Comic-cons.XYZ Exclusive is excited to talk to our featured cosplayer, Kate Gray. You can find her on Instagram as stacycosplays and on Facebook. Guess who her favorite superhero is?

What first got you interested in cosplay?
It’s difficult to remember since it was so long and there was no definitive spark that set me on this path. But I do recall seeing images of cosplayers showing up on my tumblr and deviantart when I was very young and I always thought it was so interesting, but out of my reach. So in high school, when one of my friends started cosplaying I was really surprised that there were even nice quality costumes that could be purchased. As someone with no sewing skills that was very intriguing. I want to join her and try out cosplay for myself, but I just didn’t have the confidence. It wasn’t until five years later that I finally got my first Spider-Gwen suit.

How many comic/anime conventions do you attend a year?
I’ve actually only ever attended two (It’ll be three this weekend). I became a cosplayer shortly before the pandemic began so I didn’t get the chance to go to one until 2021. But I’m hoping to make it a fairly frequent part of my schedule! I’d love to attend four or five, ranging in size, per year.

Favorite celebrity you’ve rubbed arms with at a convention?
Justin McElroy. No contest. Justin is a podcaster who I listen to on a weekly, if not daily, basis. I cannot emphasize enough how much The Adventure Zone means to me and the degree that the story changed my outlook as a writer and a person. And while I was at ECCC (Emerald City Comic Con) 2021 I saw him on an escalator. I waved and said hello and he greeted me so kindly. We even chatted a little as we rode the escalator. I’m surprised I managed to keep my cool and have a normal conversation with him. I definitely fangirled once I got back to my friends. I literally called my mom and all my best friends immediately afterward to tell them what happened. I’m still in disbelief. I wish I could have expressed to him just how much I appreciate his work but I didn’t want to freak him out.

Why do you do what you do?
First and foremost, as a writer, everything creative that I do is to express my love for the characters being presented as the subject. Whether it’s writing, art or cosplay, at the core I want to do the characters justice and give them the representation and spotlight they deserve. This means portraying them well and with lots of love. I hope that shines through in my work. If it causes more people to research the characters I cosplay and consume the media that the character is from I feel like I’ve done my job. So I cosplay a lot of characters from lesser known projects or well-known characters with backstories that I feel get swept under the rug. I hope that through my work people can start to learn more about the characters that shaped me.