Introduction - What is it like being a Cosplayer?

My name is Chloe, and I'm a cosplayer. Being a cosplayer is a gigantic confidence boost. In my everyday life, I am extremely shy and I lack self confidence. When I put on a costume, however, I become a completely different person. I can express myself and hold my chin up high. When people stop and ask to take pictures with me, I get a feeling that I can't explain. Cosplaying truly helps to free you and lets you step into the shoes of your character. Creating a cosplay is a bitch though.

What are your next goals?

Bonnie MacFarlane from Red Dead Redemption, Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones, and Abaddon from Supernatural are my next planned cosplays. I want to learn to sew and work with leather!

Cosplay Characters

My first cosplay was Meowth from Pokemon. I wore it to Alamo City Comic Con 2013 and received an incredible amount of praise. I was immediately hooked. I started planning my next cosplay the day after. My second cosplay was a female Captain America, which I wore to Alamo City Comic Con 2014. I created a female Winter Soldier cosplay and tailored it to fit my best friend who attended ACCC 2014 with me. I am currently working on a Red Dead Redemption's Bonnie MacFarlane cosplay, which I will wear to Wizard World San Antonio and ACCC 2015.

What does Cosplay mean to you?

Cosplaying is a means of escape to me. I become a completely different person for a day and I can repress all of my worries. Being a part of the cosplay community helped me feel a sense of belonging and adventure.

Who have been your biggest influences/role models/mentors?

I came in to cosplay just by seeing a character and wanting to be them. As I have dived deeper into the cosplay world, I have found a few cosplayers whom I have been inspired by them. My biggest influence is Houston Deadpool!

Do you have any advice or suggestions for upcoming Cosplayers?

Don't be discouraged by people who diss your cosplay/character. Cosplay isn't meant to impress others, it's meant to impress yourself! Also, don't be afraid to cosplay a character with a different skin color, body type, or gender! You do you!

What is the most negative experience you've dealt with while cosplaying, and how did you handle it?

The negativity I have faced in the comments online about my cosplay. Imgur especially. People are quick to say "Oh, you don't have the body type for that." (put in nicer words). My Captain America cosplay brought on some rude comments about my weight and how "Captain America got cake instead of the serum? -1". To that I just said a big ol' "You can lick the soles of my extremely uncomfortable cosplay shoes, and grow a brain while you're at it!"

Any final remarks or shout-outs?

Shout out to /r/cosplay for their support and to my friend Gaby Rico for cosplaying along with me :) Oh and if there's any way Troy Baker could see this, I would like to profess my undying love for him. Marry me Troy Baker.