To ensure this Kiriko outfit looked its absolute best at the BW 2026 convention, I spent the entire previous evening frantically styling the wig in my hotel room. The high blue ponytail dusted with shimmering glitter looked gorgeous under the venue lights, though the glitter rubbed off onto the clothes quite easily, so I had to tread with extra caution throughout the day. To keep the tiny white wings on my shoulders and the giant pink bow on my chest from getting knocked off in the crowded halls, I was constantly shielding them with care. The crowd at the convention today was even larger than anticipated; walking around in full gear all day left the soles of my feet aching, but running into so many fellow fans who instantly recognized Kiriko from Overwatch made it all incredibly rewarding.
For this Kiriko appearance, I put serious effort into the makeup. To match her character features, I wore vibrant blue colored contacts and elongated the eyeliner, aiming to recreate that fox-like cunning paired with a sharp, spirited gaze. The loose strands at the front of the wig were secured with hair wax and setting spray to prevent them from sticking to my face amid the crowded venue. The costume's fidelity was quite high, and the gold trim held great texture under the lights; the downside, however, was that it scratched easily, demanding extra care whenever I walked or sat down. Since the original outfit design is rather form-fitting, the waist embellishments needed constant readjusting—which is probably the bittersweet part of doing cosplay.
While moving through the halls, several players recognized me, and some even struck up conversations about Kiriko's support playstyle in the game. As someone who frequently mains support, I adore Kiriko's agile skill kit and her ability to protect teammates in critical moments; bringing her to life through cosplay at BW 2026 fulfilled a cherished recent wish of mine. Naturally, finding open space for photos on the convention floor was tough—there were constant crowds passing behind in the background—so I had to seize quick moments to find angles around the rest areas. The sitting shots were taken on folding chairs during an intermission between stage events while chatting with friends, capturing a much more relaxed demeanor.
Browsing the convention all day took a major toll on my physical stamina. Even though the venue's air conditioning was blasting, wearing this layered outfit still had me sweating profusely. The blue contacts in particular made my eyes dry after extended wear, so the very first thing I did once it wrapped up was wash my hands and take them out. Still, seeing so many passionate fans gathering together and putting heart and soul into costumes and props for characters they love—that atmosphere in itself was an absolute delight.
Now I'm packing up the wig and costume, ready to treat myself to a hearty meal. There are still many details in this Kiriko look that can be refined, and for my next outdoor shoot, I hope to scout a location with better lighting to clearly showcase the shoulder wings and bow accents. That's all for today's BW convention recap; hopefully, I can continue honing my makeup and prop crafting skills to deliver even better looks down the road.