What city are you based in?

Boston, Massachusetts

How did you get into cosplay initially?

Halloween, basically. My favorite part about Halloween was always decorating the house and doing crazy makeup looks with my twin brother. I loved seeing the neighborhood kids and families light up in awe at the displays we created. So, when I started seeing posts about Comic Con online, I was ecstatic to learn that people put the same kind of effort into the costumes they wore to conventions. At the time my favorite show was Doctor Who, so I ended up going to my first convention, Fan Expo Boston 2017, as the 11th Doctor.

How did you get into TikTok?

I had known about TikTok for a few months before I started using it, and when I learned that many of my friends were using it to make cosplay content, I thought that was really cool and was inspired to do the same. And as many of us have experienced, the content on the app got me hooked right away.

What would you say is the key to making a good TikTok?

You can really apply the basics of making any kind of video content - good lighting, good sound, good timing/editing, etc. - But TikTok has some unique features and video formatting that you really just have to learn and practice in order to get the hang of it.

What’s the cosplay community on TikTok like?

Like any community, it has its pros and cons. From my experience, the cosplayers on TikTok are wildly creative and dedicated. It's so cool to see how creators inspire each other and build off of each other's videos and ideas, but it also can be very overwhelming to keep up with.

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

My Bakugou gauntlets. I recently started working more with EVA foam, and those guys were my first major foam build. I’m extremely proud of how they turned out, and now EVA foam is my favorite material to work with!

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

There’s so many. To name a few; bukkitbrown, ceekayecosplays, lorentz_iwood, madame_elizabeth, cheesecakepanda_cosplay, viviviolet_cosplay, lucidaan, opal.ink.cosplay.

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

Don’t be afraid to switch things up! If you’ve got a cool design idea for a character that’s not necessarily screen-accurate, go for it! I love to see original takes/twists on characters. Even if it’s as simple as giving your character some extra accessories. Experiment, relax, and have fun!

What would you say is the hardest part of cosplaying?

Managing time and budget. Especially as a college student, finding time and money to consistently work on cosplay is near impossible. Taking breaks is necessary, and totally okay! There are times when I won’t get into cosplay for months and times when I’m working on stuff nearly every day. It’s a very inconsistent schedule, but I still absolutely love it.