👋 Hellooooooo Companions,
Today’s story is perfect for Halloween weekend 🎃 — cosplay!
As we all know and love, cosplay is a staple at any fan convention, gathering, and meetup. In many cases, cosplay is about finding yourself or becoming someone else. For Julia, the contributor in today’s story, it changed the direction of her career.
Julia’s story comes from Chapter 5: Identity as she explores her perfectionism and overthinking. These are shortcomings that have held her back her whole life, and yet now upon reflection, her perfectionism and overthinking might actually be attributes that save lives. This is one of the most unique cosplay stories I have ever read, and I think you’re going to love it.
New to The Companion?
Read stories from past weeks
- Amanda’s introduction to the book
- Fabienne’s story from Chapter 1: Belonging
- Moon’s story from Chapter 3: Courage
- Ellie’s story from Chapter 8: Fandom Saves Lives
Latest book update
- I just approved the final designs on the book with the printer. It will take about 3 weeks to print, so fingers crossed we'll be able to see a proof in November.
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Today’s Featured Story from Purpose
Growing up, one of the biggest things that always held me back was my perfectionism, and being an overthinker doesn't exactly help either. Almost always, when my heart decides I should do something, my brain steps in and asks me, "Have you considered this… have you considered that?" Because if you decide too fast without really thinking it through, you'll make the wrong decision and regret it afterwards.
Then once I start creating something, my perfectionism kicks in and I want to do it right (or not at all)—and it's never fast or easy. Even when I'm done, I'm not satisfied with the results if it's not perfect in my eyes. I've always wished I could just make decisions without wanting to do everything perfectly and overthinking it.
My overthinking also meant I didn't really know what to do after I finished my Abitur and what to study at university. I did a voluntary social year and I loved it, but I still wasn’t sure what to do. I began my studies in English and digital humanities, but I was worried about what I would do after university. However, I knew I didn’t want to work in academics. So I decided not to finish my degree.
But then something interesting happened—I got an apprenticeship, and now I know my career is exactly the right place for me. How did I get here?
It’s all thanks to cosplay.
Even as a child, I loved dressing up as my favourite characters. It was a way to be creative, and I could become someone else for a day. I would buy cheap costumes on Amazon and eBay to become the characters that inspired me—the strong female characters!
When I was 17, I was able to attend my first-ever convention. It was for the TV show Castle (if you can believe it or not), but it was the first time I came into contact with people who would cosplay. It suddenly made it feel real that adults were allowed to wear costumes.
A few years later, in June 2017, I attended another convention for the TV show Once Upon a Time and wanted to join the cosplay competition. When I stepped into the hotel lobby, I was stunned.
I saw some of the most beautiful Regina cosplays I’d ever seen.
Regina, the Evil Queen, is famous for having fabulous outfits in every episode, from opulent ballroom gowns to sharp riding suits, some extravagantly decorated, others sleek and pristine. I absolutely love Regina… again, a strong female character.
This convention had assigned seating, so when I went to join the cosplay competition, I went to my seat in the back. I thought I was stunned before, but with the stage in full view, I couldn’t believe just how many gorgeous Regina cosplayers there were. Their dresses were so pretty.
I sat there debating, “Should I put on my Amazon costume… maybe I shouldn’t? Is it embarrassing? But I brought it all the way here…” It was that overthinking again. I decided to put on my costume for a quick photo with one of the actors, but I didn’t feel comfortable in it. At that moment, I decided I wanted to have my own beautiful Regina dress.
But there was no way I could save 1,000 Euros to get one commissioned. The only way to get that dress was to learn how to sew. I would have to make the costume myself.
Three months later, in September 2017, I became Regina and wore my first Once Upon a Time cosplay to a convention.
And that’s how, a few years after that, when I was struggling to figure out what to do with my life, I quit university and changed my path forever. Right in the middle of Covid, in August 2020, I started my apprenticeship.
I became a seamstress.
Now, this was probably the worst time to make a decision like this. In Germany, apprenticeships are typically three years long: half school, half work. But since it was Covid, finding a real sewing apprenticeship was so difficult, so I took whatever I could find and I ended up at a school-only apprenticeship. Without the work half of the apprenticeship, it meant I wouldn’t be able to make any money. It made me unsure whether I should go through with following my passion or choose something that would give me more financial independence. I decided I had to try to chase my dream.
It turns out, because I had been sewing my own costumes for over three years, I was able to excel in the programme and skip the first year!
By March 2023, I ended up at my perfect job, where I work in the R&D department making protective gear for police and military forces. Yes—soft ballistic panels and slash, stab, and impact protection—I get to help with the sewing part of making these prototypes. I wish I could show you a picture, but it’s not allowed. Our designs need to remain private!
Even today, I rewatched the Stargate episode “Heroes,” and I thought to myself, if Janet had one of our vests, she would still be alive.
And that’s when I started to think about my problem: Perfectionism. But is it really a problem? In my career, perfectionism and overthinking is actually a good thing. Perfectionism can save lives. I notice details that others might miss.
Perfectionism can also be good in cosplay.
Today, my main cosplay characters are Elizabeth Weir from Stargate Atlantis and Sam Carter from SG-1. I paid extra attention to detail when creating my Elizabeth costume for Ascension and FedCon in 2025 earlier this summer. When Torri saw it, she so appreciated the care I put into recreating the design details and at first couldn’t believe I made the whole cosplay myself. She even wore my jacket for my photo op—my jacket! That’s the moment when I knew all my hard work was worth it.
I also got both my mom and dad into cosplay. He was General Hammond at FedCon. So if you ever see us at a convention, please come by, say hi, and let’s take a photo.
I'm currently telling this story while renovating my grandparents’ apartment so I can move in and have my own space. My dad came over and he told me something so interesting that I never knew—my grandmother also worked for the same company I currently work for.
I was following in her footsteps all along.
If you ask me right now, how am I feeling? Am I still a perfectionist? Am I overthinking? No, I actually feel really calm and confident.
But, I’m also not working on a new cosplay right now, which is probably why I’m fine—haha!
Julia, Germany
📘 Hardback and Paperback, Strictly limited
The Collector’s Edition was always limited to 500. About 100 copies are left, and once they’re gone, they will be gone forever.
If you’re like me, and like to keep Collector’s Editions pristine, we have a Paperback Edition available as well. The cutoff for orders will be between Thanksgiving and December (exact date to come).
🧑🚀 European and International Pins partial refunds
Quick update, for those of you who ordered pins and keychains, I recently reduced our prices for the period of the book pre-order.
All of the US orders had this price reduction reflected.
Some of our international friends bought the pins before this change, so if you bought pins within the last month and are outside the US, I have proactively refunded you the difference. This also means anyone in the world can now take advantage of the reduced prices to celebrate Purpose: Embracing Mental Health as a Fandom.
Add a few to your book order, or get the whole set. They’ll ship in the same parcel as your book in January 2027.
Already ordered a book but want to add some pins?
Make the purchase, email me at lawrence.kao@thecompanion.app and I’ll refund the shipping and pack them in with your book.
Just want pins?
Order them now, and I’ll ship them right away.
Have a happy, and spooky, Halloween 👻
Lawrence
