To me, cosplay is simply another outlet to express my creativity. It is a way for me to be myself, while dressing as someone else. Growing up, I was always ridiculed for my hobbies and interests, so when I started cosplaying, I found my tribe. Some of my most cherished friendships had been found through cosplay.
Louise Eason from my book series “Motor City Witches”. She comes from several generations of witches and rootworkers, and the leader of the Children of Moonlight coven (her mother was the previous leader)
- Instagram – JadeAurora1989
- TikTok – JadeAurora1989
To me cosplay means creativity. There’s no right way to cosplay so seeing different interpretations of a character or crossovers is always cool. It’s a form of art that let’s you show your love of a character or fandom and immerse yourself in that world. It means community and fun because of the friends I’ve made since making my pages. I’ve received so much support and encouragement from friends and strangers that means the world to me. I’m just someone enjoying their craft and seeing people love what I do is amazing.
Zari the Berry Fairy. She’s a member of the Strawberry clan. They are responsible for the strawberry harvest in the kingdom. Their magic makes each harvest fresh and long lasting. Upon request they help make ingredients for spells but the spells can only be used for good. Zari dreams of creating more than just harvests, she has style and dreams of dressing dignitaries and royals across the land, sprinkling magic in love in every stitch.
- Instagram – queen_e_cosplays
Cosplay gives me the chance to step into worlds beyond my everyday life. It empowers me to channel my creativity, embrace new challenges, and push my artistic skills in ways I never imagined.
“Gbeto” The Huntress
A powerful deity once worshiped by the women warriors of the Dahomey Kingdom in West Africa.
She is believed to grant her followers strength, courage, and an unmatched fierceness.
I chose to bring this character to life because I was deeply inspired by the Warrior Queen movie starring Viola Davis. I wanted to capture the beauty, resilience, and power her character embodied, and transform that spirit into my own creation.
- Instagram – Star Melendez
I love magic and fantasy stories and the fact that Black people are often underrepresented or considered taboo in these kinds of genres is not right.
Estella the star gazer (Original Cosplay). I created this character for Black Fae Day 2022.
- Instagram – thebadwolfreigns
Salix, willow tree nymph
- Instagram – shiratorihime.cos
Imagine a librarian with a knack for art and gardening gets isekai-ed into the universe of the New World Institute of Majick (N.W.I.M). That’s Care Creatrix Lee’Zourah Flowerz, also known as “ZZ”.
Starting her new life as a student at N.W.I.M and working her way into a staff position over the past several years has given her time to learn the basics of this world, and through it all she discovered that people of this universe aren’t so different from the people of her home universe: they all desire to care and be cared for.
With the help of her newfound knowledge from N.W.I.M and the experiences of her old life, Care Creatrix ZZ is on a quest to discover the secrets of majicks that are grown through the careful crafting and creative cultivating of collective compassion. On the other side of miracles and healing exists a universe of unconditional freedom, unlimited joy, and unique majicks. From plants to people and staff to students, ZZ believes that each and every spiritual and physical creature deserves the chance to feel connected to and harness the coalesced energies of the Compassionate Collective. By studying the art, literature, plant growth, and transformation of the students and staff on campus from one year to the next, Care Creatrix ZZ hopes to help others unlock the secrets behind the majick that is created at the conjunction of physical and spiritual connection, cooperation, and compassion. It’s like she always says: “If we care enough, our compassion can even change the clouds.”
Area of Expertise:
- Potion Brewing
- Tarot & Oracle Reading
- and other various healing arts and practices
ZZ runs The Applethecary, an apothecary and therapeutic arts studio on campus dedicated to holistic healing. If you’re feeling unwell, uneasy, or unsure stop by The Applethecary for heart-centered healing and a hospitable atmosphere.
To me cosplay is an expression of creativity. It is one way people can play with color, texture and other aspects of art and fashion. I also believe that cosplay is a way in which people can practice empathy because when in cosplay you are figuratively, if not somewhat literally, putting your feet into someone else’s shoes and becoming a different character or even a different version of yourself. Cosplay is a tool that allows anyone to play with the very human experiences of art and expression and I think that’s cool. 🙂
Thank you for considering my submission and for providing this opportunity. Best of luck and success on the 2026 calendar creation!
- Instagram – flwrbunniez
Snow, a free spirited pirate on a quest to hunt for treasure. But instead he stumbled upon a beautiful mermaid… So now he’s on a quest to search every realm to find her.
I choose this character, because it relates to how I enjoy exploring life. Rather in my home city, on my travels. It’s just more motivation for me to be consistent with my journal entry. That’ll eventually turn into blogs or even vlogs.
What cosplay means to me is a way to escape from reality, and allow your imagination to roam free. Visualizing your favorite character, or even an original character and bringing them to life. Rather hands on crafting, thrifting, or even commissioned work…. It’s all about having fun and escaping the norm of society.
