What city are you based in? 

Mississauga, ON.

Tell us a bit about yourself! 

Hello! My name is Anita, aka akkeyroomi. I am a musician and music teacher who has been cosplaying for nine years now! I enjoy all aspects of cosplay, but my favourite part would be bringing the character to life in photoshoots and events. I gravitate towards characters that are either cute and energetic, or powerful and confident.

What fandoms are you into? 

I like Jujutsu Kaisen, Kaiju No 8, Haikyuu, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, D.Gray Man, Cardcaptor Sakura, Gravity Falls, Steven Universe, Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss, & Love for Sale.

Can you tell us about your first cosplay? 

My first cosplay was Akiyama Mio from K-ON! back in 2013. I was on a limited budget, so I put together secondhand pieces to create the black dress and accessories.

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

KDA Evelynn’s lashers were my first big prop build and gained me a lot of attention. I learned so much during the process and while I’ve gotten much better, I’m still proud of what I’ve achieved creating that cosplay.

What do you hope to achieve through cosplay? 

I hope to create lasting memories and friendships with cosplay. I enjoy it greatly as one of my main hobbies, and it allows me to meet people from all walks of life and broaden my horizons.

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

Don’t forget that Cosplay at its core is the art of costume and play! Social media, and the competitiveness and rising popularity of the art can get really distracting, so remember to be respectful and have fun. Enjoy and do what you like, how you like.