We had the good fortune of connecting with Wezrez Cosplay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wezrez, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m originally from a small town in New Jersey, where I grew up as a creative kid that loved to play pretend and make things with my hands. In my teens, I was a bit awkward and shy, so I found myself frequently watching TV shows and playing video games. I found out what “costume play” was in 2011 when I stumbled on a forum of people dressed as characters from my favorite videogame, Left 4 Dead 2. I quickly convinced my mom to take me to an anime convention called Otakon for my birthday in 2012 so I could see what cosplay was about. I definitely wouldn’t be the cosplayer that I am today without my parents’ support. They were my convention chaperones until I was about 16, provided me a sewing machine so that I could learn to sew cosplays on my own, and have continued to support me and my cosplay into the present day.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In the past, I used to think it was the end of the world when a cosplay didn’t turn out as I expected or if a piece broke while I was wearing it. I also didn’t challenging myself to build more complex cosplays because I didn’t believe that I could do it. Not-so-coincidentally, as I left my teens behind and spent more time cosplaying, I found that I could challenge myself to make more intricate pieces, and to not feel so emotionally reliant on cosplay. Cultivating this healthy mindset has really enabled me to make some of my best work, from teaching myself complex skills to winning awards for my craftsmanship. I don’t think people talk about this aspect of cosplay as much, but it’s really important to have a healthy relationship with cosplay.

As I’ve built skills and gained experience in cosplay, I’ve started to give back to the community through cosplay tutorials! I remember how hard it was teaching myself to do things and how many questions I had that could only be answered through trial and error. I want to cosplay to feel approachable for people, so they’re empowered to try to build their own cosplay skills. For example, I noticed that cosplayers are often hesitant to integrate lights and motion into their cosplays because they don’t feel they have the necessary engineering skills to wire a circuit. So, I made a beginner-friendly workshop that explains how, without getting bogged down in math and science. I hope that it inspires cosplayers to try something new!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Number one on my list is Holy Crepe in Boulder. If I have a bad day, I’ll stop by this place to have a crepe and my mood is instantly better. Out in Evergreen, I love the Little Bear Saloon for authentic, retro Colorado dive bar vibes and Beau Jo’s for pizza. For activities, I love pretty much everything you can do in Estes Park, from Rocky Mountain National Park to horseback riding to the Stanley Hotel. A bit farther away, Great Sand Dunes National Park is a must-see. My travel motto is basically “great food and great views”.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There’s so many people I would love to thank that have made a profound impact on my cosplay journey! I would really love to shoutout the cosplayers that paved the way for people like me to learn my craft. I have been self-taught in cosplay construction and modeling from day one, with people like Kamui Cosplay, Kinpatsu Cosplay, and Cowbutt Crunchies serving as my cosplay inspirations. They post so many in-depth tutorials, take amazing pictures, and all have a great attitude towards cosplay that has inspired me to become the cosplayer that I am today. I hope to be able to do the same with the next generation of cosplayers!

Website: wezrezcosplay.com

Instagram: wezrez

Twitter: wezrezcosplay

Youtube: Wezrez Cosplay

Other: Tiktok: wezrez

Image Credits
The Little Things We Miss Photography, Lost Stars Imaging, Shanem201

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.