Ajo is a regular at Taiwanese game events, decked in dangerously skimpy garb. She's one of Taiwan's most famous cosplayers. For Ajo, cosplay has been more than a hobby, but a way to strive to drop 40 pounds and look like the idealized characters she adores.
On her Facebook page (via Rocket News), Ajo recently posted a "before/after" photo and talked about how ten years ago, she weighed 70-something kilograms (over 154 pounds). She decided to try her hand at cosplay, and when she looked at her photos, she was shocked.
"In the pictures, my favorite characters had turned all fat," she wrote. "The look of the character collapsed completely."
Ajo decided that she wanted to start dieting. It wasn't an easy round, and there were times she rebounded. But, she was able to motivate herself using cosplay, trying to lose weight so she could wear the skimpy outfits her favorite characters donned. Over ten years, she lost 44 pounds (20 kg).
Often, video game and cartoon characters aren't exactly depictions of real people. They are either idealized or fantasy. Ajo dropped weight by skipping sugar, carbs and fat, drinking lots of water, and exercising so that she could be that idealized character in real life.
Video game characters don't just exist in digital playgrounds. Cosplay is a realm where fans can bring them to life. To do just that, this Taiwanese cosplayer was motivated to make lifestyle changes—changes that she says have made her happy.
At the end of her Facebook post, Ajo wrote in English, "Trust Me, You Can Make it！" Maybe. And for those dieting, Ajo's story might be inspiring. For those happy with their body image, it might not be. The caveat is whether or not the look of many characters were ever realistic in the first place.
Ajo's costumes and cosplay photos do cover a range of characters. For more, check here.
(不用懷疑照片真的都是我XD) [阿兆のCosplay同人專頁 via ETtoday via ロケットニュース]
You can contact Brian Ashcraft, the author of this post, at bashcraft@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.