Supermodel: "It don't matter what you wear."

Ah, masquerade: One of the biggest events of the convention. Where the cosplayers show off their talent in costume making and performances onstage for all to see. Regrettably, Traveling Valentine could not perform this year due to not having a skit ready. We had an idea, but we were simply unable to actually rehearse it. Maybe next year or next convention.

Victoria and I were late getting to Masquerade due to a previous engagement. We sat down just as MC Brad DeMoss stated that our entry number canceled. We took our seats behind Luck In Spades and the other judges. I wasn't too sure if my camera flash would be effective at a distance so I stuck to filming clips. And since we arrived late, I don't have the earlier performances.

Twilight Shizuka showed off her bokken skills amid narration taken from Outlaw Star. The act after her was a backflipping Naruto dressed in what I assume is the three years later uniform.

Shizuka
Naruto

A love triangle with old school Voltron characters looked nice.

I wish I could remember Voltron
Tug-of-War

Li Syaoran from Tsubasa did a quick walk on. Final Fantasy Shiny Things took the stage.

Li Syaoran
Final Fantasy Shiny Things

Gaara made a formidable presence.

Gaara's Gourd
Gaara

Mario Tennis: This time it's not Prince Of Tennis cosplay.

Mario Tennis
Princess Of Tennis

Memo to self: Watch or play more .hack before creating a caption for these two.

.Hack
More .Hack

Cosplayer Christophe wore a Tsubasa costume (I don't know who) and did something unmentionable to that Mokonna. And Cosplay Hell ended the Masquerade acts by teaching us how not to write fan-fiction.

No comment.
Cosplay Hell teaches us how not to do fan-fiction
Drunken Xel-ko argues with Brad

Between MC Brad DeMoss entertained the crowds with his Cartman impersonation and kept the show moving quickly amid crowd rowdiness "Flex" became the new "Chair" while people grew equally amused or annoyed.

MC Brad DeMoss

The judges left to make their decisions on who to congratulate for this year's AOD masquerade. Halftime entertainment came courtesy of Wayne and USA Musume. Wayne warmed the audience up with a little striptease and Xel-ko and Pegasus Maiden did a little dance. Ramen and Rice, new additions to USA Musume, gave another stringed performance.

Out goes the right sleeve...
And then the left.
Pegasus Maiden and Xel-ko
Xel-ko and Pegasus Maiden
Ramen and Rice

After the warm up, USA Musume took the stage.

USA Musume Tiffany
USA Musume Performance
A bit of a close-up.

The judges returned and were ready to distribute awards. It was a difficult task to pick the winners since all of the participating cosplayers made an effort to impress and entertain.

Masquerade Judges

And the winners are...

Dejiko and Inuyasha
Children's Award: These cute Dejiko and Inuyasha cosplayers.
Pretty Cure
Judge's Award: Cure White and Cure Black from Pretty Cure.
San

Judge's Award: San from Princess Mononoke.
Dante
Judge's Award: Final Fantasy Shiny Things' Dante from Devil May Cry.
Syaoran
Judge's Award: Li Syaoran from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle.
Cosplay Hell
Judge's Award: Cosplay Hell.
Naruto Girls
Runner Up Best Presentation Award: Ino, Sakura, and another girl with a skit involving found money.
Fera
Runner Up Best Construction Award: Fera from Tales of Eternia.
Pegasus Maiden
Runner Up Best in Show Award: Pegasus Maiden cosplaying from Angel Sanctuary.
Voltron
Best Presentation Award: The Voltron Love Triangle.
Gaara
Best Construction Award: Gaara from Naruto.
Psycho Le Cemu
Best in Show Award: Psycho Le Cemu singing the "I Love Egg" song.
From a distance, Victoria mistook them for the real Psycho Le Cemu. More Psycho Le Cemu
Brad DeMoss And a special award goes to Brad DeMoss for his excellent MC services.