What I want most out of The Nerdyverse of Madness is to create a platform where I can highlight content creators, artists and the like that I think are awesome,  especially those turning their hobbies into businesses.

That is literally what I have been doing, but I want to iterate it every chance I get.

I stumbled on a post on Instagram of a child cosplayer who was making bracelets in order for her to be able to fund meeting Ewan McGregor.

She’s 7.

I know this kid isn’t working full time, but the fact that she makes bracelets to fund her hobbies is something that I think is SO amazing and I wish I had a supportive parent like her Mom (Ella, the hero who supports her and runs her accounts for her) growing up to really help me with. My kid really loves to play Fortnite and I want to help him set up streams etc. – because in this day and age – I think it’s underappreciated by parents that – if they wanted to – could really make a living doing it.

I was blown away by what this adorable kid is doing and really wanted to get an interview. Obviously no 7 year old is going to sit still for a podcast interview, but I REALLY wanted to share her story, so I reached out to Mom for a print interview.

I hope this kid inspires you as much as she did me.

Ella informed me that Nicky was really excited to be interviewed because “Wow, Mom, this is like what Taylor (Swift)does for magazines.”

Anyway, here are the questions and answers below. I hope you enjoy.

I hope to one day meet her in person. She’s top of my list of cosplayers that I need a picture with.

I am really excited to see where this kid goes. To quote a certain Senator from Naboo:

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1. When did you decide that you loved dressing up as your favorite characters or, in the case of Taylor Swift, celebrities?

I‘ve always loved it! My mom started dressing me up when I was a baby and I’ve never wanted to stop. I wanted to dress like Taylor after seeing pictures of her on The Eras Tour. I became a really big Swiftie last year, I love her outfits and music. Taylor inspires me a lot everyday.

2. What do you enjoy most about transforming into characters like Leia Organa, Taylor Swift, Rey, and soon Bo Katan?

I like pretending to be those characters, especially when I get to do it on Batuu. I like to act out stories or go on adventures like they do. When I’m Taylor I love putting on her music to sing and dance, we have pretend concerts in the living room

3. Tell us about the process of creating your costumes. Have any been harder than others? If so, which one was the most challenging?

My mom does all of that. I do want to start helping with the ones we make, my mom is teaching me to sew.

4. One of my favorite things in the world is people turning their hobbies into ways to earn money and support themselves into in doing things that bring their life joy. When did you start making jewellery and where did you come up with the idea to use it to meet your fandom heroes (super jealous you got to meet Ewan McGregor!)?

I started making bracelets last year because of Taylor Swift. She has a song (Your On Your Own Kid), where she talks about making friendship bracelets, so it’s a Swiftie thing. My Lego jewelry I started doing two years ago because I love Legos and to have fun things to wear to Legoland. When we found out Obi-Wan was going to be at Megacon, I really wanted to meet him but my mom said it was very expensive. So we decided to see if I could sell some of my bracelets to raise the money and I did! I even had some money left over to spend at the convention, I bought artwork and pins. Since then I’ve been selling online and at markets to help with my new cosplays and to go to conventions in the future.

5. Can you share a memorable experience or two from meeting a celebrity guest?

I met Vivien who plays little Leia last year, she loved my costume she said it was perfect and I looked just like her! She was so nice to me. This year I was able to meet Ewan who plays Obi-wan. I gave him bracelets I made for him; he even put them on! I told him how I made them and raised the money to meet him, he was impressed.

6. How does your mom, Ella, support and help you with your cosplaying adventures?

My mom does everything for me, she works really hard to support my cosplaying. I ask her for a costume and she makes it happen, no matter what.

7. What’s your favorite part about meeting other cosplayers and fans at events?

I love taking pictures and getting to see the people I see in pictures in person. I’ve met so many amazing talented cosplayers over the years and everyone has been so nice.

8. How do you balance school and cosplaying, especially with your other creative projects? I barely have time to do to my day job! Is it possible to learn this power?

School always comes first, I have to do my school work and reading before I can work on my crafts and bracelets. I don’t know if it’s a power but I love doing both so it doesn’t really feel like work, it’s fun.

9. If you could give advice to other kids interested in cosplaying, what would it be?

Do it! Ask your parents for help or just go in your closet and find an outfit that feels like that character or you can even make up your own character. It’s so much fun getting to play dress up, my mom always tells me it doesn’t have to be perfect, you just have to love it. So if you love dressing up and going on adventures, do it!

10. What sparked your interest in Star Wars and other fandoms? For instance,  I sat my son down on his fourth birthday and we watched A New Hope. Do you come from a Star Wars family or did you find the love on your own?

Star Wars family! My Pop loves Star Wars, so does my mom and Uncle. My first baby pictures are me dressed like Princess Leia.

12. How do you choose the materials for your jewelry, and do you have a favorite piece you’ve created?

When we go to the craft store I pick out beads that remind me of songs, stories or things like that. If we can’t find it at the store we order the beads online. I really like making the lightsaber and flower bracelets, those are definitely my favorites.

13. I know Bo Katan is up and coming. Are there other characters you’re excited to cosplay in the future?

Ahsoka! Ahsoka is my next Star Wars character I’m so excited!! It’ll be the first time I use body paint, I get to be orange! Besides making all the Eras Tour outfits there’s so other fun ones we’re working on but we haven’t said them yet!

14. What’s the most exciting thing you’ve learned from your cosplaying journey so far?

Confidence, I’ve learned how to be confident in myself and to see myself as these characters and people I look up to. I say affirmations everyday and a lot of those things come from the characters and people I cosplay as, like confidence, kindness and bravery.

15. I see you had a super busy weekend. How does it feel when fans recognize and appreciate your cosplays at events?

It’s the best feeling it makes me feel special, I imagine it’s how Taylor Swift feels.

16. What do you enjoy most about the process of planning and attending events to dress up and meet guests?

I don’t really do any of the planning, my mom does. The most I do is pick what outfits I want to wear for the convention, I really just get to do all the fun parts.

17. Can you share a bit about the friendships you’ve made within the cosplay community if any?

I’ve made a lot of friends! We see our friends at the parks and conventions, I love getting to play with them and take pictures. We play hide and seek or have lightsaber fights on Batuu which is my favorite.

18. How has cosplaying influenced your creativity and everyday life?

I love dressing up using a lot of accessories and doing my hair and make up. When I pick out my outfits l’ll think of a character I like or a theme. I also do a lot of crafting, I love painting and drawing and have recently gotten into sculpting.

19. Are there specific skills you’ve developed through cosplaying that you didn’t expect?

Right now mom is teaching me to sew and together we’re learning to make props. I don’t know if those are things I would have learned if I didn’t cosplay.

20. Lastly, what are your future cosplay goals and dreams?

Right now we’re working on doing all of Taylor Swift’s outfits from the Eras tour, and I’m really really excited about that. My goals are to keep having fun dressing up as characters I look up to and learn to sew and make props myself! When I’m older I want to be able to compete in the competitions at conventions and help other cosplayers with their costumes.