Introduction - What is it like being a Cosplayer?

It's incredible and so much fun. It's like playing dress up when you were little and never really growing up! Haha, but seriously. You get to just engulf yourself in this character of your choosing, and bring it to life, as well as put your own spin on things. Whether you pick a character because you resemble them naturally, or because you love the character, it's just really cool. There's not much better of a feeling when you're in cosplay than to see people's eyes light up when you're dressed up as one of their favourite characters.

What are your next goals?

Oh boy, where do I begin? I have endless cosplays I'd love to do in the future. Immediately, I've got a Katniss cosplay planned (because I love Katniss/Hunger Games and because it's easy!). There's always ideas brewing in this mind of mine... Stay tuned. :)

Cosplay Characters

Thus far, my cosplay list looks a little like this: Misa Amane (Death Note), Bubble Head Nurse (Silent Hill), Black Canary (DC Comics), Teto boudoir (Vocaloid) for a calendar shoot, and, most notably, FemShep (Mass Effect).

What does Cosplay mean to you?

To me, cosplay is the ability to bring a character to life. Not only for myself, but for fans of the character. It's not just putting on a costume, it's playing the part.

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

Nicole Marie Jean is probably at the top of my list. She's an incredible costumer and cosplayer, and she's just such a down-to-earth person (at least from what I gather on social media).

Do you have any advice or suggestions for upcoming Cosplayers?

Never hold yourself back. When you're starting out especially, don't listen to the negativity that often comes from the crappy people out there. There will always be people that will rag on every small detail if it's not perfect. As long as you're happy and comfortable in your cosplay, that's what matters.

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

Hmmm, negative experiences... I've been pretty fortunate for the most part. There was that one time where I was made into a meme. Some guy posted a "[FIXED]" picture of my FemShep cosplay with the words (something along the lines of) "Wants to save the world, forgot it's a man's job" or something, hahaha. I just laughed it off, because I mean, hey, thanks for the publicity, bro. ;)

Any final remarks or shout-outs?

For my FemShep armour, it was all homemade, with the majority of credit going to Mitchell Aucoin, as well as assistance from Nathan DeLuca and Scott Aucoin.