We recently connected with Jessie Glorious Purpose Characters & Cosplay and have shared our conversation below.
Jessie, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Being a creative individual and a Christian, I have found my purpose at the intersection of the divine crossroad between faith and art. For me, my purpose in everything that I do is to love God and love His people by creating experiences that inspire hope. That is my “glorious purpose.”
The name “Glorious Purpose Characters & Cosplay” is a reference to Marvel Studios’ Loki TV show. That show debuted at a time in my life where, much like Loki, my path took a completely unexpected turn. I related to his desire to discover his new place in the world, and his journey of self-love and acceptance. I was captivated by the show, and began making a Sylvie cosplay as a way of processing my own story. Ultimately, Loki found his new “glorious purpose” in his relationships and mission, something I knew I wanted to center in my approach to cosplay.
My approach to living my purpose out through cosplay is twofold:
1) every character I cosplay, and story I step into, ultimately represents a story of hope.. This is a practical way that I can actively choose hope in my day to day!
2) every person I interact with, whether they are a child meeting me as their favorite princess or a fellow cosplayer I’m grabbing lunch with after a gig, deserves respect and kindness. I try to always go into every cosplay situation with an open heart and an open mind.
As Loki says in the finale of Season 2, “I know what I want. I know what {} I need to be. For you. For all of us.”
I know my purpose. It’s the “living it out day-to-day” part that is definitely easier said than done!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m Jessie, aka Glorious Purpose Characters & Cosplay! I am a not-profit character performer located in Northern Utah. Glorious Purpose began its journey in 2014, when I was a bright-eyed college student who refused to grow up. From day one, my mission was to use my love of characters and costuming to spread love and hope to the young and young at heart. My family believed in this dream, and bought me my first costumes. In the years that followed, I was given the opportunity to perform as my favorite characters, tell stories, and connect with people in a genuine, yet magical, way. It also gave me the opportunity to perform alongside my sister and best friends, something I absolutely treasured. By the grace of God, our family project became a fixture in my community along the Wasatch Front by creating caring and authentic connections with families and local organizations.
I took a hiatus from character performance while I navigated my early 20’s. I moved to Orlando and worked in theme parks, both in operations and behind the scenes as a designer. I was brought back to Utah during the pandemic. My heart deeply missed performing, but it wasn’t the right time to return just yet. My costume collection was gathering dust, awaiting the day when the magic would return.
I launched Glorious Purpose Characters & Cosplay in September of 2022, and it became the creative home for my acting, makeup, wig design, and costume work. More importantly, it is a not-for-profit character performance brand that enables me to give back to my community by utilizing my costume collection, my talents, and my love for children. I may not be that bright-eyed college girl anymore, but my mission remains: to use my love of acting and costuming to encourage the young and the young at heart.
These days, you can find me volunteering on the weekends with local charities and community organizations. I am so thankful to do what I do, and for the opportunity to use my passions and gifts to pour into others.
I share my adventures on my Instagram, @gloriouspurposeutah, and over the past year or so, I have particularly enjoyed sharing body-positive cosplay content. Cosplay and character performance communities can tend to be very image focused, but I hope to be a small part of the work that’s happening online to make these communities more inclusive, uplifting, and encouraging spaces for everyone. I’m not sure what this looks like for me moving forward, but it’s something I am very excited to continue exploring!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most important thing I’ve learned in any job, hobby, or circle I’ve found myself is this- don’t be a jerk. Difficult in its simplicity, it is SO important! Technical skills can always be learned, but treating people with genuine kindness and respect is a way of life. People will always remember how you made them feel and how you treated them.
In my quest to “not be a jerk,” I’ve learned three things (and am stumbling along each day as I strive to live them out)! I’m from a cosplay POV, of course, but I think these can apply to any area of a creative life.
1) It’s not a competition and there is room for all of us at the table- seriously. We are adults playing dress-up with the goal of creating happiness for others and for ourselves. Let’s strive for simplicity and an open table.
2) You don’t have to understand or agree with someone in order to treat them with love and respect. As Cinderella says, “have courage and be kind.”
3) Be Elsa and “let it go.” Our time with each other is so short. Let’s make the most of it and give each other the benefit of the doubt.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
I owe my success in cosplay (and all corners of my life) to my family. From day one, they have accepted the things that I love with open arms, as a way of expressing their love and support of me. Whether it was my mom spending a long night styling my Rapunzel wig to get it ready for a gig the next day, my grandma sewing a pirate costume, my sister performing alongside me as the Elsa to my Anna, or my grandpa beaming with pride as I performed in a parade, my family has been by my side every step of the way. They made me feel like the work that I do through my cosplay matters. They have taught me that one of the most powerful ways to love someone is to show up for them and the things that they love.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @gloriouspurposeutah
Image Credits
Taylor Swift- Jessica June Photography Scarlet Witch- YourRealm Photography Queen Anna- YourRealm Photography Sylvie- Mark Loertscher Photography
