If anyone knows how to make an entrance, it’s Michael James Scott. Best known as the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway—and the longest-running performer in the role globally—the award-winning stage star is once again sprinkling his signature magic over San Diego Comic-Con. Scott is returning for his third year as co-host of the Her Universe Fashion Show, presented by Universal, and he’s ready to dazzle fans with everything from glittering fashion moments to powerhouse vocals.
The annual event, which kicks off SDCC on July 24 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt’s Seaport Ballroom, has become a must-attend celebration of geek couture, inclusivity, and fandom-forward creativity. With this year’s theme, “Defying Fashion: Fashion That Defies Expectations,” Scott tells Celeb Secrets that the message couldn’t be more personal.
“Just who I am—I’ve had to defy expectations,” he says. “A lot of us have felt othered, whether by race, gender, sexuality… Fashion has always been a way to embrace that otherness. This show brings us together through individuality, joy, and unapologetic expression.”
Alongside Her Universe founder and Star Wars voice icon Ashley Eckstein, Scott will co-host the evening featuring 25 designers inspired by everything from Wicked to How To Train Your Dragon and Universal Monsters. The dynamic duo will also debut their newly launched podcast, HypeFriend!, with a live after-party taping on July 25 at the San Diego Central Library, inviting fans to keep the good vibes going.
“This podcast is our love language,” Scott tells Celeb Secrets. “Ashley’s over here giving you the recipe for friendship—and I’m the friend who shows up, in a FIERCE outfit, ready to eat the cake, even if it’s burnt,” he laughs. “Honestly, doing a podcast with my lifelong bestie where we overshare and laugh too loud? That’s my jam.”
As for the show? Expect four jaw-dropping looks, live vocals, and a special musical moment with Eckstein herself. “Ashley’s returning to her roots and singing again, which is such a vulnerable and beautiful full-circle moment,” he teases. “We’ve been hyping each other up with voice notes, rehearsals, and in-person energy. It’s going to be unforgettable.”
This year’s event will also feature an exciting new addition to the judging panel: Marissa Bode, the breakout star of Wicked and the first wheelchair user to portray Nessarose on screen.
Her presence at the event as a guest judge represents everything the show stands for—creativity, visibility, and community.
“We are so excited to have Marissa as a guest judge,” Michael shares. “Her iconic performance as Nessarose in the Wicked film was so powerful, and I’m just thrilled she gets to experience what we all know is one of the most iconic, inclusive, joy-filled events at Comic-Con.”
Bode joins a judging panel that includes Variety’s Marc Malkin, Hot Topic’s Robin Motts, and last year’s winning designers Wes Jenkins and Candice Miller, who will help select one of two winning looks from a pool of 25 dazzling, fandom-inspired creations.
“I think the audience is going to be mind-blown that she’s there,” Scott adds. “To see her soak up all that love, light, laughter, and geek couture? That’s going to be a moment.”
Michael and Ashley first became friends in high school, and their bond has only grown through years of shared creative projects. The HypeFriend! podcast—produced by Dream Three and described as a “friendship revolution”—brings their dynamic to a wider audience with guest stars like RuPaul’s Drag Race‘s Nina West and Mickey Mouse voice actor Bret Iwan already on the mic.
“It’s really opened up our friendship in ways we didn’t expect,” he adds. “We’ve always been close, but working together on this podcast has deepened our communication, our honesty, and how we show up for each other. We’re trying to model that energy—what it looks like to be a real, hype-worthy friend.”
And of course, you can’t talk about Michael James Scott without mentioning Broadway. With over a dozen Broadway credits (from The Book of Mormon to Something Rotten!), multiple international productions, and a Helpmann Award win under his belt, Scott still performs in Aladdin nightly in New York—and he’s not slowing down.
“I’m a big Black gay man, backed by one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world, playing a joyful, larger-than-life role rooted in love and light. That’s power,” he says. “It’s a gift I don’t take lightly.”
Whether he’s singing center stage, hyping up his podcast co-host, or cheering on a new generation of geek fashion designers, one thing is clear: Michael James Scott is a force of fierce. And if you’re headed to San Diego Comic-Con? Make sure you’ve got a wristband for the fashion show—because this year’s event is guaranteed to defy expectations.
You can catch the 2025 Her Universe Fashion Show at the Seaport Ballroom inside the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Doors open at 5PM PT with the show starting 6PM PT. Wristbands are required and distributed first-come at 10AM PT at the venue. The HypeFriend! live taping after-party will take place on Friday, July 25 from 10–11AM at the San Diego Central Library. All of the deets can be found here.
For more on the 2025 Her Universe Fashion Show, watch our full interview with Michael James Scott below and don’t forget to let us know if you’re excited for the big event by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
Interview quotes have been condensed and edited for clarity.
