Trekkies go bold in 50th anniversary costume contest

Best Non-Original Series Costume goes to Ratz Schiff, who bought this but altered it herself. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
In a “Star Trek” costume contest Friday, Sept. 9, at the National Air and Space Museum, the Best Non-Original Series Costume went to Ratz Schiff, who bought her costume but altered it herself. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Maggie Cogan won "Most Authentic". She made her costume, which includes bloomers. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Maggie Cogan won “Most Authentic” in Friday night’s “Star Trek” costume contest at the National Air and Space Museum. She made her costume, which includes bloomers. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
William Jjay won Best Original Series Costume. He's dressed as an Andorian. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
William Jjay won “Best Original Series Costume” in the “Star Trek” costume contest Friday, Sept. 9, at the National Air and Space Museum. He’s dressed as an Andorian. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Trekkies enjoying the Star Trek anniversary celebration at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Trekkies enjoy the “Star Trek” anniversary celebration Friday, Sept. 9, at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The “Best in Show” winner of Friday’s “Star Trek” costume contest at the National Air and Space Museum was Randy Jennings. The baby even has a Borg teddy bear. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Even kids show Trekkie spirit at the National Air and Space Museum's 50th anniversary celebration of the Star Trek television series. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Kids show Trekkie spirit at the National Air and Space Museum’s 50th anniversary celebration of the “Star Trek” television series Friday, Sept. 9. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The finalists of the costume contest at the National Air and Space Museum's celebration of the 50th anniversary of television series Star Trek. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Finalists show off their “Star Trek” costumes in the contest Friday, Sept. 9 at the National Air and Space Museum’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the hit television series. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
One finalist receives lots of applause at the National Air and Space Museum's 50th anniversary celebration of Star Trek. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A finalist receives lots of applause Friday, Sept. 9 at the National Air and Space Museum’s 50th anniversary celebration of “Star Trek.” (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A contestant in the costume show at the 50th anniversary celebration of Star Trek at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A contestant takes the stage in the costume show Friday night at the 50th anniversary celebration of “Star Trek” at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Finalist "One in a Million" says you can't go to "Borgs-R-Us" to get costumes like his. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Finalist “One in a Million” said Friday at the National Air and Space Museum’s “Star Trek” costume contest that you can’t go to “Borgs-R-Us” to get costumes like his. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Rod Roddenberry in front of the StarTrek Starship Enterprise studio model at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Rod Roddenberry, son of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, stands in front of the studio model of the Starship Enterprise Friday, Sept. 9 at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The judges of the costume contest in celebration of Star Trek's 50 anniversary at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The judges of the costume contest in celebration of “Star Trek’s” 50 anniversary pose Friday, Sept. 9 at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The judges evaluate the contestants of the Star Trek costume contest at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The judges evaluate the contestants of the “Star Trek” costume contest Friday, Sept. 9 at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Anyone remember Gary Seven? Trek fans at the National Air and Space Museum's 50th anniversary Star Trek celebration were fawning over him. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Remember Gary Seven? “Star Trek” fans at the National Air and Space Museum’s 50th anniversary Star Trek celebration fawned over him Friday, Sept. 9. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Trekkies attend the 50th anniversary celebration of the television series at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Trekkies attend the 50th anniversary celebration of the television series Friday, Sept. 9 at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A trekkie attends the 50th anniversary celebration of the television series at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A trekkie attends the 50th anniversary celebration of the television series Friday, Sept. 9 at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A “Star Trek” fan attends the 50th anniversary celebration of the series Friday, Sept. 9 at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
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Best Non-Original Series Costume goes to Ratz Schiff, who bought this but altered it herself. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Maggie Cogan won "Most Authentic". She made her costume, which includes bloomers. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
William Jjay won Best Original Series Costume. He's dressed as an Andorian. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Trekkies enjoying the Star Trek anniversary celebration at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Even kids show Trekkie spirit at the National Air and Space Museum's 50th anniversary celebration of the Star Trek television series. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The finalists of the costume contest at the National Air and Space Museum's celebration of the 50th anniversary of television series Star Trek. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
One finalist receives lots of applause at the National Air and Space Museum's 50th anniversary celebration of Star Trek. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A contestant in the costume show at the 50th anniversary celebration of Star Trek at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Finalist "One in a Million" says you can't go to "Borgs-R-Us" to get costumes like his. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Rod Roddenberry in front of the StarTrek Starship Enterprise studio model at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The judges of the costume contest in celebration of Star Trek's 50 anniversary at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The judges evaluate the contestants of the Star Trek costume contest at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Anyone remember Gary Seven? Trek fans at the National Air and Space Museum's 50th anniversary Star Trek celebration were fawning over him. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Trekkies attend the 50th anniversary celebration of the television series at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A trekkie attends the 50th anniversary celebration of the television series at the National Air and Space Museum. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)

WASHINGTON — Trekkies went “where no man has gone before” Friday night, dressing in elaborate costumes for a contest as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of “Star Trek” at the National Air and Space Museum.

Many fans showed up in “Star Trek” uniforms they either bought online or made themselves. Others turned heads by dressing as fictional alien beings from different versions of the television series.

Rod Roddenberry, son of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, was one of the judges.

He told WTOP he appreciates fan costumes that are super accurate, but creativity really excites him.

“When [fans] come up with something that’s not necessarily in ‘Star Trek,’ but takes a piece of it and makes it their own, I love that,” Roddenberry said.

Roddenberry’s favorite “Star Trek” captain is Jean-Luc Picard, he said.

“If I really had to choose which ship I wanted to be on, I’d feel much safer on Picard’s ship,” he said. “He was a little bit more about diplomacy, and non-interference. He only broke the rules if he needed to. Kirk, on the other hand, threw the book out the window many, many times.”

When it comes to characters, Roddenberry’s favorite is the android Data.

“I loved his journey to find out what it means to be human,” he said.

The museum recently put the 11-foot long model of the Starship Enterprise used in the original TV series on display.

At the end of the costume contest, awards were handed out in four categories.

“Best in Show” went to Randy Jennings, whose incredible, frightening Borg costume included a Borg baby holding a Borg teddy bear.

The “Most Authentic” winner was Maggie Cogan, who made her own original series dress, complete with bloomers.

“Best Original Series Costume” went to William Jjay, who dressed as an Andorian, complete with a blue face, white hair and antennae.

“Best Non-Original Series Costume” was awarded to Ratz Schiff. She bought elaborate dress uniforms for herself and her husband online and altered them herself.

Michelle Basch

Michelle Basch is a reporter turned morning anchor at WTOP News.

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