Inside the cosplay community: Meet 20 South Australians turning fantasy into reality
It’s more than a costume for those in the cosplay community who grew up getting bullied for reading comic books and struggling with ADHD. Meet 20 of the state’s top cosplayers.
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The colourful world of cosplay is more than dressing up, it’s an escape for those with childhoods marred with schoolyard bullying, undiagnosed ADHD and mental health battles following them into adulthood.
When asked what it means to them, many South Australian cosplayers reflect on being the kid rejected by their classmates simply for liking comic books and video games and describe the community as their safe space.
Brooke Miller just wanted to feel “cool for a day” when she found cosplay and Tony Karoussis who spent his childhood getting “pushed around for liking geeky things” never felt like he belonged until he discovered the community.
For Jazmyn Manson who grew up with undiagnosed ADHD it became an avenue to let her “chaotic, creative energy out”.
“Not only was I not scrutinised or told to “grow up”, but I was actually encouraged to be bigger, brighter and louder,” Ms Manson, who is now a mental health nurse, said.
“I’d finally found an environment where I didn’t feel like I was taking up too much space and was able to be accepted for who I am.”
SCROLL DOWN TO MEET 20 OF SA’S MOST CREATIVE COSPLAYERS
First coined in the 80s, cosplay involves dressing up as a character from a film, book or video game with the hobby reaching new heights in recent years thanks to social media, with the “#cosplay” tag on TikTok racking up 37.9m videos alone.
Whether it’s store bought or handmade, each cosplay is a labour of love for dedicated fans who spend countless hours bringing their favourite characters to life.
Using fabric, foam, leatherwork, thermoplastics, 3D printing and everyday items like horse riding gear and school shoes, cosplayers design with “crying, swearing, blood and sweat” to make “something that isn’t real, real”.
For Clara Drewer crafting costumes became a creative outlet that helped her through a dark period after the birth of her child. Now, she’s a judge at cosplay events.
“I had just given birth to my kid, I was at a low point in my life and was going through some severe depression,” she said.
“Instead of feeling sorry for myself any longer, I spoke to a therapist, and they said to start getting back into my creative streak again and well, I did.”
Here 20 of South Australia’s top cosplayers turning fantasy into reality share their stories.
Cosplay Coach – Tony Karoussis
Handle: @cosplay_coach
For people like Tony Karoussis, who felt like outcasts growing up, cosplay is so much more than simply dressing up with the community providing a sense of belonging unlike any other.
“I was always the kid at school that got bullied and pushed around for liking geeky things, and never felt like I belonged in the world,” he said.
“Being in cosplay is amazing, like I shed a little tear every time I make something new and put it on for the first time it’s like, wow, I made that – it’s such a good feeling when it all comes together.
“I’ve made some incredible friends, met some incredible people, and had some incredible opportunities out of it all.
“Everywhere you go, people are warm and welcoming, ready to sit and have a chat and look at your costume, exchange ideas and just geek out on all the stuff that you love as well, so it’s a really, really cool community to be a part of.”
It was the same schoolyard experience that drew him to the gym and now he’s known as Cosplay Coach.
“I started training myself at the gym at 14 to feel better about myself and have more self confidence,” the 32-year-old said.
“It definitely helped me grow, and I can relate to other people, especially in the cosplay community (because) a lot of us were bullied because we were always viewed as different.”
After deciding it was time for a career change, he left his engineering career in 2015 to become a personal trainer and began cosplaying in his spare time.
But it wasn’t until 2022 that he decided to combine his love of fitness with “all things nerdy”
with a mission of creating “real life superheroes” by empowering fellow geeks through fitness.
“My goal is to help and empower other cosplayers with their health and fitness so that they can enjoy their hobbies confidently and pain free,” he said.
Now two years later, his clientele includes cosplayers not just from Adelaide but across the world which still feels “surreal”.
“I coach clients online, so I’ve got a few from around Australia and around the world now, which is really, really cool and surreal, that people not only follow me because of my cosplay, but also because they find my fitness journey to be quite inspiring,” he said.
“To hear that people look up to me and that I give them that confidence in themselves that I never had as a kid, it still blows my mind.”
