San Diego, CA
At San Diego Comic-Con, ‘Asoka’ Actress And Entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein Never Goes Out Of Style
Ashley Eckstein, actress and entrepreneur
Ashley Eckstein earned her fan cred as the voice of Jedi padawan Asoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but she earned her business chops as founder of the groundbreaking fashion brand Her Universe. Though she sold her company to Hot Topic in 2016 and Eckstein has stepped away from day-to-day management of the business, she is still a force to be reckoned with in the world of fandom.
Eckstein will host the 10th annual Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic Con on Thursday, July 25, 6pm at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. The event, which features 25 aspiring designers showing off looks to compete for an opportunity to design a line for Her Universe, has become a very hot ticket at the world’s largest pop culture convention. This year’s winner will be selected by an expert panel of judges, including the 2023 Her Universe Fashion Show winning designers Rachel Petterson and Raeven K; Robin Motts, SVP Hot Topic Merchandising; Vivienne Medrano, Creator of Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss; and VP of Barbie Product Design at Mattel, Robert Best.
I had a chance to speak with Eckstein in a phone interview earlier this month. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
ROB SALKOWITZ: How have things been since Hot Topic took over the brand?
ASHLEY ECKSTEIN: Well, I continued to run the business for Hot Topic up until 2020, around the start of the pandemic, but as a proud parent, I feel like I sent my baby off to college. So I continue to support it but don’t oversee the operations. We’re a private company so I can’t share numbers, but I can say that Her Universe is bigger than ever. They’re in Hot Topic stores globally, in Disney stores and parks, and many other locations worldwide.
RS: Her Universe initially made a splash because not many companies doing licensed apparel made clothing specifically for women, despite the huge demand. How has that evolved?
AE: We were just women’s fashion before, but now we have a sub brand called Our Universe, with menswear, unisex, designs for kids and babies, and accessories. It’s grown quite a bit.
RS: When you started in the early 2010s, the idea of a woman-owned company catering to women in the fan culture area was seen as a novelty. Now it is big business. How would you say the space has evolved?
AE: When we started the company, there was no competition, and we had a lot of doubters. They wondered how we were every going to get money. A lot of people told me, “good luck, little girl.” Within the first couple of years, we were a multi-million dollar business, so we definitely opened eyes pretty quickly. I also think entertainment companies saw the buying power of women. When Disney came out with Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the lead character was Rae, I think that put a lot of attention into the space.
I remember sitting in a licensing summit meeting back when I was CEO, and some licensors – I can’t give you the specific names – estimated that they were leaving over $1 billion on the table by not catering to women and girls. How quickly their eyes were opened!
RS: Manga, anime and webtoons are also bringing a lot of young women into fandom. Is that something the company is looking at?
AE: Absolutely, Her Universe has definitely been going into anime properties, especially being aligned with a company like Hot Topic. The thing is, female fans were always there. It’s not something where they are all of a sudden coming to the table. They just weren’t being catered to. And now they feel welcomed into the space, and I think that’s the biggest difference.
RS: You’re celebrating the 10th year of the Fashion Show at SDCC this year. Anything new and cool for fans to expect?
AE: Mattel is our sponsor for this year and they’ve allowed me to go back to my childhood as a giant fan of Barbie. I still am, to this day. Plus some of their other properties like Pocket Polly and Uno. So I am getting to play with some of my favorite brands. You know, in year ten, it’s going to be special. My looks are always a surprise. But I’m getting to do something that’s been a dream of mine since 2017 and has not been done much in fashion. It will definitely be shocking to some people. We’ve amassed quite a team and you’re not going to want to miss it.
RS: Finally, what new projects have you been up to?
AE: I’m very excited that I’m creating, executive-producing and starring in my own sci-fi audio drama project for Disney. That’s giving me the opportunity to create my own fantasy project. It’s all original, not a spinoff or part of any existing franchise. I’m very excited to apply everything I’ve learned in the space. There’s definitely going to be merchandise and other fun things for fans. I’m pouring my heart and soul into it!
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 21: Models walk the runway at the Her Universe Fashion Show: Fashion Meets … [+]
San Diego, CA
UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance
UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)
San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.
The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.
The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.
San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.
Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Diego, CA
Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.
The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.
Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.
Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.
The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.
Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
San Diego, CA
SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.
The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.
The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.
Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.
The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.
Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.
Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.
“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.
The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.
Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.
“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.
Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.
“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.
Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.
Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.
“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”
Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.
“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.
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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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