Eden Wells, 12

“I was scared I didn’t have the body and insecure about my looks, but then, I was inspired by TikTok back in 2019. I had no intention to do it for popularity … I wanted a creative outlet. I gained a huge confidence boost from the community. My followers helped me gain so much self-love that I haven’t had in so long. I am now able to truly express myself. When you get into cosplay, you embody that character. You are no longer thinking about your life; it’s like an escape from the world. [Cosplay] is one of the best things that has happened to me. I always have a wig to style, a prop to make, an idea to sketch out, or makeup to test. It is amazing to use my creative skills to build something that brings me comfort and confidence. Overall, it’s just a great experience and an amazing hobby.”