In the past couple years the anime community has seen a huge boom in popularity. The unconventional hobby was once looked down upon by mainstream society, but if you’ve been on the internet at all lately you’ll notice the term “nerd” has gone from an insult to a title brandished with pride.
One very apparent result of this is that the world of cosplay has completely transformed. Dressing up and role playing as your favorite anime or video game character was an activity surrounded in stigma. People often saw it as strange, sometimes even perverted! Since gaining popularity though, the hobby is now defined by beautiful craftsmanship, fueled by passion and dedication.
As someone who has enjoyed a brief stint in cosplay myself, I’ve met some amazingly talented people along the way and have endless admiration for them, and as an artist, it’s amazing to see cosplay bring out inventive prowess that might have otherwise gone untapped. Here is a list of cosplayers you should be following in 2019, from amateurs to almost-professionals, who display extraordinary skill and deserve recognition.
Maria Lay (@miniilay)
Watching Maria turn a pile of fabric and a few sheets of foam into these elaborate creations is truly humbling. The intricacy with which she approaches the costumes really make her cosplays recognizable regardless of the character and her photos are always entertaining. I love seeing a cosplayer’s personality jump out through their expressions and poses!
“Cosplay is everything and everyone! Nothing matters in this cosplay world but each other’s support. Who cares if you bought or made your outfit, don’t have the body, or skin color, etc… Want to cosplay that character? GET TO IT!”
Vic (@tempestcosplay)
Vic is a young and talented cosplayer than can shapeshift into any character she chooses. You can see her passion in her posts. Whether she’s cosplaying Ochaco Uraraka from My Hero Academia or Glaceon from Pokémon, she’s not afraid to express how much she loves the fandom.
MJ Cosplays (@mjdarling_)
MJ is unique in that she’s not afraid to cosplay some throwback characters. I notice a lot of cosplayers these days limit themselves to characters that are popular at the moment, scared to lose momentum because retro series aren’t as easily recognizable by today’s crowd, so it’s always refreshing to see someone who doesn’t pass up the opportunity to bring a classic to life. I might just be biased because Yu Yu Hakusho and Evangelion are my favorites. Can’t beat the ‘90s!
“I love learning tips and tricks from people and so also love sharing how I make my cosplays. Cosplay is all about learning from each other and sharing our ideas to help us grow as a community and it’s a way of bringing all of us together far and wide ”
Wendy (@Wendyyukkixu)
Wendy is one to watch in 2019. A self-proclaimed “amateur,” she hasn’t been in the cosplay game for long but she is showing an amazing amount of talent for it already. She has a knack for foam smithing, creating all her cosplay armor herself. I also have a soft spot for dark magician girls! Anyone who cosplays Yu-Gi-Oh is just unapologetically nerdy and that’s super respectable in my book.
“Cosplay means allowing myself to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new. Whether it’s learning different ways to make cosplay or becoming a new character, cosplay has allowed me to express myself and meet a ton of amazing people in the cosplay community. It has given me confidence in myself and has become a part of who I am today.”
HaileySCosplay (@haileyscosplay)
Hailey is delightfully quirky and has a wide range of talent when it comes to cosplay. Her skills range from construction to fashion, to boudoir. She has a ton of cosplays from the Pokémon universe but also dabbles in some of her favorite video games. Hailey loves to genderbend so you’ll find cool versions of your favorite characters on her Instagram.
“To me, cosplay is a very important niche that provides something magical to all those people that never fit in. A community to feel comfortable in. Being able to tell people “I don’t have to choose what I want to be when I grow up. I can be as many things as I want.” The confidence and comfort it provides is priceless.”
Iris (@inisitu)
This is a cosplayer who sees her dedication through to the end, and it shows in the photos she puts out. There is more to a quality cosplay than just costume making (although that is a large part). There is a lot of hard work behind finding a photographer, a location, and art direction for the photos. Iris is one that puts in professional level work, resulting in professional quality content. She also has a talent for wig making which is where many cosplayers falter. It’s, in my opinion, one of the most challenging aspects of cosplay.
“I think cosplay is both a good way to kinda “escape from reality” because you get to be these characters you love but you also end up learning a lot of real-life skills from it! Its made me handier. And since I do commissions for people, it helps me stay on my game and makes it so it’s impossible to procrastinate. It requires a lot of real-life skills yet it lets you exist for a moment anywhere BUT real life.”
Marie Chanté (@maweezy)
She is an all-around amazing cosplayer. Marie shows incredible inventiveness with her looks, often taking inspiration from concept art and figures rather than just anime characters and games. She uses her incredible makeup and costume making skills to completely transform into any character, and is growing a huge, well-deserved following! You’ll want to follow before she makes it big!
Ivy (@tokidoki_cosplay)
Not only is Ivy super cute, but she also has tons of cosplays under her belt! A favorite is definitely her Snowbunny Nidalee from League of Legends, where she fully embodies the character. Her Bakugo genderbend from My Hero Academia is another must-see.
Madi (@evvils)
Another up and coming cosplayer who I think will see a lot of success this year is Madi. She makes amazing foam props and puts out consistent, high-quality cosplays. I appreciate when someone is able to completely transform into their character, but on the other end of the spectrum I also appreciate when the cosplayer’s own personality shines through- and Madi’s happy bubbly smile does just that.
“To me, cosplay combines all the things I love— anime, games, art, and modeling— it gives me an outlet to express myself and it’s a great way to network and meet new people within the community. Cosplay has given me much more confidence and it feels awesome to be recognized in a community of like-minded creators, where instead of being ridiculed for having “nerdy” interests, you are accepted with open arms.”
Sami Bess (@zerosuitsami)
Sami Bess is an extremely talented cosplayer who knows her way around worbla. She creates props, full body armor, and even a few sexy shoots for her Instagram and Patreon. Her League of Legends Katarina cosplay is highly detailed and beautiful, but it’s only a hint of what she is capable of. Her Instagram is a must-see!
Joy (@itsj0y)
Joy is an up and comer who needs no introduction- she’s just on the brink of making it BIG, guaranteed. Her extremely impressive costume making skills have garnered attention and acknowledgment from some of the biggest cosplayers in the game right now, and she’s about to join their ranks. Just take a look at her Mordred armor- absolutely breathtaking!
“Cosplay sparks joy for me. It pushes me to constantly learn and improve my skills in order to push out bigger and better costumes. It also makes me super happy seeing peoples faces light up when they see me dressed as a character that they love.”
Koh Cosplay (@kohcoz)
Kohcoz is another one to keep an eye on, she has a knack for customizing store-bought costumes and props, transforming them into pro-level quality. She is also showing incredible promise for wig making. Check out her Edgeshot wig! Those huge spikes aren’t easy. I’m thinking she should try her hand at a Yu-Gi-Oh wig next!