A celebration of our love for characters and franchises, cosplay is an art form and a main attraction at conventions. That’s why we were excited to interview Italian cosplayer Himee Lily at Lucca Comics & Games, the biggest European convention.
We had the chance to discuss her beginnings in cosplay, her takes on the industry, and personal preferences.
Portions of this interview have been lightly edited for brevity.
Q: How did you start with cosplay?
A: I started cosplaying when I was 9 years old. From a very young age, I was passionate about anime and manga. That’s why my parents took me to this famous convention: Lucca Comics & Games. There, I discovered what cosplaying was. Seeing so many cosplayers, I thought: “Oh my God, I have to do this, I want to do this so much”. As a result, I made my first homemade cosplay.
Q: At what age did you start doing cosplay in a more serious, professional way? Is this what you ever wanted to do, or did you have other interests that are not art-related?
A: When I was 16, I was doing cosplay but only as a hobby. Around that time, I started posting on social media. My Asuka cosplay went kind of viral, so without expecting it, I grew a lot. When I reached 18, I thought that I could level up my game and start monetizing my hobby. That’s how I began doing professional photo sets, investing in equipment, and cosplays.
Thanks to cosplaying being my main source of income, I didn’t have to rely on a part-time job to sustain myself and my studies [in Japanese] after I left my parents’ home and started university.
Q: When you started doing cosplay, what works (manga, anime, video games) inspired you?
A: I’m really into all creative stuff, including cinema, anime, manga, and video games. I’m attracted to media that has an aesthetic and unique appeal to me. For example, the NieR series. I love the story and characters, but what I love the most are the striking, iconic designs. Those kinds of IPs really inspire me to do cosplay and recreate sets and scenes.
Q: Do you have any preference in trying to imitate more closely the original work, or do you prefer an original approach?
A: I’m in between. I try to be canon, but sometimes I like to think about how that character would be in real life. I add some details that aren’t in the original design, that suit the character. For example, when I cosplayed Asuka, I always drew freckles. She doesn’t have them in the anime, but since she’s a redhead, I assumed that in real life she would have freckles. That way, I add my personal touch to the characters.
Q: Moving to cosplay as a market, how much has the cosplay industry and community changed compared to when you started?
A: Radically. When I started, there weren’t any job prospects. Maybe a few were famous in Japan and the United States, but in Europe, it wasn’t really a thing. Now cosplay has become more serious, but that comes with both good and bad things.
It’s good that we can work as cosplayers. Now our craft is seen as a career path, and it’s taken more seriously. But at the same time, it has brought much more competitiveness and toxicity to the community. I think that people should remember that they can also cosplay just because it’s fun. It doesn’t have to become a job.
We are seeing the “fast fashion” of cosplay now. Everyone is so pressured to do more characters. When I was young, people did one cosplay a year on average. Now it can be around five a month. I would like cosplay to still be just fun for some people. Not only stressful.
Q: Now that you mentioned it, in recent years, many cosplayers have expressed how overexposure on social media affected their mental health. What would be your advice for any starting cosplayer about mental health?
A: Overexposure can be dangerous. Especially for minors. I started posting on social media when I was around 16. I don’t regret that, because at that time it was different. But now, I would suggest that minors do not post a lot. There are many dangerous people online. They have to be cautious. You also hear all the time about people being doxxed. Overexposure is a big thing, and I feel like we should educate people to be aware of it.
About mental health, you find a lot of hate comments online. Some people feel entitled to say everything they want, even if they are damaging a real person. I ignore hate comments and don’t interact with toxic people online, trying to create a safe place. However, I understand it’s hard to accomplish this.
Recently, the streamer Emiru was assaulted at TwitchCon. She was doing a meet and greet. A random guy came and tried to kiss her, but no one did anything. There’s simply not enough security.
Q: As a cosplayer, you must deal with the business side of the industry. What skill set do you recommend a starting cosplayer should develop?
A: You need to have the skills that every person who works with the public needs. Sometimes you can’t afford to look tired. I wish that people could understand that and be a little bit softer with us. Sometimes I’m on a break or tired, but people demand that you perform all the time.
It’s important to be clear about boundaries. For example, you can explain politely that you can’t take pictures at a particular time. The key is trying to understand the other person’s perspective, which can be difficult.
Some cosplayers in the community are also neurodivergent and get easily overwhelmed. In my case, I need to disconnect and rest for a few minutes.
Q: What traits of your personality do you think help you to reach the point you are now?
A: I’m a determined and strong-willed person. When I set a goal, I focus and “lock in” on it. In art, it’s important to overcome many negative situations and not give up on the first problem. For me, it’s not only a cosplay thing, but I also apply it to my studies. It also comes with a downside, because I risk burning out.
Q: I would also like to find out: what are the anime, manga, or other media that you’re a fan of?
A: There are many. One I’m very attached to is Puella Magi Madoka Magica because I watched it when I was around 11. I’m still waiting for the new movie. In particular, my favorite character from Madoka is Homura.
Q: Finally, could you leave a message for your fans overseas?
A: First of all, thank you so much for following me and believing in me. It means the world to me. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without people liking and supporting it. If you have a goal and you are determined enough, you can do it. Lock in!
We want to extend our thanks to Himee Lily and invite you to check out her social media and give your support. If you want to know more about Lucca Comics & Games, check out our previous article.
Participate In Discussions