Anime and video game cosplay popular choices at Armageddon in Tauranga

Tauranga student Charlotte Funnell found it hard not to smile seeing people's reactions to her scary-looking costume. Photo / George Novak

On a normal day Charlotte Funnell says she is your average happy teenager.

Yesterday, however, she transformed herself into Valek from The Conjuring films to attend the Armageddon Expo at the ASB Baypark Arena. It was her first time getting dressed up as a scary character and she found it hard not to smile at the reactions she was getting from others attending.

"I don't usually do scary characters, it's kind of fun," Charlotte said.

"I'm trying to stay in character," she said.

Charlotte prefers to dress as an anime character - in particular Yuuri Katsuki, a competitive figure skater from an anime television series - or a superhero.

The 17-year-old loves cosplay and enjoys taking on new characters any chance she gets.

In fact, Charlotte attended the Armageddon Expo on both the Saturday and Sunday and took on a different character on each day. On Saturday, she dressed up as Ana Amari from the video game Overwatch.

"I enjoy getting into character and being able to change what I look like.

"I just had a nun costume lying around," she joked.

Despite celebrity guests such as Katrina Law (Arrow, Spartacus, The Oath), Lesley-Ann Brandt (Lucifer, The Librarians, Spartacus), Lauren German (Lucifer, Chicago Fire, Hawaii Five-0), Katie McGrath (Supergirl, Merlin, Dracula, Jurassic World), Garrett Wang (Star Trek: Voyager), Daniel Portman (Game of Thrones) and Hacksaw Jim Duggan (WWE wrestling star) attending the event, Charlotte was there for the cosplay.

She says in her everyday life she is a normal teenager, who gets a bit tired at times and has a part-time job working at a retirement home but loves the creativity of make-up.

In the past Charlotte has also attended Armageddon events in Auckland and Wellington, and also attended the inaugural event in Tauranga.

Auckland-based Aleena Khalid, who dressed up on Sunday as Lady Ally, attended the event to catch up with friends and do some shopping.

She was one of the many people who dressed up in costumes such as anime characters, superheroes, movie characters, television characters and more over the two days.