Five Questions with cosplayer Collette Spencer

Interview and photo by Jason Setnyk

Cornwall, Ontario – Collette Spencer, aka Soulette Cosplay, has a love for geek culture, gaming, and anime. After attending her first anime convention in 2014, it sparked a deep love for cosplay. She wanted to learn how to sew, make props, and style wigs. She researched and attended panels at conventions to learn as much as possible. Soulette loves to challenge herself by making her cosplays comfortable or easily transportable. She creates cosplays based on her favorite fandoms, shows, or games.

Cosplay fans can meet Collette Spencer and see her cosplay designs at the 2023 edition of the Cornwall and Area Pop Event (CAPE) on Saturday, April 22nd, and Sunday, April 23rd, at the Benson Centre in Cornwall.

Five Questions with The Seeker

1 – Why did you start cosplaying?

“I started cosplaying because a friend who held a League of Legends club at St. Lawrence College asked us to join a cosplay gathering with our online friends at Anime North. I figured it was the perfect chance to try cosplay and meet them in person. I made many friends, and I had a great time. The sheer talent of everyone there greatly inspired me. It pushed me to be the cosplayer I am today!”

2 – Do you collaborate and cosplay with others? Tell us about it.

“Yes! If I know a cosplayer will be cosplaying as the other half of an iconic duo or group, I’ll usually ask to join forces! A great example is at CAPE, where other cosplay guests and I will collaborate as Sailor scouts! For me, collaborating with another is about sharing the same love for the fandom, geeking out over your group, having fun, and making great memories while making lifelong friends along the way.”

3 – How have you evolved as a cosplayer compared to when you first started?

“I’ve become more confident as a person and in my cosplay skills with so many projects under my belt. I can confidently say, ‘I can do that’ when I look at a project because I’ve worked with many different materials and know how to make it. I scout out places for photoshoots. I’ve learned from my mistakes, like making my cosplays better after wearing it to a con with trial and error.”

4 – Have you won any awards cosplaying and/or been published in a magazine or website? Tell us about it.

“I’ve won two awards for my Demona Cosplay at Montreal Comic Con for ‘Best morphology’ and ‘Best personification.’ I’ve been published on Geek Girls website for my Demona cosplay and our Kim Possible group. I’ve also been published in two magazines, Cosplay Multiverse Magazine for Demona, and in an issue of Cosplay Realm Magazine with Anniechie Designs for our Smash bros duo of Samus and Rosalina.”

5 – What advice do you have for people just starting in cosplay?

“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! That’s how you learn. It’s a big part of the process and I know it’s frustrating and we want everything to be perfect, but if we did that, we wouldn’t be able to learn from it. As they say, practice makes perfect. Lastly! Have fun while making your cosplay. Dance in your unfinished dress, and make silly faces while applying your makeup! Cosplay is an experience; make it fun!”

Learn more about Soulette Cosplay on Facebook.