Witchy Elegance: Grace Gicheru Enchants as Josie Saltzman at Delight Fashion School’s Cosplay 2025.
At this year’s Cosplay 2025 event hosted by Delight Fashion School, creativity was in full bloom—each designer bringing beloved characters to life with dazzling originality. Among the standout performances of the night was Grace Gicheru, who captivated the audience with her emotionally rich and beautifully detailed cosplay of Josie Saltzman from Legacies.
A fan-favorite from the Vampire Diaries universe, Josie is known for her quiet strength, inner conflict, and powerful magic. Grace channeled all of that and more, stepping onto the stage with a look that perfectly balanced soft gothic charm and youthful vulnerability. Dressed in a dark burgundy velvet coat layered over a laced-up corset and a pleated plaid skirt, Grace embodied Josie’s signature schoolgirl-meets-witch aesthetic with stunning accuracy.
She didn’t just dress the part—she lived it. Grace carried herself with a calm, introspective energy that mirrored Josie’s character arc throughout the series. Her spellbook prop, glowing pendant, and intricate wand completed the illusion, while her soft, melancholic expressions made the audience feel as though they were watching a scene unfold at the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted.
“I’ve always related to Josie,” Grace shared after the show. “She’s complex—kind and loyal, but also struggling with her darker side. I wanted to show that duality in the design. The soft textures represent her heart, and the darker tones her inner power.”
The judges praised Grace’s attention to detail, emotional performance, and her seamless blend of fashion and fantasy. Fellow designer and attendee, Amaka Obasi, said it best: “Grace didn’t just recreate Josie—she honored her. You could feel the heart behind every stitch.”
As the event celebrated passion, personality, and play, Grace Gicheru’s Josie Saltzman cosplay reminded everyone that sometimes, the most powerful magic comes from within—and when translated through the lens of fashion, it can be absolutely spellbinding.
