Being A Girly Pop At Dream Con 2026

As a newcomer to conventions, I am learning that there are niche subspaces for those who aren’t into mainstream or active fandoms. These subspaces get even more niche when you add the intersectionality of being a black woman. At Dream Con, I was happy to find ample activations, panels, and events that aligned with my specific so-called dormant interests!

Dream Con is a 3-day anime, gaming, sports, film, music & pop culture convention held at the George R. Brown Convention Center. They seek to “showcase diverse talents, amplify underrepresented voices in mainstream spaces, and redefine the landscape of fandom events while fostering inclusivity and a sense of belonging.”

While cosplaying at cons, feeling comfortable and safe is a major priority for me, especially as a neurodivergent woman. Most of the attendees at Dream Con were cosplaying and a large majority of them were women! Seeing so many women of all ages, shapes, and sizes show their passion for fashion was so encouraging and grounding. Everyone was showering girls that passed by with loving remarks. There were so many creative takes from a wide range of femme fandoms: Totally Spies, Hello Kitty, Hatsune Miku, Stocking and Panty, Proud Family, and more! I spotted a few gyarus, hyper femme and gender-bent versions of popular anime and cartoon characters. I felt at home around the women in Dream Con despite some hungry looks and pointing from men which I’m learning may come with the craft. I can’t wait to see more femme fandom meet-ups in the future. It was so refreshing to see such a diverse range of artistry!

There was no shortage of women's perspectives on the itinerary. I attended Black Women in Wrestling with Haevyn Reyhne, Kiah Dream, and Elianna and Fangirl to Industry Pro with Monique Henry-Dixon and Shana Dixon. I’ve recently dipped my toe into the world of wrestling and the art of improv. This panel taught me how tough the wrestling industry is and how much adaptability and resilience it requires. Elianna, with a wide array of knowledge and experience, gave great notes on how to remain true to your boundaries regardless of peer pressure. Kiah told her story about how she trusted herself, and dived head first into her wrestling career. Haevyn was super candid about her experience being a commentator in a space that is enjoyed by a majority white male audience.

The next was the Fangirl to Industry Pro Panel. Monique and Shana are two animation industry professionals on the rise! This was their first time meeting in person, but it felt like sitting in with two friends discussing their stories, struggles, and accomplishments over lunch. Though I don’t work in the animation industry, their conversation was so insightful and informative, and I could apply the same knowledge to my own career. I was reinstilled with the magical girl power of believing in and advocating on my own behalf, and living in the whimsical world that my younger self imagined!

On Friday, I went to the Otaku Dance Academy: Twerk That Otaku Class hosted by Black Girls in Anime. I joined the class late, but due to the amazing instructor, I was able to learn the routine well! The routine was upbeat, flirty, and fun! But while trying to learn the choreography, I was distracted by us, participants, being forced onto a peninsula surrounded by men recording. Feeling as if I was the one on stage, performing for them instead of the student. While twerking and grinding on the floor, I felt vulnerable, unsafe, and unsure of where videos of my body would land, not just for myself, but for the other women and teenagers who were under 18, since this was not an age-restricted activity.

Right next door was the Dream Stage. The Film Fest was a huge highlight! It was in partnership with the Black Cinema Club HTX, and hosted by Khleo Thomas and King Vader. The Dream Stage lighting and set design was so refined, sleek, and colorful. My love for film and film analysis was reinvigorated with each body of work they screened. The judges made great observations and personalized critiques and suggestions for each contestant. Candy Lady, There’s A Klansman in the Trunk, The Crib and more took the black cultural experience and displayed it for all to enjoy. They had audiences engaged and hanging onto every scene.

My final activity of the day was Hentai or Nah?! (18+). I loved the concept of this panel given the lines that anime, ecchi, and hentai blur. Up on arrival, no one was there to check IDs, only a verbal proclamation for teenagers to leave. Then, the game show started, and the enthusiastic hosts picked their contestants. The audience chattered amongst themselves, and placed their bets on the soon-to-be winner. As we went through the game, choosing which of the 4 answers is a real hentai title, the vibe began to shift, and soft hums spread across the crowd. Most of the actual hentai titles were lolli or high school-based, and the audience, including myself, was getting uncomfortable. The two final correct answers included a screenshot of tentacle impregnation rape, and the other was titled “Waiting Out the Rain Balls Deep in a Sexy High School Gyaru.” After that, the audience cleared out quickly.

Saturday, the Dream Con team went on a redemption arc, and really made strong and effective efforts to keep adult and intimate experiences more safe. In the afternoon, I skipped down to the KPOP Random Dance Play hosted by JxM Entertainment. The music ranged from 2nd to 5th Gen, and I saw so many groups I'd never heard of before. It was such an interactive event with KPOP lovers jumping in to showcase the routine they'd been practicing in their room. I am so excited to see the expansion of this event!

While exploring the halls, I stopped by the Gaming Hall, more specifically, the arcade. My go to for every arcade is Dance Dance Revolution. I was not disappointed. The DDR machine was up and ready to go, and did not have a super long line. They also had one more dance game that I had never played before, but it was extremely fun and difficult. It was based on early 2000s RnB and Hip Hop choreography, and KPop styled routines for men and women. Afterward, I wanted to try the dance class again, given yesterday’s experience. I arrived at Cosplay & Slay! A Chair Dance Experience (18+), and Dream Con staff were on it! They only allowed those who were participating inside the room, and closed the doors, so people couldn’t stand in the frame and watch. There were teachers provided for each side of the room for personalized assistance. The routine also had alternative moves if mobility was more challenging! Volunteers continuously checked if people felt safe, and if people were really participating or recording, etc. They really curated a safe space. Even other participants would tell those coming in that the class was at capacity, would close the door, or would use their voice to advocate for the people around them. I learned a routine to "Til the Room Stinks" Kwn, chatted with the girls and gays next to me, and got a real boost of self-esteem from feeling comfortable in my body.

Being a girly pop at conventions can be really hard, but the femme and queer community at Dream Con made it easier. From cosplaying to BL Court to The Sims with Ebonix and Amaaree, and Yap & Yaoi, there were so many activities and conversations to be had! I am excited to see the inclusion of more safe spaces for queer and hyper-femme fandoms, and the growth of Dream Con as a whole. Learn more about Dream Con here: https://www.dreamconvention.com/