November 1, 2024

Cosplaying is like Halloween. The difference is that on November first, cosplayers get to keep dressing up. 

I started cosplaying when I was fourteen because I asked my mother for a costume of a character for Halloween. I wasn’t aware of what cosplaying was at first, so that costume would always stay in my closet. Around this time some of my friends on TikTok did cosplay, and one of them inspired me to take up the hobby. 

Cosplaying involves dressing up as any character you can think of on any day you feel like doing so. The character can be from a video game, show or film. People around the world share this hobby, regardless of race, age or nationality. Why? Because cosplay is for anyone, even if (maybe because) we’re all different. 

I started cosplaying Nezuko Kamado from “Demon Slayer” and ended up reaching out to the cosplayer who inspired me for suggestions. Originally I thought this whole activity would be a phase, but the more I kept at it, the more I improved and enjoyed it. Soon it became one of my favorite hobbies. I have more than twenty cosplays that I can now use for anything, even Halloween.

When you want to start cosplaying, everything begins with a costume. You don’t need the ‘actual’ costume to cosplay a character, which is why ‘closet cosplaying’ is a thing, but what you do need is any clothing (wigs are optional) to try and make yourself look like that character. My favorite types of cosplay are the overly accessorized ones, but I don’t do this style myself because it’s a lot of materials to hold. 

Cosplayers will cosplay anywhere at any time, but the most common environment is comic conventions—mostly because these conventions require you to dress up as a character. Newcomers can feel some anxiety, but my first convention wasn’t bad. Whenever I have the confidence, I also like to cosplay publicly outside of conventions as well as at the mall or in parks. This can be challenging, because non-cosplayers often don’t understand or approve of cosplaying in public.

Some people view cosplay as a coping mechanism for those with personality or identity issues: for people trying to figure out who they are. Others cosplay for attention on the internet. I do it because it’s fun and I love the reactions of people who see my work. 

As with anything there are always haters. An important rule in the cosplay community is to refrain from judging others because cosplayers struggle just like everyone else. I say, if cosplayers do it to have fun, let them have fun. Their race, age or weight shouldn’t matter because cosplaying is for anyone.

What I enjoy about cosplaying is how I can look like any of my favorite characters. Cosplaying also helped me with my insecurities. When people complimented me in a cosplay, I felt like I could see what they saw. It helped me with self-judgment. I don’t cosplay a single style, but other people will add a lot of extra details to their cosplay to make themselves look better. 

You should give cosplaying a try because it’s more than just dressing up. The effort you put into becoming a character can improve your skills in makeup, dancing and acting. I find the dancing and acting elements entertaining because they help motivate me to be active (instead of just sitting around at home). 

Cosplay makes me very happy because I feel like I always look pretty whenever I wear a costume. I like feeling positive about myself, and this is something that cosplay has really helped me with. 

Maybe, if you give it a try, it could do the same for you, because cosplay is for anyone.