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Over the weekend, thousands of fans filled the Miami Beach Convention Center and stepped into a different version of themselves.
“I love to escape the reality of it,” said cosplayer Angelina Bello, dressed as the mythical character Baba Yaga. “I love to escape the reality of it. I feel like a whole new person and get to play on the spooky side of me.”
Supercon is one of the largest pop culture conventions in the Southeast, celebrating pop culture in all its shapes and forms. Still, for cosplayers, it is more than dressing up for fun, it gives them a sense of community.
“I’ve made several friends going to cons,” said Noah Vincent Tracey, a long-time attendee and cosplayer. “There’s always a safe space where you are, and lots of other people can get the opportunity, as I did.”
Some costumes are bought or rented, but many cosplayers invest hundreds of dollars and months of planning to participate in these events. Craftsmanship is present throughout the attendees, and skills range from sewing and body paint to special effects and electrical engineering.
“The best thing about cosplay is all the skills that people use to attack these really outlandish, crazy costumes,” said Ben Albert, who built a life-size tank from the anime Girls Und Panzer. “I like seeing people’s reactions, seeing their smiles and answering their questions. It’s fun to share knowledge.”
Inside the convention, we can also find a micro-economy of independent artists, who turn fan culture into business.
“I’m trying to make it my main income,” said artist Caitlyn Kurilich, who was selling prints of her work and highlighted the importance of spaces like these for creators. “This is super important because artists right now share their work mostly online, and so it’s really nice to connect with people face to face.”
Florida supercon is set to come back in summer of the next year, with more celebrities, panels and activities. And as the costumes come off, the community continues to invite others to join the movement.
“Cosplay is good because it gets you out, you talk to people, you meet new people,” insisted Albert. “It challenges you to make these things, it makes you a better person.”
