Episode 452: Lio aka Lionbcos talks about Cosplay

In this episode of Tales from the Fandom, host David welcomes Leo, known as lionbcos on Instagram, for a deep dive into their passionate journey in cosplay. Leo recounts growing up in New York with early internet access, discovering Final Fantasy and Lightning at age 11, and making their first cosplay debut at Comic-Con with their mom’s support. Their love for crafting blossomed from there, evolving into a career of intricate, handcrafted costumes—like the bedazzled Claudia from *Interview with the Vampire*, which they hand-embellished entirely. Leo shares their deep emotional connection to characters like Laura Kinney (Wolverine), whom they consider their number one fan, and Invisigal from *Dispatch*, a biracial character they feel a strong personal and aesthetic kinship with. They emphasize choosing only characters they feel represented by, often repurposing thrifted items and relying on wig styling and prop-building rather than sewing. Leo also highlights the importance of community and collaboration in cosplay, especially amid rising AI-generated content, and expresses excitement for future projects like Absolute Wonder Woman and Vox Machina’s Vex. The episode celebrates creativity, authenticity, and the joy of fandom across generations and identities.