Jazzy J Cosplay – Jazmyn Manson
Handle: @jazzyjcosplay
When Jazmyn Manson, 24, first cosplayed as Sherlock Holmes in 2016, she had no idea just how much it would change her life.
Growing up with undiagnosed ADHD was “really tough” but cosplaying provided a safe space where she could let all of her “chaotic, creative energy out,” the mental health nurse said.
“Once I discovered the cosplay community, it felt like I had finally found this amazing world where I could be as weird or as quirky as I wanted,” she said.
“Not only was I not scrutinised or told to “grow up”, but I was actually encouraged to be bigger, brighter and louder.
“I’d finally found an environment where I didn’t feel like I was taking up too much space and was able to be accepted for who I am.”
Not long after her diagnosis in 2021, Ms Manson attended a convention where she met a little girl who was being bullied at school for having ADHD.
Dressed as Harley Quinn, Ms Manson comforted her by sharing her own experience and reassured her that it was ok to be different.
“I saw a lot of myself in that young girl, and interactions like this show me just how powerful the cosplay community is,” she said.
“I felt like a big sister that day, and well, it felt really good to be able to cheer up a young girl who needed some advice from someone who has been in her spot.
“No matter what you cosplay as, no matter who you are, what you do, what your goals are, what walk of life you some from, there will always be a place for everyone in the cosplay community.”
Avatarest Cosplay – Jacye
Handle: @avatarest_cosplay
Twenty-four year-old aged care worker Jayce has spent the past decade honing their cosplay craft.
It all started when they went to AVCON, Adelaide’s own anime and video games convention, in 2011 and saw people in cosplay for the first time.
Wanting to join in on the fun, Jayce did their first cosplay, Maka Albran from Soul Eater, three years later and hasn’t stopped since.
“It was definitely nerve wracking but overall I had a great time, especially when people were excited to see one another dressed up as certain characters,” the Barossa local said.
When it comes to choosing which character to bring to life next, Jayce enjoys cosplaying characters they feel a special connection to.
“I tend to go for the characters I fall in love with or connect with, as it helps motivate me to work on cosplay,” Jayce said.
The favourite cosplays they’ve done include the Little Sister from BioShock 2 and Belle from the anime of the same name.
Darc Costumes – Darcy Foster
Handle: @darccostumes
Darcy Foster has always had a love of making costumes which eventually lead her to cosplay.
For the shy 29-year-old, walking the con floor in cosplay for the first time felt amazing and “so powerful.”
“My first cosplay was a closet cosplay, I borrowed items from friends and raided my closet,” she said.
“A quick application of body paint and I was my own version of Emma Carstairs from The Dark Artifices.
“I left that day vowing to make something even better next time,” she said.
Through cosplaying she has also found a sense of belonging within the local community.
“I can be shy at times, too shy to approach people but cosplayers, especially the Adelaide based cosplayers that I know are some of the friendliest and most passionate people I know,” she said.
Still cosplaying almost a decade later, her favourites include Tinkerbell, Margery Tyrell from Game of Thrones and Ellie Williams from The Last of Us Part 2.
Truedark Archive – Cassandra Schilling
Handle: @truedark_archive
Better known as Truedark Archive, Cassandra Schilling, is an Adelaide-based cosplayer who draws inspiration from her love of gaming and popular Dungeons and Dragons web series, Critical Role.
While cosplaying started out as an inside joke between friends, it soon turned into a true passion for the 29-year-old, providing “a safe space” to share her love of pop culture.
“As a younger person I was not confident enough to express my love for geeky culture and I love that my cosplays can be a way of showing people that it’s ok to be loud and proud about your interests, particularly as a female in the gaming space,” she said.
Cosplaying is a “labour of love” for the Sturt local who sews almost all of her costumes from scratch, while also experimenting with foam craft and 3D printing.
“My Jester cosplay from Critical Role has the biggest array of skills involved so it’s a favourite,” she said.
“Yennefer from the Witcher was perhaps the most challenging though due to all the leather work.”
Bryza Cosplay – Bryanna Humphreys
Handle: @bryza_cosplay
When it comes to cosplays, the bigger the dress, the better for Bryanna Humphreys, otherwise known as @bryza_cosplay.
