Introduction - What is it like being a Cosplayer?

Everyone always wants to be something or someone powerful whether they actually exist or are made up. Life as we know is boring (or ATLEAST not as magical as we'd like it to be!) and I like to be connected with another world to get away from your average, you know, life. Growing up I always played dress up and loved being someone I wasn't or could never in a real world be. But as you grow up dressing up everyday is kind of not something people don't look past. Being a cosplayer I am able to re-connect with all the characters and people I've adored in comics, videos games and movies all of my life. I feel these things touch people spiritually and bring out the creativeness people have inside them. Cosplaying I think is a HUGE compliment to the creators and actors involved originally with the characters. It's like a compliment to the chef! Cosplay doesn't have to be perfect you can literally use ANYTHING you have! Some people are very competitive and some just have fun with it! I love all the creativeness I've seen in the years I've been an out of closet cosplayer. I guess to sum up everything I like cosplaying because I feel more alive and I feel more connected with a lot of people who share the same love I have for all the characters I portray.

What are your next goals?

im hoping to teach my daughter how to make her own costumes. She's only 6 months right now so I think I have some time :)

Cosplay Characters

i have cosplayed Star Trek: TNG characters, shadowmere from skyrim (yes the horse I thought it was rather interesting to bring such a random character alive) Assasins creed, team rocket from pokemon, xena warrior princess, X-files agent, trinity from The matrix, shadow link, Darth Vader (the female version which was actually spotlighted on "College Humor" a few years ago) Vash the stampede and a few more I can't remember!

What does Cosplay mean to you?

It means I get to throw away who I am for a day or even an hour and become whatever I want and act like whatever I want!

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

Honestly this is quite hard of a question because If it weren't for the creators and writers of books and directors of movies or video games these characters would never exist! Those people are the real MVPs of Cosplay.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for upcoming Cosplayers?

nothing should be perfect and always give your own flavor to your outfit! Honestly the character is in you and you should never feel like you have to really spend LOTS AND LOTS of money on one outfit. If it was meant to be it'll happen!

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

The outside people who judge really. I usually don't let it hurt my feelings but people who don't understand cosplay is who make it hard for people to want to keep doing it. People always say to "grow up" or they just say mean things or even look at you wierd. I am past caring though haha

Any final remarks or shout-outs?

Shout out to everyone who loves cosplay ing and have never given it a second thought from people's opinions on the matter! No matter how old you are cosplaying is for you!