Introduction - What is it like being a Cosplayer?

Hi! My name is Abel. I'm not as much a cosplayer as someone who, from a very young age, had loved the idea of living in a world like the ones I found in my books. It all began when I started reading english. I picked up Winnie the Pooh when I was about 8 years old. From then on, there was no stopping me. I was 9 years old when I first read Eragon, I re-read the Harry Potter series when I was 11. The unintentional trap had sprung and I was caught. As many children my age, I used top play RuneScape. Combined with my books, I couldn't be found in the 'real' world most of the time. More immersive games like Neverwinter Nights, Dragon age and Mass effect started playing large roles in the development of my insatiable lust for fantasy and science fiction. I was a bit of a nerd but everything was going great, at least until my second year of highschool. I started getting bullied because of the way I used to look (imagine a lanky white kid with a giant afro and goth clothing, go figure) and started skipping school pretty heavily. Most of the time I couldn't flee home because my parents, who obviously weren't allowed to find out, sometimes had days off during the school week. I sought refuge in a nearby park, loading books up on my PSP, sitting for hours reading on a park bench at -5 degrees celsius. If home was safe, I'd be playing games. Anything to distract me from reality and suck me into the world of my dreams. Inevitably, some time later, my parents found out I had skipped about 300 out of 400 hours of school in the last couple of months. Lots of drama of course, but they were supportive and at the end of the year I switched to a different school. I was accepted fully in my weird ways, and this pulled me out of my escapist-like-habits a little. I now have awesome friends with whom I indulge in exchanging great book series, playing Dungeons and Dragons, Yu-Gi-Oh, watching series and movies and playing video games. My love for the unreal has taken a more healthy form and I take enormous pleasure from diving into characters from time to time, be it by cosplaying, reading or playing Pathfinder/D&D.

What are your next goals?

I'd love to continue my Aang cosplay sometime as 'older Aang', but am also looking forward to facing new difficulties in exploring characters and materials. I try to make everything look as authentic as possible; I spent hours looking for the right color of my robes on the avatar cosplay. Making it look real makes if feel real to me, and that's what's important to me.

Cosplay Characters

When I was about 14-15, I was writing a book. It is lost now, but this shows my love for creating new things, especially characters and settings. I used to go to fantasy fairs dressed up as an elf, wearing high boots and fine tunics or maybe a knight, wearing my LARP-sword and shield. I tried to make most of the stuff myself, but my mom and grandma made me some really awesome stuff sometimes. I only did one 'real' cosplay, based on a known character, and that was when I was 18 years old; I dressed up as one of my favorite characters of all time, Avatar Aang. If there ever was a world I'd like to live in, it'd be that one. I have rarely felt so happy, fulfilled and (cliché, I know) 'alive' as I did those days.

What does Cosplay mean to you?

Cosplay to me Is another way to enjoy the stories that I am still growing up with. You see and relate to characters, you imagine what it would be like to BE them. Cosplaying removes a very large boundary. When you cosplay and you surround yourself with people who appreciate that, it's finally 'allowed' to step up and be someone else for a while. It's extremely fulfilling in a world where we are so harshly judged by the way we look and act.

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

This might sound a bit egotistic, but my biggest influence has been myself. Of course, my parents brought my up in such a way that I would never let others decide my actions or let them influence how I view myself, and I'm extremely thankful for that. However, I was the 14-year-old kid who, despite the disapproval of almost all his classmates, kept doing what he really wanted to do. At the time I thought I was a coward, but looking back I can see now why I have such a strong character and will. I used my uniqueness as a shield, as some sort of proof that I was worth protecting, and I was.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for upcoming Cosplayers?

Be what you want to be. Nothing is out of line, nothing is 'too much', nothing is worth giving up for. As one of my favorite characters once said: "I thought I had lost my honor, and that somehow my father could return it to me. But I know now that no one can give you your honor. It's something you earn for yourself by choosing to do what's right." And nothing is more right than following your dreams.

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

People will always be scared of things that are different than them. People will lash out at you or refuse to be associated with you. I've had this countless times; people call you weird, people pick on you, heck, I got bullied out of school. But like a relationship, these things have to go both ways; I've never given them credit. I decided to only give credit tho those who give the same to me. It's been hard at times, but I think I turned out pretty good.

Any final remarks or shout-outs?

Thanks for contacting me! Great idea. cool website. Keep up the good work! Love, Abel