Polygon Forge calls herself: “a cosplayer designing and building low poly armor,” but I think her description of what she does is a poor understatement. Polygon Forge is a great example when a person is not satisfied with their art form, and decides to create something astonishingly new, yet familiar. I have to admit: I have seen a couple of cosplayers have the same inspiration, and have attempted to reproduce the same style, but none of them have accomplished the clean look, articulation, or overall attention to detail that Polygon Forge has. Polygon Forge’s style of armour and weapon crafting makes beautiful and functional costumes for her cosplay. I do not know if Polygon Forge has created this style of cosplay, but I do know that she has mastered it.
Miryoku Art is a Polish cosplayer and illustrator. Miryoku Art’s cosplay style is uniquely Asian, dark, and supernatural. Miryoku Art creates original characters that would be right at home on the pages of InuYasha. If there is such a thing as Asian Gothique Cosplay, then Miryoku Art is a practitioner. While Miryoku Art does cosplay conventional characters from manga/anime, a lot her choices have some aspect of darkness that are innately Asian. Even the lighter characters that Miryoku Art cosplays still tend to have some storybook aspect to themselves that pushes against something bigger and more adult. Miryoku Art’s style of cosplay is what I would imagine Siouxsie Sioux’s would be like if she cosplayed: dark, elegant, and enchantingly bewitching.
As of this entry, I think that Lucid Belle is well on her way to seriously becoming a fully recognised and talented artist. Like many cosplayers that gain fame or recognition, she has considerable natural charms, but Lucid Belle has really created some solid works of art as of late. Most of Lucid Belle’s cosplays are extremely sexy, but I’ve also noticed a tendency for Lucid Belle to gravitate towards characters with anthropomorphic or furry qualities. Lucid Belle is also a talented crafter of props, weapons, and armour. When Lucid Belle is not cosplaying or crafting, she likes to model, game, and study Japanese pop culture, as well as indulge in the sciences, fitness, and cuisine.
Free Safari is a fledgling cosplayer with dramatic past, a full and meaningful present, and ambitious future. Free Safari is a veteran and survivor of both PTSD and sexual assault incurred while serving in the US military. Rather than being content with survival, Free Safari has taken her experiences and forged herself into a weapon against sexual assault, bad self-image, and all other enemies to her message of empowerment for all. Free Safari is not only a student, but is also an Equal Employment Opportunity/Civil Rights Director, which also allows for her to spread her message of empowerment. Free Safari cosplays with her son, who actually recruited her into cosplay. Free Safari not only enjoys making her costumes for cosplay, but has also dabbled in body paints.
#CosplayIsNotConsent #TheWayWeDressDoesNotMeanYes #StigmaFree #SexyAfterSexualAssault #MenToo
Xephyr of Xephyr Studios might be the most precise and well-polished high tech/futuristic armour crafter I have encountered. Xephyr utilises some very convincing techniques to give his armour the perfect look, luster, and textures to look anywhere from metal, ceramics, chromes, and polymers. I remember seeing Lucid Tear’s Samus Armour and thinking that no one could ever surpass that; I was wrong. I’m going to go out on a limb, but judging by his body, Xephyr is also a member of the cosplay fraternity of #CosFit. Xephyr Sudios also works with primitive and classic armour builds, as seen in Xephyr’s Majora’s Mask Skull Kid and Edward Elric. Xephyr Studios is the type of institution that happens when cosplayers such as Old Trenchy, Sunday Cosplay, and Kadu=Out inspire other cosplayers to elevate the profession. I think that cosplayers like Polygon Forge and Xephyr a part of that new season of cosplayers that will inspire even more cosplayers to take armour builds to the next level.
Joanie Brosas has been on my cosplay radar for quite some time. While I had seen a few of Joanie Brosas’s cosplays some years back, it was not until I started watching Ben Pace’s cosplay interviews on Schadenfreude Industries’s YouTube channel that I found out how charming and full of life she is. Joanie Brosas had already been an experienced model before cosplay. As far as hobbies that help shape her crafts, Joanie Brosas is a gamer girl and tremendous Trekker, famous for her Lara/Laura Crofts, and various Star Trek cosplays. However, as far as cosplay go, Joanie Brosas is perhaps best known for her Vampirella. Brosas is what I consider a “Sexy Cosplayer,” who specialises in sexy cosplay versions of characters from various mediums. Like many Sexy Cosplayers, Joanie Brosas is not limited to just sexy cosplays, but also makes faithful cosplays of sexy and favourite characters. As I watch Joanie Brosas develop her brand, I can’t help but think that modeling and cosplay are but stepping stones to something more in the realm of hosting for Joanie Brosas, as I see her personality wasted on still images and appearances lacking interactions with other interesting people.
AllieCat was well known in the Metro-Atlanta area for her cosplay before cosplay in general had taken the world by storm. AllieCat is a prodigy when it comes to hair and makeup, to which she uses to remake herself into her many anthropomorphosised characters she cosplays as. AllieCat was the first cosplayer I ever knew to rock “MooMoo” Ladies before cowgirls were so trendy. (Sorry Momokun) AllieCat is a unique beauty that is not only blessed with great curves for cosplay, but a cute almost cartoon-like face that AllieCat is able to manipulate skillfully, at will. AllieCat continues to share her craft and is very active in her local cosplay community.
