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Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con to Celebrate 100 Years of Disney
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Disney, and Star Wars actress Ashley Eckstein is helping fans to celebrate in style this summer. As a huge lifelong Disney World fan herself, she’s hosting the annual Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con to embrace all things Disney.
Eckstein opened up about her love for Disney and how the upcoming SDCC Her Universe Fashion Show will celebrate the company, complete with a special Disney co-host! The show, which has been a standout part of San Diego Comic-Con for the better part of a decade, will bring together designers from across the country for a showcase of fandom fashion.
For the ninth annual fashion show this year, Ashley Eckstein – known for voicing Ahsoka Tano across the Star Wars franchise and founding fandom fashion company Her Universe – is joining forces with Broadway’s Michael James Scott, a.k.a. the Genie in the stage production of Aladdin. When asked about her collaboration with Scott, Eckstein shared an important piece of backstory.
A Disney Fan’s Dream Come True
Eckstein reflected on her years as a Disney fan and working with the company, stating, “If you know me, you know that I am just the biggest Disney fan. If you don’t know me, what’s important to know is that I grew up in Orlando, Florida and my dad was a Disney cast member and I grew up Disney.”
She continued, “I mean, I practically was raised on Main Street, USA. My parents used the Disney parks and the Disney stories as a part of education, almost. You could definitely say I grew up Disney, and it’s a part of the way I think, it’s the way I’m inspired. I use the stories of Disney as my inspiration, and so it’s very much a part of my DNA in the fabric of my entire being. To work with the Disney company, both with Her Universe and personally as an actress and as a creator and designer and storyteller, is really a dream come true.”
Celebrating the Magic of Disney
Ashley Eckstein has had plenty of opportunities to celebrate Disney over the course of her career, including when her Star Wars Mindful Matters shorts were made available at every Walt Disney World Resort. Now, she can celebrate (and help fans celebrate) all things Disney with the ninth Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con on July 20. The show will exclusively feature Disney designs, highlighting the diverse properties under the Disney umbrella.
Eckstein said, “I would never do that unless it was a big enough umbrella, of properties that were under that umbrella. Like you said, everything from Walt Disney himself to the parks to Walt Disney Studios animation to Disney Studios to Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, National Geographic, Fox, all of the Disney parks. I mean, there was so much to play with and celebrate. There’s no way we can highlight it all, but we’re doing a good job. We’re going to celebrate a lot in one show.”
A Dream Come True Reunion
Ashley Eckstein and Michael James Scott’s collaboration for the Her Universe Fashion Show is a reunion for the longtime friends and theater kids who both grew up dreaming of working with Disney. Eckstein shared, “Michael and I are really good friends and it dates way back to high school. We both grew up in Orlando, Florida, and we both went to a theater magnet school, where we were theater kids together.”
She continued, “We have just been the best of friends ever since we were freshmen in high school, and I’m just thrilled that we’re doing the show together. That we’re co-hosting the fashion show this year, celebrating 100 years of Disney, but the fact that we’ve both made our Disney dreams come true, is really, really special.”
A Night of Fun and Entertainment
As for what attendees can expect from the Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con, Ashley Eckstein promised lots of laughs and audience interaction. She shared, “We’re gonna be interacting with the audience all night. We’re going to be giving away a ton of prizes, lots and lots of prizes, and so Michael and I are going to be going out into the audience, interacting with the audience. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Join the Celebration
The 2023 Her Universe Fashion Show will take place on July 20 as part of San Diego Comic-Con. The event is free and open to the general audience, with doors opening at 5 p.m. PT. The showcase will be held in the Harbor Ballroom of the Manchester Hyatt Hotel. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the geek couture of talented designers and experience the magic of the Disney celebration!
