Having done cosplay for over a decade, I took a long break to focus on real life and only returned to the hobby last June. Over the past six months or so, I've noticed an interesting phenomenon—every once in a while, discussions about Appearance anxiety among cosplayers pop up. Seeing this topic, I'd like to take the opportunity with these photos to share my genuine Cosplay insights and feelings with everyone.
I started getting into cosplay back in high school in 2012. Back then, I was about 5 kg heavier than I am now and looked pretty plain, nowhere near the conventional standard of a "beauty." But when I first got into it, the thought of "am I not good-looking enough to cosplay?" never even crossed my mind. Hardly any of the friends who cosplayed with me felt anxious about their looks either. Why we gathered was simple: we loved anime/ACG and loved a certain character, getting together to figure out how to make our cosplays more accurate and soulful.
Back then, the cosplay industry wasn't as developed as it is today; there weren't so many professional wig stylists and makeup artists. Most wigs were styled by ourselves, and makeup was done with friends helping each other out. Looking back at old photos now, they were indeed quite rough—spiky wig edges and unrefined makeup—yet I was genuinely overjoyed throughout that entire time. Whenever I reminisce about those years, I only remember a glowing, unforgettable piece of youth.
To me, cosplay in itself brings ample happiness. Getting compliments certainly adds an extra layer of satisfaction, but even without praise, or even if no one asks for photos with me at conventions, it doesn't diminish my joy one bit. The very moment I embody a character I love, I've already gained the emotional fulfillment I sought. So I genuinely believe that if cosplay brings anxiety and unhappiness, there is really no need to force yourself to continue. It should be a life pastime and a stress reliever for daily life, not a burdensome weight on your heart.
Talking about the relationship between "fidelity" and "looking pretty," I believe the essence of cosplay should be "fidelity," not "prettiness." As long as you diligently reproduce the character design through styling and costume, and put in genuine effort for that character in your heart, then regardless of how the final photos turn out, it deserves respect. There's an old saying in the cosplay community: "Don't judge a cosplayer by their face," which speaks directly to this. We are all ordinary people; lenses have distortion, and Straight out of camera shots from phones inevitably capture imperfections—and that is completely normal. After all, most of us don't do cosplay for a living. Since it's a hobby, why torment ourselves with professional standards or hyper-retouched social media photos?
Just like in the photos where I used Straight out of camera shots without slimming my face or stretching my body proportions, the wrinkles at the ankles and the lines of the Lolita cosplay skirt with the White thigh-highs outfit are clearly visible. But so what? That doesn't detract in the slightest from the joy I felt when putting on this outfit and holding up this mirror. I portrayed a character I love and met like-minded friends—these are all incredibly precious rewards.
Finally, I want to say to all of you: please always put happiness first. Whether you're a newcomer just joining the hobby or a returning veteran like me, don't worry too much about others' opinions. Having fun and staying true to your love for the character is more than enough.