make their own costumes and props, began giving talks and workshops at conventions to share what I’d learned, and helped organise community meetups to bring cosplayers together.”
View this post on Instagram
His curiosity about the community even led to a Master’s degree in Digital Arts, where he explored why South African cosplayers choose the characters they portray and what cosplay means to them!
Now he shares his love of creativity, technology and making things with the next generation of South African creatives as a game design lecturer.
“For me, cosplay has become so much more than simply dressing up as fictional characters. It’s about creativity, self-expression, learning new skills, building confidence and finding a community where people can feel like they belong.”
Brendan’s champion costume was a labour of love. It took 1000 hours in the making!
It was one of his most ambitious projects yet, creating a fully armoured Chaos Lord of Khorne from the Warhammer universe.
It took roughly a year and a half for him to complete, with every single component made by hand. The costume is built from EVA foam, alongside 3D-printed parts, metalwork, handmade chainmail and electronics. It features illuminated weapons, glowing effects, a custom-built smoke system and over 150 skulls!
“The project pushed me to learn new techniques, solve countless problems and spend many late nights figuring out how to turn an ambitious idea into something real.”
Those hours paid off when he stepped on stage as SA’s national champ!
View this post on Instagram
“After all that work, standing on stage at Comic Con Africa and being announced as the Overall Champion of Cosplay was an incredibly special moment.”
In May next year, Brendan will travel to London to represent South Africa at the international Crown Championships of Cosplay.
“It’s a little surreal to think that something I started doing as a teenager, partly as a way to escape the difficulties of not fitting in, has now grown into an opportunity to represent my country on the world stage.”
He wants to share the spotlight with the incredible local cosplaying community.
“We have some truly extraordinary artists, makers and creatives in this country, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to showcase a little bit of that talent internationally.”
Most importantly, he hopes that his story brings inspiration to young people who feel like the odd one out. Every hero starts with an origin story, and the best ones always stand out for being different.
“More than anything, I hope my story encourages someone else out there, especially a young person who might be struggling to fit in or who feels that their interests are a little unconventional, to embrace the things they’re passionate about. You never quite know where those passions might take you!”
by 
