MEET THERA
What city are you based in?
I am based out of Danvers, MA.
Can you tell us about your first cosplay?
I don’t remember when I learned what “cosplay” was but I just gradually got more and more elaborate with my Halloween costumes until I found other venues like FAN EXPO Boston, to wear my costumes at. I remember being about seven years old and my mum trying to throw out my well-loved Belle dress because it was ripped in several places. So I said, “fine I’ll just fix it” and learned how to sew. The first one I remember designing was a The Lord Of The Rings-inspired wood elf.
Do you have a cosplay piece that you are most proud of?
The cosplay piece I am most proud of is probably my The Little Mermaid Ariel fin. I drafted it by hand based on memories from my time working in Orlando with the mermaid herself. It makes me feel "o-fish-al" when I wear it.
What do you hope to achieve through cosplay?
What I hope to achieve through cosplay is community. I am incredibly thankful to have met people through cosplay that have ended up as my closest friends. Plus the skills I learned through cosplay have enabled me to start my small business, Spark a Dream Princess Parties where I can serve my local community in a bigger and even more magical way.
If you could give any piece of advice to new cosplayers, what would it be?
My advice to new cosplayers is to only choose two of these three (unless you get very lucky):
a. You can have it fast
b. You can have it cheap
c. You can have it well made.
What would you say is the hardest part of cosplaying?
The hardest part of cosplaying for me is finding the time and motivation to work on projects that are “just for fun.” I am definitely a cosplayer who enjoys wearing the cosplay more than the process of making it.