Dawn Look-A-Like Contest - DragonCon 1999
(Photo courtesy of J. Lombardo)
Winner's Interview
Cynthia Lizana Gause
1. Why did you want to win the Dawn contest?
The easy and most obvious question would be the $1,000 first prize, however, I really wanted that wonderful piece of artwork Joe Linsner calls the Bank of Dawn check. Its quite beautiful to look at.
2. How did you make your Dawn costume?
I actually had my kitty, Brina, and my hair dresser, Teddy Ivey, help me put it together. We had a friend, Erik, who's a tattoo artist draw the sculls for the middle piece. Between the three of us we got it all put together. Lots of sewing, splicing and superglue.
3. How long did you work on it?
We've been planning this particular outfit since last years convention was over. We did not know that the Dawn doll was going to have this costume on or that it would be highly featured in Dawn, Return of the Goddess part one. After finding the material and deciding how to make everything, it took about 5 months (we all have full time jobs, thus we had to work on it over the weekends) to get it all put together. We were really happy with the results, since none of us had ever done anything like this before.
4. Did you expect to win?
I think my uncontrollable shaking on stage proves that I did not expect to win. Even though there were fewer contestants this year, there were a lot of great costumes. I did not even think I would place. (kitty on the other had kept telling me I looked great, but me, I'm the pessimistic one, and thus never think I'll win anything).
5. What was winning like?
This was one of the coolest things I've ever done. At 30 years of age, having a 14 month old child, I was flattered to know that the judges really thought I looked more like Dawn that night than anyone else on that stage. How would you feel if you just won a $1,000 dollars because you happen to look like a Goddess?
6. You were a returning contestant, did that help?
I don't think so. I did not even place the first year and this year it was run so differently back stage that I didn't really know what to expect.
7. What's next?
Next year's convention. I won't enter the contest again next year, let someone else get to know how it feels to be the goddess herself for a couple of days, but I will be there to root on the contestants and congratulate next year's winner. I hope everyone who reads this will reconsider entering this contest next year. It was a lot of great fun and would have been even had I not won.
8. Anything closing comments?
Yea, just wanted to thank everyone who came up to me after the contest and congratulated me. It was wonderful knowing that a lot of people wanted me to win. I loved taking all the photo's with everyone and I got to live out a fantasy of mine for a couple of days. I can officially say I was the Goddess, even though for a short while. I always meet such great people at this convention and its one of the reasons I come back year after year. If you see me next year, don't be shy, come up and say hello!!
