Introduction - What is it like being a Cosplayer?

Hi! Growing up I didn't have any role models or heroes. Both my parents were out of my life and I had to raise myself. My grandparents bought a house for my brother and myself to live in and occasionally we got food but we didn't have any parents. My mom was out of the picture and my dad was either at the bar or in jail. When I was old enough I decided that working at a daycare would be a good way to help children grow into responsible young adults and it was the time of my life. I was immediately hooked on helping children grow and find themselves. I went to college and continued to work with children but didn't have much time to dedicate to them so I needed an ultra concentrated way to get through to them and that is when I began dressing up. Children get this shine in their eyes when a superhero asks them if they like vegetables (I still haven't had a kid say "No" even when I know them personally and know they hate vegetables. I do get through to them and their parents tell me how appreciative they are that their child finally forced down those nasty vegetables haha). My love of helping children grew into a hobby I never thought I would find myself in. I love being able to cosplay and make the world around me a little bit happier :)

What are your next goals?

I want to expand my character set and continue to provide a foundation for children to become admirable citizens for the world. I definitely want to go to Comic Con as I have never been, so hopefully someday I can get the funds to make it out to California :)

Cosplay Characters

I mainly do Spider-Man and Batman. I can do backflips so the Spidey suit is an insane amount of fun to be in and Batman is fun when there are ropes to climb or simple stunts to perform. I have visited gymnastics gyms for little kids as Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow, but I have more fun in the realm of superheroes. The next character I want to cosplay is Link from the Legend of Zelda. The Hero of Time has always been my 2nd favorite hero, right behind Spider-Man!

What does Cosplay mean to you?

Cosplay is a way to express yourself in a manner that isn't "normal" on a day to day basis. The world around you is how you perceive it to be so I want to perceive it to be one full of fun, joy, and great memories. Cosplay isn't merely "dress-up" time, it is where self-expression meets art and your inner creativity is fully tested

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

Living in the middle of a cornfield makes it difficult to have mentors in real life so I have to talk with the characters on therpf and other cosplay forums. Reddit.com/r/cosplay is a great place to appreciate cosplay from all over the world

Do you have any advice or suggestions for upcoming Cosplayers?

Don't let people's opinions deter you from being awesome. I was self conscious for the longest time because people would criticize my lifestyle and say that I am wasting my time. I have raised over $10,000 for charities including: JDRF, Autism Speaks, Breast Cancer Awareness Societies, Superhero Heart Runs, memorials for little superheroes that left the world too early, and many more events. Doing all of this while providing the community with a sense of pride, honor, and dedication to improve the world has been such a great experience for me. I am just trying to make the world a better place one smile at a time

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

I was dressed up as Spider-Man at a festival. I helped children with arts and crafts and it was a great day until some teenage boys came up to me and started making trouble. They were shouting obscenities and causing mayhem. They got close to my mask and began yelling things along the lines of "You wear tights, you must be so gay." I am very good at remaining calm and collected, especially when children are present. I took this as a life lesson for the children and I sat the kids down to explain that there are bound to be bullies in your life but if you get angry and retaliate that means the bully wins. The true superhero asks them to go away politely and if they continue to be a nuisance then you must ignore them. I explained that if they were ever physically touched then they must inform an adult immediately and stay in a safe place. I think it is 100% essential to remain a good role model, especially when you are cosplaying

Any final remarks or shout-outs?

Thank you for the honor of being a part of this. I hope to meet some cosplayers in the future and share our stories :)!!!