Hello, my name is Michelle! Born and raised in California, I started really getting into anime and manga when I was about 14 years old. I didn’t actually start cosplaying until last year. I love it so much, and I’m glad that I had the time to do it with my close friends.

I’ve only been to Anime Expo, not that I’m complaining. I love Anime Expo, I’ve gone for the past three years, and this year will be my fourth! Hopefully, I’ll be able to attend some other cons. I hate waiting for a whole year to cosplay at just one convention. Every time I go to Anime Expo, I have a blast. The people there are amazing and I have fun just walking around and taking pictures. I met some new people that I still keep in touch with! The expo is one of the things that I really look forward to, especially since my summer is usually packed with school work.

Last year was my first time staying at a hotel next to the con. I live really close, so I would just drive back and fourth each day. But being with my friends and people who were similar to me was just nice. It was almost like a new adventure, seeing that I was in high school last year. It was a completely new experience of the con. I got to fully experience the con, and I loved it. The events at night was fun, ans so was walking around the lobby in my pajamas and fuzzy slippers with my friends.

I’ve never done any professional photo shoots, but I really hope that I can one day! Me and some of my friends are trying to arrange it, but who knows how that’ll turn out. Posing in front of the camera is always so much fun. Well, until you start shaking in your spot from posing too long. I’m sure many cosplayers can relate to this. :]

My first cosplay was Alice from Pandora Hearts. I love Pandora Hearts, the anime is just amazing. When I found out an Anime came out for it I was so excited! I know Pandora isn’t the most popular thing out there, but I don’t mind at all. My friend and I worked on my cosplay together. Shes amazing at sewing. She made majority of my cosplay, I just helped cut and fix up a few things here and there. The picture below is from the Pandora Hearts meetup at Anime Expo. It was lots of fun!

I loved being Alice. Part of the reason was because everyone who walked up to me and my friends (our little pandora group! My best friend, Jan, is Abyss and my other friend, Kim, is cheshire) they were excited and loved our cosplay. It made me really happy that they thought we looked good. Hard work payed off! I remember one person ran up to me and asked for a hug. It was adorable! And I loved it, haha. It made pretty happy and giddy feeling. It’s always fun meeting people who love a manga or anime as much as you do.

That year, I also did a pikachu ginka. It was a kind of last minute thing, so it wasn’t all that impressive. I dressed up with my friend who was sandshrew. It was so funny walking around with her. Everywhere we went, I heard “Look a sandshrew!” and “I’ve never seen one before!” We were all cracking up. It was just hilarious to me. The funniest thing that happened to me when I was dressed as pikachu was that someone dressed as Brock proposed to me with flowers. It was way too funny.

This year me and my friend and doing a Vocaloid cosplay! Magnet! Miku and Luka. I’ll be going as Luka. I made the headphones myself (after a lot of painful cutting), and I’m working on fixing up out dresses too. I can’t wait for Anime Expo this year. We haven’t taken any good pictures about it yet, but heres a work in progress.

I’m also doing a squirtle squad ginka with my friends. I’m so excited for this year. I’ve been trying to stay indoors so I don’t get any darker since the university I go to is way too sunny everywhere. I’ve been working with my makeup though. When I use my foundation, I use just a shade lighter. It makes a pretty big difference. Other than that, I don’t really have any other makeup tips. I just…do it.

I’m really looking forward to doing more cosplays. I love doing it, but I don’t always have the time. It’s tons of fun, that’s for sure. Cosplay is all for fun for me. My friends enjoy it and we have a blast doing it together. I hope everyone who wishes to cosplay will have as much fun as I do! :]

Author Bio: Michelle is a 19 years old girl from United States. She is fresh in college and loves food, Kpop, Jpop, just about everything disney, cute animals, anime, manga, glee, and cosplay. Visit her at deviantart.com.