We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erika Cosplay a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Erika, appreciate you joining us today. Some of the most interesting parts of our journey emerge from areas where we believe something that most people in our industry do not – do you have something like that?

As a cosplayer people believe you have to be 100% into comics before putting on a cosplay. There are some people who believe that you have to look the part to play the part. Here is where I disagree, as a movie buff myself I love the characters I see on the screen, I’ve only ever read a handful of comics. As for looking the part, you can portray any character no matter your race or gender. If you have a strong love for the character then have fun with it.

I’m trying to keep this short because I can talk about this subject all day. At the end of the day we are adults who dress up in costumes and have fun going to conventions to show off our love for the fandoms we feel close to. The criticism in the community has become a little toxic and we all have to remember it’s not about popularity or looks but more about the fandom.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi fellow reader! I am Erika, a South Florida photographer who got into cosplaying in 2014 by mistake. I’ve been a photographer since about 2004 and I’ve always loved making and recreating artwork. I took Halloween to another level in 2014 when I had a full photoshoot as Jessica Rabbit. In my head I thought it was just a fun concept I can post on my facebook for my family and friends. Here is where I learned from one of my friends that I should attend a convention.

What started out as a fun little Halloween costume photo shoot became 10 years of learning how to build armor, make costumes, photograph myself and others to make the characters come to life. I’ve met some of my best friends through out this journey as well as many celebrities and content creators.

My most proud cosplay I created to date has to be Maleficent. I made these 5-6 foot wings out of foam, copper and faux feathers. When making cosplays it gets extremely stressful (sometimes expensive) where you want to quit but you have to relax and commit, the outcome is worth it.

Most important rule of cosplay, HAVE FUN WITH IT. Be aware of your surroundings at conventions, cosplay does not mean consent. It’s ok to have boundaries and say no to photographs. Don’t be rude or mean and wear deodorant… if you have any questions at all you can follow along on instagram and feel free to say hi if you ever catch me at a convention.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love when I am able to share with the community. Being able to interact with kids at conventions, hospital visits or events. Bringing their favorite characters to life and creating memories.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

We understand you think we are nerds who never grow up. I’ve had people look at me weird for walking down the street in full cosplay trying to get decent images to share online. It takes a lot of energy and courage to get into these characters and portray them in public let alone share them on the internet where millions of people will criticize you. We do it to get out of the every day routine of “normality”.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.erikacosplay.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ErikaCosplay
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Erikacosplay
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/erikacosplay
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ErikaCosplay
• Other: http://www.tiktok.com/@erikacosplay