Atlas Bayens needed to find a way out of a funk.
The Whitehall teen, like many youths, was experiencing stress, anxiety and other emotions fairly strongly a few years ago.
Things got even tougher during the pandemic.
It was through video games that she found a way out, and a way up.
One in particular was “Bloodborne” for the Sony PlayStation. It’s an action role-playing game that features a journey through a horror-filled gothic city.
“I wasn’t in the best place in my life whenever I found ‘Bloodborne’ as a game,” Bayens said. “It really showed me that all these characters have this tragic life and live in this world that’s just absolutely nuts, but they’re still doing it. They’re still going, and making these amazing weapons.”
She fell in love with one of the main characters, an old hunter, which would serve as an inspiration for another creative outlet.
“Gehrman is a mentor, and helps your character that you play as through the entire game,” Bayens said. “I felt like he was a mentor to me, and he was the first character in a very long time that I felt a deep connection to.”
That connection led to action as Bayens would develop an outfit based on Gehrman.
She starting working on the outfit in December 2020. She pulled from her knowledge gained through Baldwin High School art classes, painting and exploring how different colors and textures work together.
Wood, metal casters, foam and an iWALK hands-free metal crutch, were among materials used.
Bayens, who graduated from the Baldwin-Whitehall School District last year, spent more than 300 hours putting it all together.
Her hard work paid off as she would go on to win best craftsmanship-amateur in front of a huge crowd at Steel City Con in the Monroeville Convention Center on April 10.
Bayens, 19, took home a certificate, cash and a confidence boost.
“This is the first big cosplay that I’ve made in seven years,” she said. “The last cosplay I did was mostly store-bought. This is the first time making the outfit, making the weapons, first prop, actually, and first pertain to armor-making.
“I’m always looking to improve my craft. It’s always nice to come here and talk to other cosplayers because they always have great insight on how to make things better and improve what I can do so I can become a better cosplayer as well.
“The stage is oddly comforting and it was nice to be back on it. It felt like home.”
Bayens thanked her parents, Dave and Jen, for all their support.
Her mother recalled what it was like watching her daughter hard at work.
“Sometimes I sit there and am like, ‘What are you doing?” Jen Bayens said. “Or I’m cautiously like, ‘Please, don’t burn the house down.’ I think it’s the coolest thing because I like seeing people follow their dreams.”
The contest has grown over the years into three divisions; children, teens and adults.
It takes place in the conference room during on the final day in the the final hours of the three-day event, and usually draws more than 200 total contestants.
Three judges select 10 to 12 finalists depending on quality and creativity of the participants’ work.
Bayens was among the dozen selected in this month’s convention.
Lower Burrell winner
Fellow finalist Ri Foschia, 22, of Lower Burrell, said she also uses cosplays as a creative outlet.
“I’m a practical effects artist, and this is a way for me to do something I love without having to travel the world and never be home in order to do it on movie sets and stuff,” Foschia said. “I do this as a hobby to get it out of my system without having to sacrifice people I love spending time with and never being home.”
The Greensburg native turned Alle-Kiski Valley resident won best concept for her take on Jinx from “League of Legends.”
“It’s justification for all the money and time that have been put into this,” Foschia said. “Her whole thing is blowing people up. So, she has a lot of big guns.”
Her costume was a combination of Jinx’s look in the video game and the animated series “Arcane,” which is based on its world and characters.
Foschia said she spent about 250 hours in four months to make Jinx. She used leather, foam, a cardboard wrapping paper tube, paint and LED lights among other materials. She also made all the props.
Other winners
Gerard Burick of Churchill was selected as the host’s pick for his Nameless Ghoul Water, a musician in the band Ghost.
The award comes with no cash — but the biggest trophy.
Pam Carey of Upstate New York took home best in show in the adult division for the second consecutive Steel City Con.
She hand made everything, from the armor, weapons and down to the socks of a Dungeons & Dragons character.
Carey won as Davy Jones, the supernatural ruler of the Seven Seas in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie franchise, at the August convention.
Steel City co-owner Bob Stein said the competitors’ skill level continues to improve year after year.
“The costume contest is awesome because people of all ages can showoff their creativity with cosplays of all genres,” Stein said. “The entries are amazing and we are surprised each time.”
Photos and videos from the costume contest and the convention can be found on Steel City Con’s Facebook page as well as its official fan forum page.
About 12,000 people came through the doors of the convention center April 8-10.
More than 60 staffers and volunteers, not including officials brought by celebrities, tended to everything from long lines, packed aisles and even a medical emergency.
“We encountered many challenges this weekend including, but not limited to weather both onsite and affecting celebrity flights, a couple celebrity cancellations, and many big name celebrities causing larger crowds than usual,” Stein said. “We are constantly striving to improve the overall experience, and we appreciate the feedback we receive.
“Through the event, we replied to every single customer who emailed or messaged us with issues, some we were able to resolve immediately.”
Many attendees took to social media to express concerns and offer compliments about the weekend, as well as their dream list of celebrities for future conventions.
Most included positive feedback and highlighted specific staffers going the extra mile, while the primary complaints were about packed autograph and photo lines for Chevy Chase, Steve Ogg, Jon Bernthal and other headliners.
Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-871-2367, [email protected] or via Twitter .