“Big princess dresses with lots of layers of skirts and ruffles are my biggest love,” the 25-year-old said.
A seamstress since high school, she got her “first taste” of cosplay at Supanova in Sydney in 2019 after discovering cosplay on the news.
“I did not even realise cosplay was a thing until I saw Oz Comic Con pop up on the
news and thought people can do this?!” she said.
Little did she know how just much it would change her life with her love of cosplay bringing her to Adelaide to study costume design.
As someone who makes all of her cosplays by scratch, she says seeing others enjoy her work is “amazing”.
“When you tell people you made your costume, the looks on their faces make all the hard work, stress eating and sleepless nights so worth it,” she said.
Jacob Kuykhoven
Handle: @jacobmakes_
Jacob Kuykhoven, 22, has always loved enjoyed dressing up, so it’s only fitting that the costume design student became a cosplayer.
“I really enjoyed dressing up as a kid and wanted to recreate one of my favourite characters after seeing cosplayers on YouTube and Instagram,” he said.
“I chose my first cosplay based on my hyper fixation at the time.
“It felt awesome to finally put it all on when it was done. It was a massive sense of pride and belonging.”
Each cosplay is special for Mr Kuykhoven who “almost exclusively” cosplays characters that he’s “currently hyperfixating on” or “really” enjoys, with his current favourite being his Tau Firewarrior cosplay from Warhammer 40k.
Phillip Lien
Handle: @theweebknownasphil
Self-professed nerd and IT technician, Phillip Lien, 34, “dabbled” in cosplay when he was younger, but only rediscovered his passion 18 months ago.
“I dabbled in it when I was younger but decided to make new friendships and enjoy life,” he said.
“My first cosplay was Tengen from Demon Slayer. Not gonna lie, it was uncomfortable but (the) friends I made during the day (made it) so fun.”
He generally cosplays characters from video games or anime that he enjoys, occasionally getting “roped” into group cosplays with friends.
“The (things I enjoy most are the) excitement people get, the camaraderie, the struggles and just how we’re all dressing up and enjoying each others company,” he said.
“I think my favourite (cosplay) is my Chainsaw Man as it was my first foam build.”
For those looking to dive into the world of cosplay, Mr Lien recommends having three things: comfy shoes, Panadol, and a cosplay handler to help you while you’re in costume.
Reverse Tibbers – Annie Beatty-Freeman
Handle: @reversetibbers
Annie Beatty-Freeman is not only a cosplayer but also a costume commisionner, making costumes for clients all over the world.
Better known as @reversetibbers, she loves “making pretty dresses” with her cosplays including iconic characters like Katara from Avatar the Last Airbender and Eevee from Pokemon.
But it wasn’t until she met her now-husband that she even considered cosplaying.
“I had a very small circle of friends back then and none of them were into the things I was so I always felt a little left out,” she said.
Cosplaying not only brought her and her husband closer but also helped her find friends she can “go full nerd” with.
“I married my husband because we share a connection through anime and cosplaying, although he doesn’t cosplay any more he is very supportive in my fabric hoarding,” she said.
“I have such a great bunch of friends who all cosplay, we all help each other out, especially in skills we are lacking.”
Otterspace Cosplay – Faylin
Handle: @otterspace_cosplay
If you’re a regular at AVCON, chances are that you’ve probably already come across seasoned cosplayer, Faylin.
The 26-year-old from Aldinga Beach began cosplaying over a decade ago after learning about the Adelaide-based convention.
“I was told it’s where you can buy all sorts of nerdy things and people dress up as their favourite anime and gaming characters to have a fun time,” Faylin said.
“Being a 14 year old at the time I was very excited about this and thought I could make some friends and I haven’t stopped going to that convention since.”
Faylin makes their own costumes, putting in a lot of ”crying, swearing, blood and sweat” which they said was “all worth it in the end”.
“I have a few favourites but my all time to pick from would be my Keyleth from the Legends of Vox Machina cosplay,” Faylin said.
“She was a massive pain to make for a competition but turned out beautifully.”
Cheshrae – Jessa Kloeden
Handle: @cheshrae
From having “no idea what to do” with her first cosplay, Jessa Kloeden, 26, has “picked up lots of tips and tricks” since starting out as a teen over 14 years ago.
