We recently connected with Kate Cecile and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kate thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

What is life, but not a bunch of risky decisions. I didn’t grow up with a lot of support for my decisions, whether it be where I went to school, hobbies I chose to put my time into, or where I started my career. I think it’s normal that the people you expect approval from the most are your parents. I had to learn that a parent’s approval is not the most important thing when making a decision. The only approval you need is your own, because it is your decisions that will affect your happiness at the end of the day. I chose to be away from my parents to complete my education knowing that it was not a decision they approved. I started a career in healthcare that gets easily disregarded or seen as the equivalent of bus driver. Don’t get me wrong, I love the knowledge and skills I have to do my job. I also chose to continue to explore my skills in art from painting and special affect makeup that then evolved into cosplay. I grew up in a time where being nerdy for different fandoms like anime and Star Wars wasn’t “cool”. I never let that “uncoolness” deter me from expressing my love for fandoms. The amount of drawings/paintings I’d done of Inuyasha and Goku were pinned all over my bedroom walls. I am proud that I am not a follower looking for approval from anyone, but myself. It may have made my younger years very lonely, but my adult years are full of friendships that I would have never had if I didn’t pursue the things I love.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

This cosplay building life only started in December of 2023 when I built my Queen Amidala cosplay for a Christmas gift idea. I was recreating a photo of my brother and I when Star Wars Episode 1 released in 1999. I decided to attention the Comic Con the following March in my Queen Amidala where I decided that cosplay is the thing I’m good at. I was not expecting the attention I got at the event. I couldn’t move 5 feet without being asked for photos or video. In that one day, I also made new friends. For the friends and/or fans that have stuck around, they know I don’t beat around the bush. I am a person that has unfiltered honesty whether is advice for a cosplay or how you can improve on your health. I may have gained a lot of experience in the last 2 years of building cosplays, so I am happy to help other cosplayers with projects. The skill in which I believe people enjoy having me around for is my skills in medicine on the front lines. At events, my friends feel more safe when I’m around. They know if something were to happen, that I will be able to calmly help deal with it. It makes me happy to know that I can make others feel safe. I don’t exactly go to events with the label of healthcare worker on my back, but on my social media, I do try to inspire others to take care of their health through movement and nutrition. It’s important to take care of your body now as it will affect you 20 years from now.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

What drives me through this creative journey is to always try to improve. Some may say “ignorance is bliss”, but I’ve seen ignorance cause more harm than good. Whether it be the financial aspect of cosplay, because buying pre-made cosplays can be more expensive that learning how to make it yourself, or the ignorance to signs of deterioration in one’s health. There is no limit to improvements one can do to skills, knowledge, or health. I want to also emphasize that health is not only related to the physical body. Health encompasses physical, mental and emotional. Cosplay and exercise just so happens to be the things that help my mental and emotional health.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I would not have gotten into cosplay if it weren’t for suffering a hip injury back in 2023. While at work, I injured my hip. I thought I would finish the shift, sleep it off and be back at work the next day. That’s far from what happened. Over many month of doctor appointments, diagnostic imaging and advocating for myself, I had an appointment for surgery. Since I wasn’t about to go back to work, I finally had the time to work on my Queen Amidala for that gift idea. If it weren’t for me having the time to get crafting, my Queen Amidala would have never seen the light of day, I would have never built more cosplays, and most importantly, I would have never met all these people that I now call friends. Getting injured seemed like a terrible thing to have gone through, but after all that I’ve experienced, it was something that I needed. It not only gave me the break I needed due to burnout at work, but I was able to find my people.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: anya_lawliet
• Youtube: Anya Lawliet

Image Credits

@rotidemedia
@splintered_images
@solo_tu_photography