ABSTRACT
We interviewed ten Australian professional and semiprofessional cosplayers focusing on topics of identity, perception, and exploitation for this relatively new category of entrepreneurs. Using thematic analysis, we identified a number of issues such as self-esteem, body positivity, cosplay business practices and settings, and exploitation. We discovered that, contrary to current theory, professional cosplayers do not identify with the characters they cosplay. However, professional cosplayers face personal and business obstacles that leave them vulnerable to exploitation by non-cosplay businesses.
