A mixture of friends, YouTube, and a love for dressing up as other people. As long as I can remember I wanted to wear a costume and loved it when it was close to Halloween because I would get a new costume to wear and show off to everyone. I even went so far that I would write the characters name instead of mine on school assignments. After watching a lot of D Piddy videos and reading comics again, I decided to buy a costume and go to Baltimore Comic Con. Since then I have tried variations of Deadpool and just got a new Green Lantern costume for future conventions and events.

2. What do you do when you aren’t cosplaying?

Right now I am a student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and majoring in Media and Communication Studies. During the summers I work at the George Washington University in the Communications Department. As for hobbies, I love to read comics and play video games. During the weekends I usually play airsoft with my team at the Pasadena Paintball Park.

3. What costumes have provided the biggest challenge and rewards so far and why?

Honestly, I haven’t had really any troubles with my costumes because I haven’t been able to build any from scratch. However, being a cosplayer has brought rewards to both me and the people that see me in costume. At conventions it’s always a good feeling seeing kids meeting you as a character they love. To them it is like they are actually meeting a superhero and to me it makes me feel great knowing that they are happy to meet their favorite superhero.

4. What is the best advice you would give someone new to cosplaying?

The best advice I would give to a new cosplayer is to not be afraid. The first time I went in costume I felt like I was going to get criticized by people because I didn’t have some items that Deadpool has in the comics or how I was a bit chubby. However, I did not experience any of that and it made my first ever cosplaying experience a joy and has helped me make new friends inside of the cosplaying community.

I really can’t think of much we could do as a community to deal with each other. Almost everyone I have met at conventions has been great and respectful no matter how their costume looks. The idea of cosplay is not consent is thankfully being highlighted at conventions and for the most part cosplayers will look out for other cosplayers and come to their aid if they need it.