Introduction

Can you share a little bit about yourself and the character you cosplay? How did you first get into cosplay?

My name is Hera Lynx, and I have been cosplaying for more than 10 years now. I first got into cosplay when I was 12 years old. I used to frequently visit a local anime shop called Yuya near La Salle, and the owner was actually the one who introduced me to cosplay.

During my first convention, I joined both the drawing and cosplay contests. At that time, I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I knew I was having fun and doing something I genuinely loved because of my passion for anime. That event became very memorable for me because I met many cosplayers whom I admired and eventually became friends with through Facebook.

From there, my cosplay journey truly began. I started attending conventions regularly, joining contests mainly for fun, and even won a few placements along the way. However, what has always mattered most to me is the experience itself, spending time with friends, expressing creativity, and enjoying the community that cosplay brings.

Tell us about the first time you did cosplay. What was it like, and what did you learn from it?

My first cosplay was Misaki Ayuzawa from Kaichou wa Maid-sama. At that time, online shopping platforms like Shopee or Lazada were not yet available, so ordering cosplay costumes and wigs was quite difficult. Most costumes had to be made-to-order by local tailors.

For my first cosplay, I didn’t know where to buy a proper wig. The wigs sold in malls were usually just standard long or short styles and didn’t match the character. Since Misaki and I had a similar hair color, I decided to get my hair cut exactly like hers, with layered cuts and bangs styled to resemble the character.

That experience was both exciting and challenging for me and my parents because cosplay was something completely new to us, and we didn’t really understand how everything worked yet. Despite that, my parents were very supportive because they saw how much I loved anime and how happy cosplay made me. They even hired a makeup artist to help with my makeup and hair since I didn’t know how to do makeup at the time.

Through my first cosplay, I learned that cosplay is not an easy hobby—it requires determination, creativity, and dedication. I also quickly realized that cosplay can be expensive. Because of that, I started watching YouTube tutorials to learn how to do my own makeup and began experimenting with making small props and adding details to my costumes myself to reduce expenses.

From that moment on, I knew I wanted to continue cosplaying, to keep creating, improving, and bringing my favorite characters to life.

Who or what were the first people or things that inspired you in the cosplay world?

One of the first people who inspired me in the cosplay world was Zeuspro, a YouTuber whom I discovered through one of their makeup or wig-styling tutorials, I believe it was for Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler. Watching their videos introduced me to the creative and technical side of cosplay, especially character transformation. Although they no longer actively cosplay or create content and have shifted their focus to creative shoots and makeup, their work left a lasting impression on me when I was starting out.

Another major source of inspiration for me has been Hakken, Hikarin, and Reika. Around this time, I began cosplaying male characters and exploring crossplay. I admired them deeply for their confidence in cross-dressing, as well as their exceptional makeup, performance, and crafting skills, which I considered top-tier.

I feel incredibly grateful to have met two of them in person. I met Hakken during Cosmania 2018, where I gave handmade gifts and local Filipino snacks as a token of appreciation. Last year, I also had the opportunity to meet Reika at a local event in Bacolod City, where I personally told her how much she inspired me as a cosplayer. I even shared my goal of learning how to sew my own costumes someday, just like she does, once I have more time after graduation. And last but not least, the thing that inspired me the most to cosplay was my love and passion for art and anime.

Threads of Inspiration: The Beginning of Hera’s Journey

How do you decide which character you’re going to cosplay? Walk us through your creative steps.

When deciding which character to cosplay, I usually choose characters who resemble me or whose personality I can relate to. Sometimes, however, I simply cosplay a character because I genuinely fell in love with them—their story, design, or overall presence. For me, cosplay is about creating a personal connection with the character and expressing that connection through performance and creativity.

How do you research your characters to ensure an accurate portrayal?

When it comes to portraying a character, I focus on two aspects: personality and appearance.
For personality, I observe the character closely in the anime or game, paying attention to their behavior, habits, humor, and overall attitude. This helps me capture the essence of who they are beyond just their looks.

For physical accuracy, I focus on makeup, wig styling, costume, and props. I often look for 360-degree images or references that show the front, side and back of the character. Finding images that highlight small details, such as the placement of accessories or specific hair styling, to ensure that every element of the cosplay is as accurate to the character as possible is also important if you want a very accurate portrayal.

Do you have any special skills or techniques you use for prop-making or costume construction?

When it comes to prop-making or costume construction, I wouldn’t say I’m the best—these are actually the areas I want to improve the most. As a student, I don’t have a lot of free time to dedicate to sewing or large-scale crafting projects. However, I do focus on smaller details and minor crafts for my cosplays whenever I can. Over the past two years, I’ve also been steadily improving my wig-styling and make up skills, which has become one of my strengths.

Can you tell me about some of your most impressive or challenging cosplays? What made them special?
For me, one of my most challenging cosplays was Lenore from Castlevania. It was the first time in a while that I had cosplayed a female character, which made styling the wig more difficult than usual. The makeup was also challenging—Lenore is a vampire, so wearing fake fangs throughout the convention made it hard to communicate, and I eventually had to remove them along with the elf ears.