- Instagram – lordsnow_realm
Character name: Seraphina Dominance
Long ago, in the hidden groves where the Feywild brushes against the mortal world, there was a fairy born not of laughter or song, but of longing. Her name was Seraphina, and she was unlike her kin. While other fairies flitted about in carefree delight, Seraphina carried an aura that commanded attention. Wherever she walked, hearts seemed to slow, breaths seemed to catch — as if the world itself paused to listen.
But her gift was more than beauty. She was born with the rare ability to draw others toward her will, not through fear, but through desire. Her presence made mortals and fey alike want to surrender their burdens — to be led, guided, even claimed. Many who met her described it not as domination, but as a strange kind of freedom: the relief of no longer having to hold control when she was near.
At first, Seraphina feared her power. She thought love would never truly be hers, only obedience. But over the centuries, she came to understand that love and dominance could entwine like vines climbing the same tree. True romance, she discovered, blooms not from force, but from trust — the willingness of one soul to yield and the strength of another to hold.
Now she wanders between realms, wearing silken thorns woven with rose petals, a symbol of the balance she embodies: command and tenderness, strength and devotion. She dreams not of conquest, but of the one who will meet her gaze without flinching, who will kneel not because they must, but because they choose to.
For Seraphina, romance is not a fleeting spark — it is the quiet surrender of two hearts bound together, where dominance becomes an act of love.
Cosplaying the Dominance Fairy is more than just wearing wings and fantasy clothes — it’s about embodying a kind of love story. She represents confidence, allure, and the softer side of power. For me, this cosplay means stepping into a character who shows that dominance can be an act of care, that guiding or leading someone can also be deeply romantic.
The cosplay is a symbol of balance: strength paired with tenderness, authority paired with affection. It’s a way of showing that love doesn’t have to fit one mold — it can be passionate, magnetic, and still vulnerable.
When I put on this cosplay, it’s not just about looking like a fairy — it’s about expressing the beauty of trust and intimacy, and bringing to life a character who makes romance feel both powerful and enchanting.
I chose/created the characters for a various number of reasons. Most
importantly, I love anything Magical Girl. I am a huge Sailor Moon
Fan and I adore anything that represents that culture of magic and
girl POWER.
Cosplays means to me an opportunity to showcase my love for a
character or design and put my own spin on it. For example: My Sailor
Sun was created because of my love for the culture and my love for
Sailor Moon. It was given an positive response and I really do
cosplay for the culture!!
- Instagram – Animeinkart1
Haumea from Fire Force.
Haumea’s character expressed the fun and chaotic side of me in cosplaying
Cosplay to me means expressing myself and my creativity and the joy that comes with completing each one.
- Instagram – venuscreatescosplay
My first time was a magical surprise. I didn’t know that it would feel so freeing to portray someone else for a little while. It made coming back to myself, after the costume was off, that much sweeter.
I love the community that I have found with cosplayers. We are very supportive of each other.
- Instagram – Ladycosbae
Doctor Voodoo is my favorite Marvel character and one of my dream mainstream writing gig. I discovered the character early and I thought he was a bit of a joke, especially as a Haitian American. But one day I read his original Strange Tales stories and was impressed with the amount of care put into his conception and original stories. As someone who was getting into learning about African spirituality, it was clear the creators did their research to develop this character. Over time with later writers, this was lost unfortunately. But when Charles, the make up artist who I’ve worked with in the past, reached out and asked if I’d be interested in being body painted as Doctor Voodoo, it was an absolute no brainer.
Cosplay to me means inhabiting the skin of one of your favorite characters, bringing them to life, making them crossover into our reality, and reclaiming the space to be authentically you at the same time.
- Instagram – Gregdae
Brianna Rose
I absolutely loved the original Teen Titans cartoon. I instantly connected with Raven as a character. Id loved her comic book outfit design! One of my first Cosplays.
The cosplay community has been the most fun , open, creative lovely group I’ve ever been apart of. Having another creative outlet to pour into is really important to me.
- Instagram – Animeinkart1
Token Talks Cosplay
Raven is one of my favorite Teen Titans members. Between her complicated past with her father, her slowly coming into her powers, and just being “BA”.
The cosplay community has been the most fun , open, creative lovely group I’ve ever been apart of. Having another creative outlet to pour into is really important to me.
- Instagram – tokentalkscosplayllc
- Tiktok – tokentalkscosplayllc
Honestly, I feel like I’ve always been a cosplayer. I just didn’t know the word for it at the time.
As a kid, I’d grab a towel, wrap it around my hair pretending I was my favorite Disney Princess and mimicking the moves from the animated film. It never stopped, the fascination grew into bigger characters, like when I first stepped out as Scorpion from Mortal Kombat.
Attending my first convention was the moment it really clicked for me. I felt free to escape , geek out and enjoy the fandom without holding back. That experience gave me the confidence to keep going and gained many amazing friends along the way.
My favorite part is the freedom to create, explore different sides of myself. Some days I’m in full fantasy mode, or gothic and slowly getting into the realm of special effects. I love that flexibility and the fun of surprising people with something new each time. The best part is the connection it creates.
- Instagram – bvi_mermaid
- Instagram – bvimermaid