How long have you been doing cosplay and what first got you interested?

I’ve been cosplaying since 2009 and haven’t looked back since! I did take a break from 2016-2018 to focus on grad school, but I missed it too much that I jumped back in back in late 2019, during my last year of grad school.

I’ve always been dressing up as characters, but when I began exploring different fandoms as a teenager, I came across people going all out to embody and celebrate their favorite characters.

It was just the perfect creative outlet for this young dreamer who was (and still is) constantly imagining herself as different characters!

Who is your favorite Lore Olympus character to cosplay?

Hera, hands down! She’s also the only character I’ve cosplayed and posted so far, though I have some other characters lined up to debut soon. Hera is so different from me, and it’s fun to get out of my comfort zone to try to convey her wit, ferocity, and innate majesty.

What is your most memorable cosplay?

Probably a toss up between Asami Sato a few years back, Margaery Tyrell, and Elizabeth Swann. Margaery Tyrell was one of the first real, handmade cosplays I have ever done and have only recently revamped it, so the character holds a special place in my heart. Asami was fun to walk around in at cons and I made so many friends when I cosplayed her. Elizabeth Swann is the most recent cosplay of the three, but I’ve been wanting to cosplay her the longest and finally made it happen. Elizabeth is probably the most fun to put together and the most dynamic character I’ve gotten to shoot so far!

Tell us your Lore Olympus story. What got you into Lore Olympus and what made you stay?

I got into Lore Olympus through the cosplay community actually! Sarah, or @needleandhammerstudio on IG, cosplayed Persephone last year and I was utterly floored by how fabulous she looked. I looked into the webcomic and by the second panel, I was completely hooked. I downloaded the Webtoons app and subscribed immediately.

At the outset, I was immediately hooked by the unique art style and aesthetic. But having grown up on Greek mythology and devouring retellings like I’m sure a lot of fans have, I absolutely loved Rachel’s take on the canon.

It’s fresh but still faithful to the original myths, and I love spotting the Easter eggs she sprinkles throughout the series.

What other fandoms are you in? What’s special/unique about the Lore Olympus fandom?

I’m primarily active in the book community, but I tend to jump around fandoms because I love so many things! The Lore fandom is a particularly magical corner of the internet.

I’m constantly amazed by the quantity and ingenuity of the fans. They have found and forged so many different ways to express their love for the webcomic, be it visual art, fanfiction, fan videos, cosplays, reenactments.

Everyone is warm and I always feel welcomed! I’ve had nothing but wonderful experiences with my fellow Lore fans.

If you could body snatch one LO character for a day, who would it be?

Hermes, hands down! Even if it was just for the power of flight and the ability to travel anywhere at the quickest possible speed - I won’t have to worry about being late anywhere on that day!

Any advice for a new cosplayer out there?

Don’t be afraid to make friends! The fandom is full of sweet and supportive people who are ready to welcome a fellow fan. Have fun with the makeup, whether you’re using body paint or editing - just take care with your skin and clothes when it comes to the paint!

Above all, remember that you’re doing this for you - this is your way of expressing your love of the story, the art, and the characters. Take pride in making your cosplay uniquely you!

Just for fun: Who did you get on the Hades’ dog character quiz?

I got Cordon Bleu! The more I think about it the more fitting I think it is, since I’m quite small and always an ExtraTM dresser.

Hi, I’m Rosa! I'm based in the NY/NJ area and I wear many hats: I'm a Tudor and feminist historian, a fiction writer, a YA librarian, a cosplayer, an avid reader, and of course, a Lore Olympus fan! Between all of that, my life is literally books.

Other than the Lore webcomic, I love to read fantasy, historical fiction, classic literature, Gothic horror, biographies, historical non-fiction, and poetry genres - both adult and YA.

When I'm not reading, writing, cosplaying, or freaking out over the new Lore update, you can find me planning my upcoming wedding, dreaming of traveling again, nerding out over Anne Boleyn, laughing at silly memes, rewatching Penny Dreadful, and messing around in the kitchen (with mixed results).

Follow Rosa on social media below:

Instagram - Twitter