San Diego Comic-Con is about to get a whole lot more fashionable. Her Universe just dropped the judging lineup for “The Her Universe Fashion Show 2026 Presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products,” and it’s stacked. Twenty designers will bring their most ambitious DC-inspired couture to the runway on Thursday, July 23 at 6:00 p.m. PT inside the Manchester Grand Hyatt’s Harbor Ballroom — the 12th year running for one of SDCC’s most beloved traditions.
Here’s who’s sitting at the judges’ table this year:
Marc Malkin is back for round two after judging in 2025. As Variety’s Senior Editor of Culture and Events and an Emmy-nominated journalist, Malkin has spent more than three decades on red carpets and behind the scenes of entertainment coverage — he knows star power when he sees it.
Symantha Perrera brings the industry credibility, full stop. As Fashion Design Director for BoxLunch, Her Universe and Wholesale, she’s worked everywhere from high fashion to slow fashion to mass production, and her whole design philosophy is about connecting fans to the characters and stories they love.
Frankey Smith, aka “Fantastic Frankey,” rounds out the first-timers. As co-host of DC Studios Showcase — the official DC Studios video podcast — she’s interviewed everyone from James Gunn and Jim Lee to Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa. If anyone knows how to read a fandom room, it’s her.
And in a nice full-circle moment, last year’s champs are stepping up to judge. Lynleigh Sato, the 2025 Judges’ Winner, and Caitlin Beards, the 2025 Audience Winner, are trading the runway for the judges’ table for the first time — bringing a designer’s-eye perspective no one else on the panel has.
The Challenge
This year’s theme leans all the way into DC. Designers are tasked with turning iconic Super Heroes, Super-Villains and their stories into high-fashion couture, and the finalists will show it all off live on the runway. Two winners get crowned — one chosen by the judges, one by audience vote — and each walks away with a $2,000 cash prize plus a shot at designing an actual collection with Her Universe.
“The Her Universe Fashion Show has always been about celebrating the creativity and passion of fans, and this year’s DC theme takes that celebration to an entirely new level,” said Jillian Wendt, VP Marketing, Her Universe and BoxLunch. “Marc, Symantha and Frankey each bring a unique perspective that represents the very best of entertainment, fashion and fandom, while Lynleigh and Caitlin offer invaluable insight as past winners who have experienced this competition firsthand. We are thrilled to have them join us as we celebrate the incredible designers bringing the iconic world of DC to life.”
Follow Along
Keep up with behind-the-scenes content via @heruniverse on Instagram, X and Facebook, and @officialheruniverse on TikTok — and follow the hashtag #HerUniverseFashionShow for everything happening around the show.
About Her Universe Her Universe is the groundbreaking fandom fashion company and lifestyle brand founded by Ashley Eckstein in 2010. The brand is built around a fandom-centric community powered by women who want to be authentically themselves and celebrate what they love, through quality, size-inclusive, stylish merchandise. Learn more at heruniverse.com and follow @heruniverse on Instagram, X, Facebook, and @officialheruniverse on TikTok.
About Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP), part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Revenue & Strategy division, extends the company’s portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into fans’ lives worldwide. WBDGCP partners with best-in-class licensees on award-winning toy, fashion, home décor and publishing programs inspired by the biggest franchises across Warner Bros.’ film, television, animation and games studios, HBO, Discovery, DC, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Eurosport, Adult Swim and more.
DC, part of Warner Bros. Discovery, creates iconic characters and enduring stories and is one of the world’s largest publishers of comics and graphic novels. DC’s stories and characters are woven throughout Warner Bros. Discovery’s film, television, animation, consumer products, home entertainment, games and themed experiences divisions, and on the DC Universe Infinite digital comic subscription service. Learn more at DC.com.
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