Those who are part of fandoms aren’t strangers to cosplay. In fact, it’s an integral part of the community, one that allows each member to express their admiration and love for a particular show or character. Also known as costume play, this performance art form is where individuals dress up as their favorite characters from various forms of fiction, including TV shows, comics, and video games.
But cosplay is more than just wearing colorful wigs and elaborate costumes, it’s an expressive art form that involves embodying the characters’ persona, which cosplayers often showcase at conventions and events. During the recently concluded Cosplay Carnival, we got to witness otakus at full force as they paraded in their cosplay get-ups, and we were both amazed and impressed by their creativity and efforts in creating their respective looks. But among the casual cosplayers were also the pros, the bona fide cosers who have made a name for themselves online with their impressive cosplay projects. One of them was Hong Kong cosplayer and streamer Baobao.
We caught up with the Malaysia-based coser as she met with her avid Filipino fans, taking the opportunity to get to know her more — from her inspirations and favorite characters to her advice on pursuing a career in costume play.
Pursuing a Childhood Dream
Baobao’s cosplay journey began like any passionate endeavor: as a dream. The cosplayer shared with us what sparked her interest in cosplaying, and how the first time she pursued it was a challenging adventure on its own.
“Since I was young, I always dreamed of becoming the characters I love — like wanting to be Sailor Jupiter and having her toy wand! While studying abroad at university, I finally made that dream come true. I started cosplaying as a hobby because I loved the characters so much and wanted to become them.”
“I still remember my first convention — AniManGaki in Malaysia. I walked two kilometers in full costume under the hot weather from my dormitory just to attend! That experience really marked the beginning of my cosplay journey.”
As for who she cosplayed, it was Asuna from “Sword Art Online!” Baobao described the character as her all-time favorite waifu (“wife” in anime fandom) who inspired her to start cosplaying. She also mentioned that despite attending her first convention alone, Asuna gave her the courage to pursue something she had always wanted to do. This had also led her to form many wonderful friendships with fellow fans who share the same love for Asuna, showing that this art form is not just about creating costumes but also about forming meaningful connections.
Baobao’s passion for cosplay has allowed her to meet fellow enthusiasts and anime fans as she’s often invited to events and conventions across the region. Since starting in 2012, the cosplayer has grown a massive online following with over 659k on Facebook alone. Meanwhile, her most viewed TikTok reel has amassed over 2.8 million views, which was her appearance at Anime Fest Malaysia dressed as Yor Forger from the anime “Spy Family.”
If you scroll through her content, you’ll often see her cosplaying impressive female characters from popular shows and video games. When asked what kind of cosplayer she believes she embodies, she answered, “A waifu-loving cosplayer! I’m always drawn to waifus who are brave, courageous, and have a kind heart! But overall, I’d say a friendly cosplayer because I love interacting with my fans.”
Cosplayers are known for their creativity as seen from their elaborate costume pieces, which are mostly handmade. It’s one of the things that makes the activity a little intimidating if you’re not that clever with handicrafts or have a good eye for fashion and styling. But Baobao pointed out to us that being good at something only requires persistence and practice.
“When I first started, I didn’t know how to apply makeup at all! I had to learn step by step, taking screenshots of character details and trying my best to recreate them. Even now, I’m still learning and improving!”
She also shared that although she doesn’t create full costumes, with most of them being commissioned, she’s still heavily involved in the process from requesting the fabrics she believes would best suit the character to crafting her accessories, which she admitted was something she enjoys doing.
As for the preparation process? Baobao told The Beat Asia that it takes her approximately two hours, but if the costume is complicated, it usually takes more time — at least two and a half hours!
“Nana and Theresa from ‘Honkai Impact 3rd,’” Baobao said when asked about her most difficult cosplay projects. “Nana was challenging because I had to do full-body paint, which kept smudging and coming off. It was a struggle to keep it looking good throughout the event. On the other hand, Theresa was tough because I wanted to recreate the exact pose from the artwork, but the wig was super heavy, making it hard to move naturally.”
Baobao also expressed that there are challenges to being a full-time cosplayer despite it being a viable career to pursue, such as dealing with various misconceptions about the craft and having to learn how to budget properly. The latter, she admitted, she struggled with because she would often spend too much on her costumes.
“A big misconception is that cosplay is just about being sexy or being sexualized. But in reality, cosplay is about bringing a character to life and staying true to their originality. It’s a form of self-expression and passion!”
For those who want to follow in Baobao’s footsteps and achieve professional success in the world of cosplay, she advised, “Try starting it as a secondary career first. See if your earnings can cover your commitments before going full-time. That way, you can build a stable foundation.”
Pursuing a passion or hobby requires hard work, but in the world of cosplay, you can be sure that you can do it while having fun. At least, that’s what we’ve observed through our conversation with Baobao. When asked about the best part of her job, she mentioned the connections she has made through cosplay being the highlight of her career.
“Meeting people from all over the world has been one of the best parts of this journey. It makes me so happy that cosplay has brought me opportunities to guest at events in different countries like Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand! I’m looking forward to attending more conventions and visiting new countries! I also want to cosplay more childhood characters this year — so stay tuned!”
You can follow Baobao on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram for updates on her latest cosplays and event appearances.
