The holiday season is here and what’s a better way to kick it off than going to a convention!?

Now if there’s anyone who hasn’t heard of Holiday Matsuri; never fear- because I only heard about it a few weeks beforehand and can sum it up pretty cleanly. So as the name suggests it’s holiday themed convention held in Orlando every December. A lot of cosplayers go as “holiday” versions of characters and just as many more simply go as their character of choice.

I went as a Star Fleet cadet and a certain Disney princess that I’ve been wanting to cosplay for YEARS. I honestly didn’t think it would happen, but thanks to my partner and his cosplay savvy crew I had a costume AND a staff! All I had to figure out was where to get the wig (Etsy).

To be honest I didn’t think anyone would really pay me any mind at Holmat. After all, I arrived late the first night and threw on a Star Fleet cadet uniform to hang out in the lobby. The way I saw it: I was neither holiday themed or Anime, so I’d just fall into the background.

Turns out I was wrong. Within fifteen minutes of hanging out I was approached by a videographer asking if he could take a video of me. ME. As in someone who had never done a video for ANYONE EVER IN MY LIFE. Did I do the video? Of course! Did I ask a lot of questions about what they wanted? Most definitely. I was even complimented for walking ‘regally’ which is something I’d never heard before- it warmed my heart so much though.

Being back in an environment where so many people are wearing what they please and having fun without a care in the world really helped me start to come out of my shell for the first time in a while. I hadn’t been to a convention since Summer and had all but accepted it would probably be my last. None of my local friends were really interested in conventions and my remote friends were never in town when they happened (I’m not the type to go by myself). This is why I really owe a huge thanks to my partner for not only inviting me and bringing me into his amazing friend group, but also for reigniting the convention spark in me!

By the time we left I’d already confirmed I was going to Dragon Con 2020 as well as at least two other conventions. Not to mention I already have cosplay ideas in the works!

I guess all that’s left would be for me to share a picture, but not only did I not take any pictures of myself…I also didn’t take any pictures of anything else…Oops. Maybe next time though.

Artist: oshtu