Introduction - What is it like being a Cosplayer?

It's so much fun! Cosplay allows me to express myself. I'm usually a shy and quiet person but I think cosplay has helped me break away from that. It also requires a lot of hard work and time, but it's totally worth it. It's an awesome feeling when you see the final product come together.

What are your next goals?

I have a lot of ideas for future cosplay projects. There's so many characters from One Piece that I absolutely love and I'm always planning who I might cosplay next. There's also characters from games such as Assassin's Creed and Dota 2 that I would love to cosplay.

Cosplay Characters

So far I've cosplayed as Ezio from Assassin's Creed, Dandy from Space Dandy, and Portgas D. Ace from One Piece. My Ace cosplay was my first big cosplay project.

What does Cosplay mean to you?

To me cosplay means you can bring a character that you love and appreciate to life. It's a way to forget about stressful or negative times and just have fun. It also means that you can be as creative as you want and show what you have made to others.

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

My biggest influences are the characters that I cosplay. They may not be real, living people but I probably wouldn't have started to cosplay if it wasn't for them. They're characters that make me happy and so I cosplay to show how much I appreciate them. I also have a lot of support from my family and friends and that means the world to me.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for upcoming Cosplayers?

Don't be afraid of what others will think. It may seem scary to cosplay if you've never do it before, but just remember that it's all about having fun. Don't let people discourage you. It takes time to learn how to make costumes but the more you work at and the more you cosplay, the better you'll get. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Some parts of a costume or prop may seem intimidating but the cosplay community is great and there are many other cosplayers out there who will give very helpful advise on how to go about it.

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

I think the most negative experience has been people saying a girl shouldn't cosplay male characters. Cosplay is about being creative and bringing your vision to life, and that can include having a character be female instead of male or visa versa.

Any final remarks or shout-outs?

Shout-out to my family and friends who have always encouraged and supported me :)