The gown and fur cape were also a struggle; the cape was heavy and made my back ache. Despite these challenges, what made this cosplay special was that I genuinely had fun portraying Lenore and enjoyed the event with my friends. It was also the first time I was featured at APEX Con, which was an incredible and memorable experience that I’m really grateful for.

The Community and Impact

How has cosplay changed your life? Has it helped you make new friends or discover things about yourself?

Cosplay has changed my life in many ways. It helped me gain confidence in myself and gave me a platform where I could freely express my passion and creativity. Through cosplay, I was able to meet many wonderful people, including my amazing best friend, Sora. We practically grew up together in the cosplay community and would always spend time together whenever we had free time. Cosplay also helped me discover different sides of myself. It made me realize that I can be social, confident, and creative. Most importantly, it allowed me to fully embrace who I am and be comfortable expressing myself without fear.

What does the group of people who do cosplay mean to you? How do you connect with other cosplayers?

The cosplay community means a lot to me because it feels like a second family. It is a space where people share the same passions, creativity, and appreciation for anime, games, and characters we love. Being surrounded by people who understand and support each other creates a very welcoming and accepting environment. I usually connect with other cosplayers through conventions, photoshoots, and social media platforms where we share our works, experiences, and progress. Cosplay naturally brings people together because we bond over shared interests, help each other with costumes or ideas, and celebrate each other’s achievements. Over time, these connections grow into genuine friendships built on creativity, mutual support, and shared memories.

Sometimes people don’t fully understand cosplay. Have you ever faced any problems or wrong ideas about it? How do you handle those?

Yes, I have, and I believe most cosplayers have experienced this at some point. Cosplay is not something people see every day, especially when I first started. I often found myself having to explain and sometimes defend the hobby because many people had misconceptions about it or associated it with something negative.
In reality, cosplay is simply a community of people who share the same interests and passion. It’s a creative hobby where we express our love for characters, stories, and art, we just happen to look a little different while doing it.

Over time, I learned to handle these situations through patience and education. I explain what cosplay truly represents and show others that it promotes creativity, confidence, friendship, and self-expression. Once people understand the heart behind cosplay, many of their misconceptions naturally change.

The Future: What’s Next?

What are your future goals in cosplay? Do you want to enter contests, work with others, or create videos and posts?

My future goals in cosplay focus mainly on improving my craft and continuing to grow as a creator. I want to learn how to make my own costumes and props because I feel these are the areas where I still have a lot to improve and explore. While I am already confident with doing my own makeup, I am currently continuing to practice and develop my wig-styling skills.

Moving forward, I hope to become more hands-on with every aspect of cosplay production so I can fully bring characters to life through my own craftsmanship and creativity. I also want to start making content for my social media platforms such as; make up tutorials, make up reviews and daily vlogs in the future.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about starting cosplay?

My advice for anyone who wants to start cosplaying is to never be afraid of failing. Mistakes are part of the learning process, so if something doesn’t work out, simply pick yourself up and try again. Cosplay can be both intriguing and intimidating at first, but once you give it a try, there’s a high chance you’ll enjoy it.

It’s also important to choose the right people to be friends with, as supportive and like-minded friends can make your experience even more fun and meaningful. Remember, cosplay is not about perfection—it’s about having fun, expressing your creativity, and experiencing the joy of bringing your favorite characters to life. While accuracy can matter in contests, at its core, cosplay is about passion, self-expression, and celebrating the things you love.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about why you love cosplay?

One last thing I’d like to share about why I love cosplay is that it has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. It has helped me grow as a person and has allowed me to reach and achieve dreams I never thought were possible. Cosplay isn’t just a hobby for me—it’s a journey that I want to keep on continuing for as long as I can.

How much time and work do you usually spend on one cosplay project?

The time and effort I spend on a cosplay project usually depend on the complexity of the character and my budget. I often have my costumes made-to-order by my talented friend Zeus, while I make and style the wigs myself. Wig styling alone can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on how much free time I have and whether there’s an upcoming event.

There’s no fixed timeline, but as a rough estimate, a simple cosplay can usually be completed in a week or two, while more complex cosplays can take several months. Sometimes, if an event is approaching, I have to work quickly and “clutch” the project, putting in extra hours to get everything ready in time.

Which part of a cosplay is the most satisfying for you?

For me, the most satisfying part of a cosplay is doing my makeup. Since I cannot use contact lenses due to my sensitive eyes and my doctor’s advice, I focus on making my makeup as detailed and accurate as possible. It’s a way for me to bring the character to life and express creativity, even without using colored lenses, and I really enjoy the process of perfecting each look. I have always loved make up as a little kid so having a chance to do make up always excites me and it is one of the reasons I love cosplay because it gives me a platform to express my love for make up.