The world is filled with cosplayers of all types. Some venture out to conventions in “closet cosplay” - a cosplay costume that is created simply from the clothes in your closet and accessories. Others throw themselves into the hobby with an intense amount of passion and determination. One such cosplayer is Charie Monterola, who has over 50 different cosplay costumes to date!

I recently had a chance to talk to this seasoned cosplay veteran about how she got started in cosplay, where she gets her supplies, what her budgets are like, and the advice she has for her fellow cosplayers, who may one day aspire to have their own closet full of cosplay!

Alltern8: Charie, how did you get into cosplay? What was your first costume?

Charie Monterola: I got into cosplay when I was a freshman in highschool. Before going to my first anime convention, the anime club president asked if I was going to cosplay as anyone. I asked, “What’s cosplay?” And she explained it to me. So on the day of the con, I didn’t have a real costume, but when I saw the president and her officers all dressed up as the complete cast of Final Fantasy X, I was so amazed and inspired to make my one costumes ever since.

My first costume was Sailor Mercury because I had short hair at the time and Sailor Moon was my favorite show growing up. I had my mom teach me how to sew using the sewing machine I got for my Sweet 16th Birthday. It was really a trial and error process. For one, I chose swim and dance wear fabrics to make a pleated skirt, but it still worked. We worked together to start the skirt and I finished the rest of the costume on my own to wear for Halloween that year.

Alltern8: Do you make all of your costumes?