Cosplay ( kosupure?

), short for "costume play",[1] is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often[2] drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and science fiction. Favorite sources include manga, anime, tokusatsu, comic books, graphic novels, video games, hentai and fantasy movies. Any entity from the real or virtual world that lends itself to dramatic interpretation may be taken up as a subject. Inanimate objects are given anthropomorphic forms and it is not unusual to see genders switched, with women playing male roles and vice versa. There is also a subset of cosplay culture centered around sex appeal, with cosplayers specifically choosing characters that are known for their attractiveness and/or revealing (even explicit) costumes. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture centred around role play. A broader use of the term cosplay applies to any costumed role play in venues apart from the stage, regardless of the cultural context.

Alodia Almira Arraiza Gosiengfiao (born March 9, 1988 in Quezon City, Philippines) is a Filipina cosplayer model, artist and host. She graduated in 2009 from Ateneo de Manila University with a BFA Information Design Degree. She has been called the "Cosplay Queen" of the Philippines and recognized for contributing toward raising the profile of cosplay. She started cosplaying in 2003 at the age of 15 by joining various competitions in Metro Manila. Her popularity began in 2003 when she won in an event called the C3 Convention in 2003 as Gun Mage Rikku of FFX-2. Since then, she cosplayed over 40 anime, video game and movie titles, appearing in various local and international conventions as a participant,performer, judge or as a guest. Her remarkable achievements in the cosplay community led her way to be recognized by various companies in the Philippines and hired her to endorse their products and services. She is one of the Ambassador and VJ For Animax-Asia known as the "Ani-mates", and the co-host of ABS-CBN's

prank show called Laugh Out Loud. She also has been featured in various magazines, newspaper and TV shows locally and abroad. Gosiengfiao also appeared on the Philippine FHM 100 Sexiest Women poll, ranking #87 in 2009 and #76 in 2010. She was named by UNO Magazine as one of the Most Influential Women in the Philippines. In addition to her cosplay activities, for which she is most known, Gosiengfiao is also a blogger, performer, pianist, figure collector and BJD enthusiast.

Personal life
Alodia Gosiengfiao lives in Quezon City and is fond of art, fashion, video games, photography, collecting toys and figures, gadgets and playing the piano.[1] Her name was taken by her mother in a name book, Alodia means "love" and Almira means "princess".[1] She is of Filipino, Chinese and Spanish descent, her father is a Filipino-Chinese while her mother is Filipino-Spanish. Her parents are Mariglor and Ed Gosiengfiao and she has a younger sister, Ashley Gosiengfiao, who is a professional cosplayer and model as well.[2] Gosiengfiao attended Assumption College (Makati) from pre-school to Grade 2; Miriam College from Grade 3 to 4th Yr High School and Ateneo de Manila University, where she graduated year 2009 with a BFA Information Design degree.[3] As a High school student, she was a member of the Miriam College High School Pep squad. She also works on art commissions for international clients, illustrating both digital and traditional artworks.