The Cosplay Central Crown Championships, the pinnacle of cosplay competitions nationwide, drew a large and enthusiastic crowd to the packed main theatre at PAX Aus 2024 to crown SA’s Claire McCutcheon aka Hench Wench the ultimate winner. After much anticipation and careful deliberation by a distinguished judging panel, her Halsin from Baldur’s Gate 3 was crowned the overall winner.
After her win, the crowd erupted into a spirited rendition of “Happy Birthday” as Claire celebrated her 40th birthday on stage.
“It was cool to turn 40 though and have that feeling of “well, guess I still got it after all!”, since cosplay at times can be pretty superficial and tends to be a bit more of a young people hobby,” she said.
Her craftsmanship was nothing short of extraordinary, with participants utilising leather, rubber, and metalwork to create stunning weapons and costumes.
“I used a blend of modern and traditional techniques, so combining traditional leather tooling techniques with 3d printed tooling stamps,” she said.
Her detailed work captivated the judges and spectators alike, solidifying her place as a top contender in this prestigious event.
Next she plans to make a matching shield from the game to accompany the costume.
“Since druids in D&D frequently use shields and there’s some beautiful wooden shields in Baldur’s Gate 3,” she said.
The Australian leg of the Cosplay Central Crown Championships celebrates some of the best and most creative craftsmanship that the nation has to offer. And now as the national champion, Claire will represent Australia at the global Cosplay Championships in Chicago at C2E2 in 2025.
She also received a $3000 prize, tickets and accommodation for PAX Aus 2024, and, of course, the coveted trophy and medal, a testament to her exceptional skill and creativity.
With over two decades of costume-making under her belt, Claire McCutcheon, thrives on the magic of transforming a pile of materials into stunning, story-rich creations. Her passion for meticulous paintwork and artistic finishing sets her apart as a professional maker.
Claire’s journey began as a teenager at Weta Workshop, followed by a costume construction degree from the National Institute of Dramatic Art and advanced training under Academy Award-winning designer Tim Chappel. This unique background equips her with exceptional skills in design, high-end sewing, and complex armor crafting.
Beyond her crafting prowess, Claire is a fervent advocate for body diversity in cosplay, uplifting and supporting fellow creators. As the winner of the 2016 Australian Championships of Cosplay, she proudly represented Australia at the global C2E2 Crown Championships in 2017.
In late 2017, she combined her love for costume design and video games, founding Hench & Scrap with Scrap Shop Props.
It’s straight back to work for the winner, Claire says Hench & Scrap will be “releasing a video soon on the DOOM: The Dark Ages arsenal we made for Bethesda that was on display at PAX”.
“We’ve also got a cheeky Magic the Gathering project coming up that we’ll be able to talk more about later!” she teased.
This year’s judging panel boasted an array of talent, including last year’s champion, @kirileecosplay, renowned for her Toph Beifong costume from Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Cosplay World Champion 2016, @mrsmajorsam. Joining them was @sameertikkamasala, the current Cosplay Champion of India, each bringing their unique expertise and passion for the art of cosplay.
The runner-up, Danielle, impressively showcased her intricate Micah-10 from Destiny 2, expertly crafted with advanced 3D printing techniques.
For more work by Hench & Scrap, visit the website.
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