“My first cosplay was actually a Runescape one – a classic online video game lots of people my age have fond memories of playing,” the Blackwood local said.
“I really had no idea what to do, but with mum helping me with some hand sewing and dad helping me with my bow prop, we got there in the end.”
She has continued to find joy in bringing her favourite characters to life, making most of her costumes using a variety of materials such as fabric, foam and thermoplastics.
“I’ve read books and played games all of my life, so being able to bring those fantasy and sci-fi aspects I love so much to life is such a highlight,” she said.
“It’s also a fun challenge making something that isn’t real, real! Bringing to life gravity defying costumes, or finding a way to make a giant prop I can safely carry is always part of the fun.”
But regardless of whether you buy or create your costumes, the best thing about cosplaying is that you can “do it in a way that works for you,” she said.
Ei8HTBiT Cosplay – Eyreland (Ehzra) Cooke
Handle: @ei8htbit_cosplay
Known online as Ei8HTBiT Cosplay, Eyreland (Ehzra) Cooke is an award-winning cosplayer, judge and designer with over 15,000 followers on Instagram.
Since she first started out in the early 2000s, cosplaying has not only become more popular but also more accessible with patterns, tutorials and dedicated social media groups selling costumes online, she said.
“Cosplay is so, so much more accessible now and I love it – it’s so easy to just grab something online if you want to give it a go,” she said.
For her first cosplay, Link from the Legend of Zelda, she “didn’t know how to sew very well” and made do with her horse riding gear and “straps borrowed from saddles.”
“Unless it was a costume from Sailor Moon or Naruto, you HAD to make it yourself, because buying things online wasn’t an option,” she said.
“Wigs and contact lenses were a lot harder to come by too, so I didn’t feel as out of place with my little baby Link cosplay and everyone was so kind and amazing.”
She still makes her own cosplays, now with a Diploma in Fashion Design which “certainly helps a lot” but will “buy things and alter pieces” if it‘s more affordable.
It's the support from other cosplayers that keeps her motivated when working on her costumes.
“Compliments and appreciation fuel me into full cosplay crafting goblin mode, so I always make a conscious point to tell everyone they look amazing – hyping people up is so much fun,” she said.
She recently travelled to Sydney for the Championship of Cosplay Finals at Oz Comic Con and will be heading to Perth as a guest judge at Pixel Expo later this month.
Scarlet Cosplay – Brooke Miller
Handle: @scarlet_cosplay
Adelaide-based cosplayer Brooke Miller shares her latest projects and cosplay adventures online.
The 27-year-old “fell into” cosplaying roughly 15 years ago, wanting to “become someone cool for a day”.
“I chose Kagome from Inuyasha purely because she was so cool to me,” she said.
“I remember buying the outfit at ShinTokyo and a very cheap costume wig from Cheap as Chips, used my school shoes and socks and went on my way.”
She had “the best time” meeting new people who shared her interests and said she “felt accepted immediately”.
And while she’s had her props taken and damaged and faced the “occasional rude comment” here and there, none of it’s been enough to stop her from doing what she loves.
“I love seeing the end result, the joy on other faces, the happiness someone’s costume can bring to someone,” she said.
Her favourite cosplays she’s done so far include Fearne Callaway from Critical Role and Lucifer Morningstar from Hazbin Hotel.
Claraz Cosplay – Clara Drewer
Handle: @claraz.cozplay
Self-taught cosplayer Clara Drewer, 32, is drawn to characters like The Witcher’s Ciri and BioWare’s Commander Shepard who “can be at their lowest and still pick the pieces of themselves up again later”.
She picked up the hobby six years ago while battling severe depression as a creative outlet.
“I had just given birth to my kid, I was at a low point in my life and was going through some severe depression,” she said.
“Instead of feeling sorry for myself any longer, I spoke to a therapist, and they said to start getting back into my creative streak again and well, I did.”
Since then it’s been a “wild ride” for the SA mum whose competed in various cosplay competitions, winning Judges Choice at Supanova last year.
She also was invited as a guest at Oz Comic Con Adelaide as a cosplay judge and panellist.
But as a cosplayer, one of the biggest challenges at conventions was not having others respect your boundaries, she said.
