Cake-Con in Comic-Con

Diego Martinez and Vanessa Carrillo
October 29, 2019

Filled with cosplay, art, and comic vendors, the L.A. Comic-Con did not fail to deliver a diverse experience for those who attended. One vendor, in particular, Mayra Estrada, has a grandiose vision for something more specific: cake. Her idea is to start an international Cake-Con, a convention where people can look at sculptures in a different and tasty medium.

Estrada’s idea started shortly after she had learned that she was not the only cake sculptor basing her art off of different ideas. With her friends and contacts, she formed Cake-Con International, an idea for a convention in which artists from around the world participate and show their art in different mediums. Estrada’s vision is that people treat Cake-Con like Comic-Con, a place where you can cosplay, where you can buy artistic treats, and enjoy yourself.

When asked how she started Cake-Con International, Estrada responded with “I started Cake-Con international in 2014 with my club member Casandra Rice, Jennifer Holst is the manager. And we have it themed today after comic characters.”

Estrada and her team passionately sculpt every cake by hand and using cake as their foundation and Rice Krispies as their material. Every year, their team of bakers and sculptors make a different theme for their cakes and post it on their social media pages. Most sculptures are inspired by different television shows and comics, mostly topical characters that people will enjoy to see and eat.

“All sculptures are hand free, made by different artists, so we have a lot of talent in Cake-Con” Estrada stated. “I hope that audiences get joy happiness and excitement to see something special made for their event for weddings and big events.”

Estrada and her team are currently working on expanding their audience, going to different conventions such as Wonder-Con and other Comic-Cons to show passionate comic lovers their own comic inspired creations.

“Every year we’ll start growing little by little, our banner is also even made out of edible mediums that are members of cake con,” Estrada stated. “It would be great someday for everyone to see their favorite superheroes as cakes and to see people come in their cosplays to our bake shows and so we could be a big one happy family.”

Cake-Con currently has 55 members from different countries and continue looking for more creative bakers and cake sculptors.

Mayra Estrada’s:

Facebook, Website

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About the Contributors

Diego Martinez, Copy Editor

Planning to attend a Cal. State to major in English and Philosophy, copy editor, Diego Martinez 11, is very active when it comes to school. He is going on to his second year in newspaper, tutors at the writing center, and has taken multiple AP classes. He is a very talkative and a family oriented person. He often visits his family in Mexico and gets in trouble for talking too much in class. Listening to a variety of music including neoclassical, musical structures, heavy metal, and progressives, Martinez enjoys playing the guitar and sometimes composes his own music as well.

When asked how he got into music he responded, “It was the absolute thrill of exploring possible dynamic range in different genres of music,” Martinez stated. This just goes to show how Martinez isn’t afraid of getting out of his comfort zone and trying new things. When asked why he chose to be a writer for newspaper he stated, “I enjoy writing, it is a pastime and helps me get my mind off of things,” Martinez stated.

Vanessa Carrillo, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Co-Editor in Chief, Vannesa Carrillo, 12, has been part of Downey High School’s Newspaper, The Downey Legend, for the past 2 years. Carrillo has also been part of the Downey Viking’s girls wrestling team since freshman year and wishes to end her last season off strong. As a dependable soul, she spends every lunch with the special needs students in hopes of pursuing a career in teaching the disabled.

As a frequent aid to those with special needs Carrillo has made it her life mission to help those in need. “I help the students with severe developmental issues,” Carrillo stated. “I help feed them. I read to them. I sing to them and I do arts and crafts with them.”

Leanna Bobadilla, Social Media Manager

While innately mellow and lovely to all, Leanna Bobadilla, 12, packs a punch through her zealous work, turning heads to the brilliance of her infinite imagination. Approaching her third year in The Downey Legend, the Social Media Manager dabbles in photography and art, hoping to major in business and minor in graphic design at Cal State Long Beach. Besides designing, Bobadilla is a boba connoisseur and enjoys listening to music in her free time.

“Honestly it’s just the idea of having so many possibilities.” Bobadilla stated, “Even if the process feels difficult, as doing new things often feels like, knowing that I’m doing the best I can with what I know is good to not be so hard on myself.”