AZ Powergirl Cara Nicole is a veteran entertainer and influencer, and was doing charity work when cosplay was introduced into her life. AZ Powergirl Cara Nicole has attended countless conventions in several capacities including booth girl, panel expert, comedian, and honoured guest, as well as representing such clients as Marvel Comics and Big City Comics at San Diego Comic-Con. AZ Powergirl Cara Nicole has modeled for various photographers and artists, including Mark Winters, who immortaiised her as “Emmara Tandris” for the game Magic the Gathering. AZ Powergirl Cara Nicole is a writer, editor, and colouritst, as well as co-founder and co-owner of 183 Degree Studio. Yeah, ‘many hats and ‘many pies. As far as cosplay is concerned, AZ Powergirl Cara Nicole’s choice of cosplay and cosplay characters reflect her talents and personality, often selecting sexy characters and cosplays and injecting humour and other qualities where she can. While AZ Powergirl Cara Nicole tends to cosplay beautiful and sexy characters, she is not afraid to do some body paint, prosthesis, or crafting.
CharleeKa-Pow, aka PurpleMuffinz, is a cosplayer from the UK. CharleeKa-Pow has a background in Art, Photography, Modeling, and Dressmaking, and enjoys working with latex. CharleeKa-Pow’s style of costuming reminds me a lot of Kassandra Leigh. (‘Who also has a background in Photography and loves working with latex. Coincidence?) Where Kassandra Leigh puts a great emphasis on kink factor, I think CharleeKa-Pow focuses a little more on accuracy and great geek characters, but the kink is still there. While CharleeKa-Pow does cosplay as some sexy characters that get an obvious upgrade in sex appeal by her choice of materials, she does not exclusively cosplay as sexy characters. This makes CharleeKa-Pow’s cosplays even more interesting, as sometimes an unexpected kink factor is realised in the characters she brings to life.
Stay Puft Cosplay has a unique twist to his cosplay that is well befitting his name. He makes large almost plushy costumes to give his cosplays a giant sense of adorable surrealism. Stay Puft Cosplay’s technique and theme work surprisingly well with any and all of the differently themed characters that he chooses. Stay Puft Cosplay has chosen 80’s cartoon icons like Beast Man from Masters of the Universe to bring to life. Stay Puft Cosplay has cosplayed as 90’s lovable bad guy Bebop from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. Stay Puft Cosplay has also cosplayed as Nintendo’s greatest princess-snatching would-be ruler, Bowser to perfection. Whatever persona Stay Puft Cosplay adopts, the result is a big, vibrant, and well detailed cosplay…that’s hella cuddly looking to boot.
This is the official fan based Facebook page for The True Aquaman. The True Aquaman is the most prolific character cosplayer that I have ever encountered. While The True Aquaman has an impressive catalogue of cosplays under his belt, his most famous and acclaimed cosplay is that of the DC Comics’s King of Atlantis. (40+ cosplays, and 11 Aquaman variations as of this writing) In fact, The True Aquaman was told by none other than Nick Cardy that “he was the living embodiment of his imagination.” (Nick Cardy just happens to be he original artist for Aquaman’s solo comic book release.) The True Aquaman gives well over 100 hours of charity work a year, and champions several causes since the passing of his son, Christian, to Leukemia. Despite many obstacles encountered, The True Aquman has earned the respect of many professionals and colleagues.
UbersCosplays, also known as TemjinTBW, is one of a class of cosplayers that I see gaining some clout in the cosplay world. I call them “Big Build” cosplayers. UbersCosplay does make more conventional costumes for his cosplays, but his heart is in making huge mech and technological builds. UbersCosplay will also employ LEDs and even outright machines for the sake of a big and impressive build. (He used a go-kart to make a drift tank cosplay that actually rolled around drifted on convention floors.) How impressive are UbersCosplay’s builds? Would you believe it if I said that UbersCosplay’s first cosplay won a “Best in Show” award and his second won “Best Intermediate Craftsman” at Anime Expo 2013? I hope so, because he did. In fact UbersCosplay has won many comparable awards in many different conventions and events.
Pollygon Art is an extremely talented cosplayer from England. Pollygon Art is representative of what is quickly becoming the norm with great cosplayers; she is superlative in hair, makeup, wig styling, as well as costuming of many types. Pollygon Art’s armour crafting skills are as great as her tailoring and dress making skills. Pollygon Art is also one of those elite cosplayers that indulges in body paints. (I was especially impressed by Pollygon Art’s Aranea cosplay.) Pollygon Art is also a game designer with a degree in game design. I have a feeling that there is a lot more about Pollygon Art that we would love to know, but there is not much information about her out there.
