What city are you based in? 

I’m based outside of Toronto.

Can you tell us about your first cosplay?

My very first cosplay was Araña Corazon from Spider-Man. Although I knew nothing about the character, I remember being twelve years old and begging my uncle and his wife to take me to FAN EXPO Canada with them and have matching cosplays. They had already planned to go as Daredevil and Punisher, and I remember how excited I was when they said they’d love to take me and help me with the costume (my amazing grandma helped too!). The feeling of going to a convention for the first time was unforgettable. FAN EXPO Canada will always hold a special place in my heart because of the joy it gave me and continues to give me every year.

Do you have a cosplay piece that you are most proud of?

The cosplay piece I’m most proud of at the moment is my Kirishima Eijirou wig. I have attempted this wig a total of three times since 2018, and I was finally able to nail it this year. It was the ultimate test for my wig-making knowledge all three times I have attempted it. And it felt so incredibly rewarding when I was finally able to make it in a way I was satisfied with. The full story about this wig is on my Instagram if anyone would like some wig making motivation! I used to be a bit of an armour and prop nut as well, so my Bakugou grenade gauntlet is also one of my all-time favourites.

What do you hope to achieve through cosplay?

Through cosplay, I hope to encourage the self-confidence and empowerment of others through their own creativity and individuality. Being able to explore and challenge my own artistic ability and how I express myself through cosplay has been life-changing for me in terms of self-confidence. Dressing up over the years as characters I admire, I was able to discover more about myself by seeing similarities between our personalities, strengths, and even weaknesses. 

Is there a cosplayer that you look up to or inspires you?

I’d say all cosplayers inspire me cumulatively. I love how every cosplayer has unique stories, techniques, passions, and motivations. I even have a folder on Instagram where I save all kinds of cosplay related things (makeup, paint jobs, cool photoshoot concepts, poses, etc.) done by other cosplayers that inspire new things I would like to implement in my own work. I love and am inspired by so many things that others are putting out into the world!

If you could give any piece of advice to new cosplayers, what would it be?

If I could give any piece of advice to new cosplayers, it would be to not compare yourself to others. I once read that the best way to measure your progress as an artist is not to compare yourself to others, but to compare your newest work to your older work to see how far you’ve come. It’s so important to be proud of yourself and your own personal journey because everyone has different strengths, weaknesses, and paces at which they learn. No one starts out being the best at something, but with time and practice, I fully believe that you can do anything you put your heart into. To new cosplayers: you’ve got this!

What would you say is the hardest part of cosplaying?

As of right now, I’d say the hardest part of cosplaying is balancing it with school. I love putting 100% into things I do, so naturally, I find myself standing before two diverging paths when September rolls around. My first year of university has been a difficult and wonderful challenge so far and definitely, requires my full attention. For this reason, I’ve had to put cosplay on hold for now. However, I have a new cosplay that is ready to go for December and I can’t wait!

What are you looking forward to next year?

For next year, I’m really looking forward to summer break. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a beautiful warm day every day and it’s an excellent opportunity for me to relax, recharge, and devote time to my passions. I’m also so excited for the massive feeling of accomplishment that will follow the completion of my first year of university. I have no doubt it will drive me to work even harder in all areas of my life.

Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions?

I’m still working on my list of New Year's resolutions, but I do have a few in mind already! First, I want to take more time to explore and nurture my other interests. I love making digital art and it would be so amazing to improve my skills and open up a little online art print store in 2021! 

Second, I want to work on further vocalizing how much I love and appreciate the people in my life. I really am lucky to have amazing friends, family, and supporters. 

Lastly, I want to work on taking things one step at a time and not being so hard on myself. I tend to worry and stress about all kinds of things. So I look forward to developing a more calm and optimistic lens. I know it will make everything easier and more enjoyable!

FAN EXPO, I also want to take a moment to thank you for this wonderful opportunity and for building an out-of-this-world space that has brought so many people together and unforgettable memories. Being FAN EXPO Canada's Cosplayer of the Month is such an honour, and I can only imagine how excited twelve-year-old me would be if she could see how much attending your convention would change her life.