MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Gas City Entertainment Expo is taking over the Stampede Pavilion tomorrow.
Residents are being encouraged to dress up as their favorite fictional character.
One woman who will be doing just that is Maddison Kalista.
For Kalista, costume play or ‘cosplay’ allows her the opportunity to escape from the realities of life.
“Without question,” she explained. “I get to be something that I’m not always seen as every day. As somebody who likes to go against the grain and not always been socially accepted. So, yeah, it definitely does.”
She’s always been a ‘do it yourself’ kind of person, which is what led her to begin cosplay three-years-ago.
“Initially my pursuit was sustainability and then it just turned into how do I make clothing and the costuming. So, I kind of just happened upon it and it’s just been a crazy, fun world ever since.”
In addition to expanding her clothing making skills, she says cosplay and comic-expos have given her so much more.
“People that normally wouldn’t have tons of self confidence seem to find the confidence there because perhaps everyone’s supportive. They’re trying to show off their best costumes, their work. It’s very sensitive.”
Which is the exact atmosphere Walter Laboucane is trying to promote at this weekends expo.
“You let it out and you don’t have to hide,” explained Laboucane. “You don’t have to be in the corner and say ‘nah, I’m a geek, that’s all, I’ll go away,” but rather you can let it out and say ‘I’m a geek. I stream games. I YouTube. This is what I do and people really enjoy it.’”
Heading into the weekend, Kalista is putting her final touches on her outfit, as she looks to portray the character ‘Momo’ from the anime series, ‘My Hero Academia.’
Like any costume she’s designed though, she’s nervous to unveil it to the world.
“For me, it’s usually a little high-stress and then tapers off as I kind of socially accept myself,” she laughed. “So, yeah.”
To catch Momo and many other fictional characters, head to the Stampede Pavilion Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m..
Advance tickets bought online are $8, while tickets at the door are $10.
Children 12 and under are free.
