“My favorite aspect is the social elements of the activity. Cosplay allows the opportunity to share it in a more stated way. Everyone needs to feel a little over the top every now and then, as those vibes linger under the surface for all of us in some way. Playing a part requires a little fantasy and automatically allows one to exude fearlessness, sexiness or strength that isn’t always communicated day-to-day. Hard to not feel some of that energy while dressed up like her.”

Makeup artist extraordinaire, Christine Aguiling, “You could say I felt different. We were a fighting duo that year, Chun Li of Street Fighter and Kitana of Mortal Kombat. With a donated blue cheongsam from my sister, a pair of scissors and a best friend who had a sewing machine and more skill than me, we made it happen. Having been called Chun Li for a time in my childhood when I would frequently play my favorite video game at the local grocery store, I decided it was time to make Chun Li come alive. Even I (unknowingly at the time) have ventured into the world of cosplay a few Halloweens ago.

Who wouldn’t love embodying their favorite super hero or character. In speaking to cosplayers of all ranges of experience, a few common threads encapsulate the beauty of cosplay and what it accomplishes for those who take part in the culture. cosplay centers around reproducing a specific character and sometimes even embodying their behaviors.įor cosplay participants, the lifestyle, the hobby, can require lots of research, hard work and dedication. While Halloween costumes are encouraged to be more ghoulish in reflection of the holiday: wicked witches, zombies, vampires, etc. The word itself combines “costume” and “play” and is representative of participants who dress in costume to portray their favorite video game, comic book, anime, cartoon, or film character. The world of cosplay, where inspired fandom meets inventive creation, is a subculture becoming more ubiquitous in the world around us.

Alter ego game+ eat as much as you can