We recently had the chance to connect with Shannon Rona and have shared our conversation below.
Shannon, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of work right now, I’ve been working on renovating our house that I just moved into in the spring! It’s been an absolute journey, and I’ve taught myself so many new skills. I’ve built things for cosplay, but I’ve never really been hands on with construction, but this year I’ve refinished our hardwood floors, installed a stair runner, updated the kitchen, and painted most rooms of the house, all by hand. I have a long list of projects still to come, but I am totally a work-a-holic, and always need a project, so these new skills are bring me so much happiness, and oddly…relaxation.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a self taught cosplayer who loves to learn new skills to bring characters on screens to life! I have a history making cosplays on a budget, making sewing patterns from duct tape, finishing full body 3D printed armor to look and operate like the movies, and working with charities to bring happiness to children and adults, alike. I love sharing my learning process on streams on Twitch, as well as Tik Tok and reels occasionally so others can see how I build cosplays.
Recently, I’ve been working on sewing projects such as Sailor Saturn and Shadowheart. I’m also working on a long-term rebuild of my Pittsburgh Iron Man suit, and I can’t wait to walk the city in the black and gold armor again! Characters like Doom and Lady Death are on my radar for upcoming projects, because I always love a creative challenge!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My grandmother was always someone who wanted me to embrace the creative part of myself. As a child, I would spend summers at my grandparent’s home for a week at a time, where we would always have some kind of craft on hand. She taught me the basics of sewing from a young age, showed me how to make scrapbook pages, and paint decorative rocks with a very bright blue glitter. To this day, I still have a small placeholder card with my name on it and an orange cat, from when my cousin and I set the Christmas dinner table at my grandparent’s home, and my grnadmother even recently gifted me an embroidery machine that I use almost daily!
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of acceptance has held me back in life, but I’ve been working on changing that since I was a kid. As a child, I never really fit in or was popular in school, so I always felt I wasn’t special enough to be included or ‘make a difference’ in the world. I was always nerdy, always liked the uncool things, and always wanted to help others, so as I went through school and college, I taught myself to be the best version of me that I can be, even if that’s not what the general public may accept as ‘cool’. I might not be a rocket scientist or bring world peace, but I can make others happy with my cosplays, and knowing I’ve brought joy to lives that aren’t mine is still very rewarding.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The community my hobby is in has been changed into a very different place from when I joined it. I saw a big shift happen during the stay at home Covid years, where suddenly, social media really tricked everyone into believing their number of followers and popularity are what matters. This is my biggest issue with the cosplay world now, becuase someone’s talent is absolutely NOT measured by if they go viral online. Now – yes – viral cosplays are amazing work, too! However, I know so many people who have skills I could never dream of having, but their algorithm doesn’t take off, so they aren’t considered an important connection, and that is so wrong. This kind of mindset has lead to so many egos and people speaking ill of others for clout, and instead, we should really be focused on going back to a safe and inclusive space to help each other grow and thrive. We all have so much energy to offer the world, and my favorite things is when others choose to spend it in kind words and humble actions.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Working a 9-5 job. Cosplay is my hobby and my passion, so it is not my main job. If I only have a decade left to live, I would not waste another second working for an office job that may or may not care about my well being. We only have so much time to exist, and the world is so big with so many interesting people. While I love my current role, I also love crafting, and networking, and traveling, and I would want to experience as much of that as I could.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ShannonRona.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/SRona58
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/ShannonRonaCosplay
- Other: Twitch.tv/SRona58
TikTok.com/@SRona58
Image Credits
Jeff Zoet Visuals
Brandon Klinge