“I’ve had people in the past message me with some rude comments or ask to meet up – I didn’t know them at the time – or even follow me around a con.
“I had someone at Oz Comic Con want to find me all day and do strange poses for a character or was mad that I didn’t wear a particular cosplay.
“Social media is easier to ignore but when you’re at a con, sometimes you’re shoulder to shoulder and it can be hard to avoid people.
“But at the end of the day, cosplay is not consent. We’re all there to have a good time, enjoy the day and hope we don’t have any bad interactions.”
Tiffany Dean Cosplay
Handle: @tiffanydeancosplay
Self described gamer and all round geek girl, SA-based cosplayer Tiffany Dean Cosplay is a convention regular.
She made her first costume, Legend Lara Croft, in 2011 before diving head first into cosplay four years later.
As a costume maker she dabbles in sewing projects, 3D printing and leatherwork with recent cosplays including Elune from World of Warcraft, Merrin from Star Wars, and an armoured Princess Peach.
Since beginning her cosplay journey she has been published in international geek/cosplay books and magazines, won high-level cosplay competitions and featured in multiple BlizzCon short films.
Combining her love of K-pop with cosplay, her current projects include cosplaying K-pop icon Lisa from Blackpink.
JusZ Cosplay
Handle: @juszcosplay
From comic book heroes, to WWE wrestlers, to musical theatre icons, JusZ Cosplay has dedicated her life to dressing up as the characters she loves most.
“When I found out I could combine my nerdy comic book love with dressing up it was kind of like the most perfect combination ever,” she said.
Canadian-born but now Adelaide-based, JusZ is an award-winning cosplayer, host, actor and published model.
As Oz Comic Con’s official cosplay emissary and host, she has the honour of showing off the work of other cosplayers.
“I really love that I’m able to stand on stage and help explain why this costume is so special, the work and time that’s gone into it that you don’t necessarily see when you go past it on the con floor,” she said.
She said events like Oz Comic Con gave “nerds who for a long time felt like we didn’t have a place” somewhere to belong.
“Conventions are a place where we find our own, where we meet up with people who are just as passionate about the same little details of Star Wars or our favourite anime that the people around us in our everyday life don’t get,” she said.
“I found my people in cosplay and in conventions.”
Sweet Tea Birdie Cosplay – Jasmine
Handle: @sweet_tea_birdie
Jasmine, also known as Sweet Tea Birdie, embraces her love of all things pretty, pink and geeky through cosplay.
Living “the Kawaii life” in Adelaide, Jasmine, 22, shares her latest cosplays and Lolita-fashion outfits with her followers on Instagram and TikTok, where she has gained thousands of followers.
To mark the 10-year anniversary of her first cosplay this year she did an “entire refresh” on her first cosplay of popular Japanese vocaloid Hatsune Miku to celebrate.
Zaphy Cosplay
Handle: @zaphycosplay
Zaphy Cosplay is not just an award-winning cosplayer but also a talented prop maker and self confessed “sanding enthusiast”.
Detailed armour and weapons are key staples for Zaphy, who has previously created pieces for Riot Games and Blizzard Entertainment.
This year Zaphy was a cosplay judge at AVCON, taking to Instagram to celebrate the “incredible talent” within the local community.
“I love the community we have and it genuinely is a pleasure to be able to encourage makers to try new things and level up their skills,” she posted.
“I’m so proud of the cosplay community we have here and it’s been such a delight to see it grow and come together.”
Drew Austenberg
Handle: @steam_punkwarrior
Based in Adelaide, Drew Austenberg specialises in power armour and steampunk cosplays.
Mr Austenberg is a regular convention attendee, recently competing in the Oz Comic Con Australian Championships of Cosplay in June.
He shares the progress of his projects with his followers on both Instagram and YouTube, which have a combined following of almost 3000.
Faerie Blossoms – Jade
Handle: @faerieblossoms___
Much like her name suggests, Faerie Blossoms cosplays are both colourful and ethereal.
24-year-old Jade is the face behind Faerie Blossoms and enjoys bringing characters to life through cosplay, including Disney Princesses.
She has been sharing her cosplay journey on Instagram for over five years and gained over 1700 followers.
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