Cosplay Alias: Etaru

Nickname: Lada

Birthday: 11/28

Blood type: B-

Sign: Sagittarius

Height: 5’8″ (172 cm)

Likes: Sushi, teas, sewing, music, languages, motorcycles, ice skating, snowmobiling, photography, sleeping, reading, history, spending time with friends, hot springs

Dislikes: onions, peppers, early mornings, drama, exams

Years cosplaying: 6

About me: I came to the United States from Russia in the mid-90′s, and started costuming as soon as I figured out what Halloween was with the help of my mother in assembling costumes. My first anime was Sailor Moon, and I still love it as much as I did when I first watched it as a small child – I “cosplayed” Princess Serenity one Halloween, and became enamored with the beautiful costumes I saw online of people wearing at anime conventions. When I got the opportunity to go to my first anime convention in Denver in 2005, the costuming snowball got rolling!

When I’m not sewing another project, I’m probably studying, reading, or doing debate research. History is a guilty pleasure of mine, and I love researching Middle Eastern cultures and religion, ancient cultures, and modern European history. I’m currently in a private college double majoring in International Relations and Political Science, and spent the last semester of my undergrad studying in Sweden and traveling northern Europe. In my off time, I love doing outdoor winter activities like snowmobiling, ice skating, skiing, and soaking in hot springs.

My costumes have been featured in a number of international publications like OTACOOL2, and showcased on many news and gaming sites, and on evening news. I’ve also been a cosplay guest of honor and judge in the United States, Norway, and Denmark for World Cosplay Summit, Euro Cosplay, and EuroCosplay Gathering.  I absolutely love cosplay and cherish the memories and friends it has given me, and don’t see myself stopping in the foreseeable future.

For more images of my costumes and those of the cosplay group I’m in, please visit Engi no Shouzoku!