Daily Inspiration: Meet Nova Sparks

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Nova Sparks.

Hi Nova, we are so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My cosplay journey started in 2014 when I created my first costume for a Relay for Life event on my college campus. I had such a fun time making my Poison Ivy outfit and got lots of compliments. I started making my own Halloween costumes. When I moved to Colorado in 2016, I learned about conventions and cosplay and decided to use these events as a way to meet people and express my creativity. I have met so many wonderful people through this hobby.

Since I started cosplaying, I have created over 60 cosplays. I’ve cosplayed from a variety of mediums including anime, video games, books, comics, and movies. With each piece I create, my passion and skills continue to grow. As my skills started to grow, I started competing more and even won a few awards along the way.

My journey through cosplay has given me some opportunities to guest at local conventions where I’ve gotten to speak to other cosplayers about their projects and help give advice. When I started cosplaying in 2016, I couldn’t even dream of the amazing people I got to meet and the opportunities that have opened up. I feel very fortunate that things unfolded as they have.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With cosplay being a combination of a variety of skills, there have been some obstacles in my journey. With each new cosplay, there’s always a new skill to learn. Sometimes they’re super easy, and some I am continuing to improve on years later.

There is such a wealth of knowledge in the cosplay community and I have a great group of people who are willing to share what they know. If I can’t find someone locally to help, there’s a vast amount of information online that I’ve used to help improve my skills.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a cosplay artist who specializes in sewing. I’ve also created cosplays that use a variety of other skills such as foam smithing, resin casting, body painting, and wig styling. I love creating cosplays for characters who I see myself in or there’s something that I really admire that I would like to see in myself.

One of the most rewarding parts of cosplay for me has been giving back. I volunteer with Cap for Kids, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Cap for Kids seeks to bring hope and cheer to children undergoing cancer treatment, and their families. I have volunteered with them at many cons to help raise money to help these families pay for their day-to-day expenses such as groceries, rent, and utilities.

They have also given me many opportunities to volunteer at events where I can help brighten these children’s day by dressing up as different superheroes and helping them make some happy, long-lasting memories. These events are some of my favorite memories in cosplay.

Recently I’ve started developing panels about mindfulness in cosplay to bring to conventions. I’ve given my mindfulness panel a few times which has been so fun to give since I get to combine two of my passions. I also have taught some yoga classes in cosplay at cons which has been so fun. Both types of panels have really allowed people to take a moment for themselves and it’s been a great time engaging with people in this way.

What do you think about happiness?
Interacting with other cosplayers and members of the fandom has made me so happy. There are so many kind and talented people in the cosplay community. Being able to geek out over each other’s cosplays and talk about different media we enjoy is always a blast. I always leave cosplay events and conventions with my heart feeling full after so many wonderful interactions and memories.

I have made so many friends through this hobby. I got really into cosplay as a way to make friends when I moved to Colorado. I have met countless people I look up to for different reasons because of cosplay. So many people have made me feel welcome, and have even pushed me to be a better version of myself. It brings me joy that I have made so many meaningful connections because of cosplay.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beacons.ai/novasparkscosplay
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NovaSparksCosplay
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovaSparksCosplay
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/NovaSparksCos

Image Credits
Lost Stars Imaging, Fdisk Photography, and Yuki Cat Captures