With a grey tank top, blue jeans, an eye patch, and my hair in a ponytail, I pulled off a cosplay. Even though it wasn’t my first time cosplaying, I was excited to represent my chosen character. However, I was also nervous due to my character’s nature.

I chose a character from a popular series called “Chainsaw Man.” The anime came out a couple of years ago, but the character I cosplayed came from the Chainsaw Man manga, which hasn’t been fully adapted yet. The character’s name is Quanxi. She’s a stoic and pragmatic Chinese woman who is a master of weaponized combat. Not only do I appreciate her design, but I also appreciate that she’s a lesbian in a polycule, or a relationship with multiple partners.

She was the first character I saw who identified that way, which inspired me to dress as her. Although I don’t identify like Quanxi, the representation made me happy. However, this brought up my main concerns. What would people think of me for choosing to cosplay as a woman? Or would people even recognize my character?

I debuted this cosplay at Youmacon 2025, a Detroit anime convention, held at Huntington Place. Youmacon hosts many people interested in anime, manga, and gaming, especially cosplayers. Being among the other cosplayers made me realize it was an open space for expression. People dressed as different characters from series I haven’t even heard of. I was just another cosplayer, but not in a bad way–I was part of the community.

I ran into friends I made throughout my life and caught up with people I haven’t seen in years. My perceived controversy around my cosplay wasn’t even in the conversation. It was just an outfit.

Soon, I found myself in a dance circle. People often bring music, from just a Bluetooth speaker to a small DJ set. And where there’s music, there’s often dance. As I moved into the dance circle and let the music guide my movements, I could hear myself being cheered on, but not as myself.

“Get it, Quanxi!” Someone from the circle yelled, recognizing my cosplay.

Though I didn’t get to speak to them when I left the circle, her encouragement was burned into my memory. That’s the beauty of the cosplay community: even if you’re a stranger, your self-expression will be encouraged by other cosplayers.