I've been a performer since the age of 3, participating in pre-k and kindergarten performances, choirs, ensemble numbers and, skits. In 5th grade, I received a scholarship from Rosie's Theater Kids, a program dedicated to providing children from low-income families in marginalized communities the opportunity to explore and develop their talents through free dance, singing, and acting classes. My love for performing grew, and I went on to attend Talent Unlimited High School as a Musical Theater major. While in high school I was actively involved in my scholarship program. I was honing in on my skills during and after school. Musical Theater provided me with me valuable skills ranging from discipline to patience. And most of all to give it all you got and leave it all out on the stage.
When I graduated high school, I decided that, even though Musical Theater had been my world for most of my life, I wanted to explore new creative outlets. I turned to another passion of mine: film. I attended the Borough of Manhattan Community College and earned my Associates in Science with a major in Video Arts and Technology. I then went on to Brooklyn College, where I majored in Film Production and minored in Television & Radio, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. My love for film grew from pre-production to post-production, and I gained valuable skills through group projects while developing my personal style. Through film production I was able to gain more insight into putting together a production, what that would entail and the steps to get there together as a team.
I began cosplaying in my first semester of college in 2015, but it wasn’t until 2021, after the pandemic, that I truly dived into the world cosplay. It became the creative outlet I had been searching for, one that encapsulated all of my previous experiences. Through cosplay, I can bring everything I’ve learned together—collaborating with peers, editing photos and videos, and performing through my costumes. This journey has brought me to where I am today, and there's still so much more I can learn and explore.
Lara Croft - Rise Of The Tomb Raider
Photographed by Francisco De Jesus
I first discovered cosplay around 2006-2008 through G4's Attack of the Show!. At the time I had a vague understanding of it but that wasn't the shows main focus. Through the show I did learn more about conventions, the two biggest ones being New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic Con, I began to understand what a convention was, what they offered in terms of panels, Artist Alleys, and the communities built around fandoms.
When Attack of the Show! was canceled in 2012, I felt like something was missing from my life. Then, in 2013, I found SyFy's Heroes of Cosplay, which introduced me to even more conventions. It showed me the incredible scale of what cosplays could be and how the creativity to put together a costume was limitless. This opened my eyes to a whole new world that I was eager to be a part of. While these programs might not have been the best representations of cosplay, I saw how passionate the cosplayers were about sharing this amazing hobby with the world, and that inspired me to dive into the art form myself.
In 2015, I attended my first convention at New York Comic Con, and it was everything I had hoped for. As soon as I entered the Javits Center, I knew I’d be coming back every year. Now, with my 10th cosplay anniversary approaching, I’m incredibly grateful for what this hobby has taught me—not only as a creator but also as an individual who is always learning and striving to be a stronger member of this community.
Cyclops - X-Men '97
Photographed by Nick Leaf
Cosplay highlight video of some cosplays I saw over the 4-Day con weekend!
Highlight vlog of the cosplay contest and cosplayers at the BX Expo!
I went to the NY Auto Show dressed in a Lightning McQueen inspired look and recorded what I saw throughout the Javits Center!
My first time going to a convention by myself!
We submitted our Adventure Time group cosplay into the cosplay contest!
Last minute I put together a closet cosplay and went to an out of state convention at a casino!
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