We recently connected with Michael Wilson and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I had been cosplaying since 2012 but back when I first started it was strictly a fun hobby, It also began as just a charity venture. A friend of mine was running a Cancer walk and had saw my Green Lantern costume for that prior Halloween. When he asked if I would come to the event and mingle I jumped at the idea. The following year the only times I would cosplay would be for various community events and children’s hospital visits. It wasn’t until I went to my first pop culture convention that my eyes became bigger to the idea of exactly what cosplay was. All I knew was that I wanted to be a part of that community.

I really started honing my craft with sewing, making armor & props and doing makeup all while still attending as many charity events and conventions as I could. I quickly started making a name for myself within the community and was first invited as a guest for a convention in 2013. The duties of that role include greeting your fans and attendees, providing programming for the convention and judging and/or hosting the costume contests. Moving forward from that, becoming a social media presence has also become part of that professional path. All in all, I immediately fell in love with the professionalism, privilege and responsibility that came with and was expected with that role and at that moment I knew this was something I wanted to pursue.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I actually have two professions. One is my career and the other started as a hobby turned into a passion.

My career is in Law Enforcement. I’m a 23-year Deputy for the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office in Youngstown, Ohio. When I first joined, I didn’t fully understand or appreciate the need for Law Enforcement but as time went on, I realized the difference it truly does make. I also didn’t know the extent of how broken the system is which is why I’m still doing it. I believe that the only way to see the change you want is to be it. I’m very fortunate that my department sees the value in my passion for the arts and fully supports it. It brings me great satisfaction being a community outreach Deputy and connecting with kids and even adults, I’m very open with my career and passion as I like to break the stigma of people who wear a badge and the actual person behind it. I’m of the belief that many people don’t need authority but sometimes just needs someone that understands them. I’m fully aware that no one person can make a mass change in attitudes, policies, and morals but if I can make a positive impact on just one person, then it’s worth it.

My passion for cosplay and the arts is going on 10 years. I’m a huge advocate of expressing yourself how you see fit, especially when it comes to cosplay. Cosplay at the core is nothing but your fan art of a character and while art is subjective to others, there’s no wrong way to do your own fan art. It doesn’t matter your race, sex, body type, or anything else. Cosplay is for everyone! I’ll often speak on the physical and mental benefits of cosplay and how therapeutic it can be. The truth is the cosplay and convention community is a very social community full of socially awkward people, which is exactly why we all understand and accept one another. I also love to teach the things I’ve learned whether it be armor making or makeup techniques. If I can help another person improve themselves then the goal has been met.

I’ve been very fortunate with my cosplay that it’s allowed me to touch so many lives all around the world. I travel to conventions meeting fans, holding workshops, and fundraising for various charities. There’s so many things I can say I’m proud of. I’ve won numerous crafting awards, been published many times, had international Universities hold curriculums on me, raised over five hundred-thousand dollars for charities and been awarded different humanitarian awards including the President’s Volunteer Service Award from Barack Obama.

In general, I’m pretty much known as the “positive diverse cosplay charity cop” and I’m totally ok with that. I think have a pretty unique perspective when it comes to both the career and the passion and how I intertwine the two. I’m extremely proud of all my accomplishments and awards no matter how big or small. I’m also always humbled by the love shown from fans. Never in a million years did I think I would be doing the things I’m doing now.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

There’s no definitive answer to this as so many social media content creators have different styles and approaches. You really have to know your audience but you also have to know yourself and what you’re comfortable doing and not doing. It’s extremely easy to stress yourself out trying to chase that sweet spot.

What works for me is simply being genuine and myself. The good days and the bad days, I want to show all of it. I’m very open with my life as I found people not only want to see the specialties that you have but they really want to know the person behind it too. They want to be able to connect with you.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Without a doubt it’s seeing people not only appreciate the positivity you’re putting out in the world in a creative way but they themselves being inspired by it and doing it too. We truly need each other and being able to feed off such positive creative energy is essential for your own growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.knightmage.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Knightmage100/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/knightmage1
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/knightmage
• Other: https://linktr.ee/knightmage