[Ellen Joe cosplay] Zenless Zone Zero Shark Girl's Convention Day — A Lollipop Solves All Troubles

The Zenless Zone Zero Ellen Joe cosplay JK uniform Cosplay convention photos from the Zhongshan AS Anime Expo are finally sorted out! Cosplaying Ellen Joe this time was actually a long-deliberated plan, because I felt the shark girl's JK school uniform style fits an effortless, casual everyday vibe so well, and that slightly lazy yet dangerous demeanor is exceptionally charming. Although the expo venue was quite noisy on the day, we still managed to find a few quiet corners perfect for shooting to recreate the shark girl's casual dating atmosphere.

Regarding hair and makeup, the black-and-red highlighted short bob paired with red contact lenses forms the soul of Ellen Joe. It took quite a bit of effort in wig trimming and styling to achieve those natural yet slightly tousled bangs. The subtle under-eye makeup accents paired with an indifferent, cool expression perfectly captured her signature aura of looking down on everything. The white button-up shirt and black pleated skirt serve as classic JK essentials, but paired with the black leather choker, metallic pendant, and cross-shaped bobby pins on both sides, it instantly exudes that distinct urban-legend edge of Zenless Zone Zero. To maintain structure, the white shirt was specially made of crisp, structured fabric that resists wrinkling, holding its clean silhouette even after running around the convention all day.

The absolute highlight prop this time was the massive black leather shark tail. The tail features special patch badges and cross patterns; despite its grand volume, it was treated with lightweight inner framing, so wearing it didn't feel overly heavy—it even doubled as a cozy seat cushion! When shooting in the indoor booth seating, holding it in hand or casually resting it beside me added rich narrative depth to the scene. The white-striped lollipop is another personal favorite prop; whether held in the mouth or in hand, it wonderfully captures her irreverent yet subtly dangerous everyday vibe. To complement the styling, I chose glossy chunky-heeled Mary Jane shoes and a sleek Black tights outfit; the smooth texture of the tights flattered the leg lines under indoor expo lighting while matching the refined yet effortless vibe of a casual day out.

Big thanks to photographers Qingyu and Yeying for their hard work capturing these shots. The lighting at the venue was actually quite cluttered, with many high-intensity circular spotlights overhead that easily flatten facial features without reflectors. However, the photographers smartly utilized the on-site natural light combined with ambient convention lighting to establish a relaxed, lazy mood. Especially in the final shots taken in the indoor booth seating, the slanted sunlight cast a soft glow across my face, accentuating facial three-dimensionality. Throughout the shoot, I explored many relaxed poses—such as sitting on the carpet nibbling on the lollipop, or resting my chin on one hand looking toward the lens—as this laid-back state felt much more like the shark girl's authentic daily life.

Even though the venue was spacious and filled with passersby, the photographers skillfully used large-aperture lenses to blur the background crowds into creamy bokeh light spots, making the character stand out crisply without clutter. Between shooting, I also strolled around other booths and ran into fellow cosplayers portraying Zenless Zone Zero characters, snapping fun group photos together. For me, every cosplay photoshoot is a continuous process of learning and growing. Ellen Joe is such a fascinating character in Zenless Zone Zero—sharp on the outside yet potentially soft deep down, and this gap-moe contrast is exactly what draws me in. There are still many garment and prop details to polish, and I'm confident I'll present an even better Ellen Joe in future Convention photos!