First name and last initial: Arin L

Where are you from originally or reside currently: Grew up in Cincinnati, currently based in Toledo.

How long you have been cosplaying: Technically I’ve been making costumes since I was about 11 years old, but back then I never knew it was “cosplaying” and just did it around the neighborhood with my childhood friends. I didn’t actually start “cosplaying” and going to conventions until 2011, where Ohayocon ’11 was my first convention ever.

Characters cosplayed: Nick Valentine, NCR Ranger, NCR Trooper, Enclave Officer, Executioner, Travis Touchdown, Enderman, Wheatley, Wreck-It Ralph, Turbo Twin, Dualscar, Signless, Karkat Vantas, Bro Strider, Ellis (L4D2), Emmet Brickowski, Pyro, Biker (Hotline Miami), Loki, Theron Guard, and many more I can’t for the life of me remember.

Facebook fan page: Arcanum Order
YouTube Channel: EliteParanoid
Tumblr: Arcanum-Order

1. Who or what inspired you to cosplay?

When I was first starting out making costumes as a kid, I just remembered wanting to be those characters and to live vicariously through them. Not much is different to this day other than it’s a lot more complicated than how it used to be. After my first con it’s never been the same, and I still love it.

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

I’m just a typical 21 year old guy working a normie job in food service like a lot of people living in America. If not at work making pizzas, I spend much of my time drawing (commissions and for fun) whenever I can, and making videos for my channel; I consider animation another job despite it being on my own time. It’s hard, but the payoff is great. I guess I just love entertaining in general.

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

So far Nick Valentine was the hardest cosplay I’ve done so far, mostly due to the fact it was a huge learning curve with making the structure of the face. I feel rewarded enough just by having Bethesda themselves acknowledge me and admire my work; that’s something I could have only ever dreamed about before. Other than that, another challenging cosplay I did was a Theron Guard from Gears of War; that was difficult, and I still want to remake it.

4. What is the best advice you would give a POC (Person of color) person new to cosplaying?

Being someone who isn’t POC, the best advice I can give is to just go for it. Skin color doesn’t define a cosplay or the person wearing it: ever. Remember there are so many others out there that will have your back on it, trust me with this. I have friends who are POC in the cosplay scene, and they are some of the most realest and down to earth people I know when it comes to being in the community; plus they have very great costumes! You can do it!

5. What is one thing the cosplaying community can do better when it comes to dealing with each other?

I’ve notice a lot of people can be argumentative and catty when it comes to cosplay, and it’s usually over very petty things that I sometimes feel like I’m walking on eggshells. I just wish people realized when you boil it all down, we’re all nerds in costumes, and that it’s a shame we can’t all get along and still have different opinions. There’s no need to side-eye each other when we’re all just trying to have fun and be creative! Let’s have fun!