Mossyfox is a uniquely talented cosplayer and costumer. I don’t know how to describe Mossyfox’s costuming other than to say that it is akin to tailoring from another dimension. To compliment her extremely unique style of costuming, Mossyfox has an equally unorthodox style of hair, wig styling, makeup, and body painting. Mossyfox’s cosplays have a mythical flair to them, and she gives off the aura of some Otherkin Princess. Mossyfox uses accessories that add to her mystique, like illuminated globes, creature/monster effects builds/prosthesis, and flair like ears and tails. Mossyfox also stands out as a cosplayer and costumer because she uses actual animal bones and teeth in the making of her costumes and crafts. All animal materials are ethically harvested and professionally processed, as Mossyfox has experience in taxidermy.
I fell in love with Willow Creative’s work when I saw one of her “in progress videos” of her Mewtwo cosplay. Willow Creative is not only the name of the cosplayer and costumer, but her costuming and creature effects company. Willow Creatives is a master crafter of props and weapons with effects, as well as big build costumes. Willow Creative’s costumes range anywhere from plushy, prosthesis, creature, monster, armour, anthropomorphic, and mechonised; also with effects. Willow Creative is one of those cosplayers that pushes the boundaries of what a cosplayer and a Hollywood FX creator is. Willow Creative crafts and operates out of Enschede, Netherlands, and openly accepts commission and trade work.
Yuki Crissy is an active member in the otaku community. Yuki Crissy hails from New York, New York and is a Kuropop dancer, a cafe maid, photographer, and model. Yuki Crissy has also been featured several publications such as Otaku USA, Cosmode (COSplay MODE Magazine), and We Rise Mag. Yuki Crissy cosplays as a lot of pretty and fun cosplay characters, but also makes party-esque versions of cosplays, as well as rave and party gijinkas. I would say that Yuki Chrissy is a pretty young lady that enjoys pretty cosplays, and she does not disappoint when she delivers.
Leslie no Kosupurei is an exceptional cosplayer from Costa Rica. When I came across Leslie no Kosupurei’s page on Facebook, I was amazed at how clean and well-fitted her cosplays were. Leslie no Kosupurei’s hair and wigs are always colourful, well-styled, and crisp. Her costumes are well-tailored and fitted to perfection. When it comes to Leslie no Kosupurei’s props, weapons, and ornaments, Leslie no Kosupurei is a pro as well. I am also a fan of Leslie no Kosupurei’s choices in characters, as I am a big comic book, fighting game, and classic anime lover. Leslie no Kosupurei has excellent taste in her choice of liberties she takes in her alternate versions of cosplays, such as her gender bent Shazam!, and her Christmas Tharja, as well. I am very eager to see what Leslie no Kosupurei contributes to the cosplay community in the the future, as I believe that she is one of it’s great unsung talents.
Ináste is a cosplayer and crafter from Frankfurt, Germany. Ináste’s style of costuming and cosplay is one of which is finally becoming perfected as it’s own genre of armour crafting; the style of armour crafting seen depicted very often in online RPG-esque and mobile styled games. Ináste is extremely adept at creating all sorts of textures in her crafting, recreating anything from deep rich barks, thick and detailed carapaces, billowed feathers and scales, to die cast armour pieces. Ináste is a part of a generation of cosplayers that shows more and more that cosplay does not require decades of experience to achieve masterhood of a style. Ináste has only cosplayed since 2015, but with passion, hard work, talent, and dedication, Ináste has achieved her high level and standard in cosplay and crafting. If you’ve read this far, I suppose I can tell you some more interesting facts about Ináste. Ináste is an air elemental that believes in spiritual vibrations, mental frequencies, and The Cosmic Laws. Ináste has not only been visited by extraterrestrials, but practices astral travel.
Leontha
Leontha is a stately and cultured European cosplayer with dual citizenship from Poland and Germany (bourne in Poland, but of Polish and German descent). While Leontha is a full-fledged crafter, costumer, and builder in cosplay, I think her true strength and pleasure as a cosplayer comes when all the hard work is done, and it’s time for Leontha to become her characters. Leontha truly blossoms as a cosplayer when she becomes not only a model, but an actress in cosplay. You can see this in Leontha’s carefully made costumes, belief suspending hair, wigs, and makeup, and photo shoots with or without other cosplayers. Leontha also enjoys shooting in different beautiful locations all over the world. Another aspect to Leontha’s cosplay is her aesthetic of beauty. Even in her raunchier cosplays, there is a refined essence. Leontha is also a fellow sufferer of chronic illness, and a cancer survivor.
Helly von Valentine
Helly von Valentine is one of the many super cosplayers from the former Soviet Union, Russia in particular. Helly von Valentine is also a erocosplayer as well as a non-cosplay model. Eroscosplayer…I had never heard that term until I read about Helly von Valentine, and I think it describes her very well. An erocosplayer is more than what I would call a cosplay model, and Helly Von Valentine is not just a model that likes to cosplay and dress up. She is the total package. Helly von Valentine puts her heart and soul into every cosplay character she portrays. Helly von Valentine enjoys cosplaying as many characters in many contemporary anime and video game.