>>9369437
Looks like a small con. Having judged and run cosplays at small conventions before sometimes you've got real slim pickings. Best in show might not actually be "the best" but they may have done the best skit and construction/presentation out of everyone who entered.
>2008
>Wasn't that long ago, really. Why is this even included?
>Oh it's 2017, that was 9 years ago.
>>9368820
Mainstreamness has a lot to do with it, really. Most people in their 20's have had exposure to anime and grew up on some form of anime. Cosplay is commonly understood. Social media really played a gigantic part in making cosplay, conventions and anime more mainstream.
Back in the day, you went to conventions to find people who were more like-minded. These days, social media easily helps you find others like you and lets you know that you're not alone in your obsessive fandoms and weird hobbies. More people want to try it out. More people are able to share their techniques and the bar is set way higher. Everyone wants their time in the spotlight. Likes/shares/reblogs/followers whatever give you the same rush and feeling of "oh love your costume! let's talk about this series and trade AIM usernames" Lots of kids, and parents more open to bringing them. Whereas 10-15 years ago parents had no freaking clue unless they were into it themselves. Kids are being born into and raised and can instantly stream the stuff we had to torrent and our predecessors had to trade 15th generation VHS tapes via snail mail for.