Patron Spotlight: Cross Connect Cosplay (Patreon)

What were you doing nine years ago? Simon Cowell was leaving American Idol. Matt Smith was starting his run as the Eleventh Doctor. Those guys from One Direction were forming One Direction. And somewhere in Canada, Ray was putting together her first cosplay.

Over those nine years, Ray Slay, also known on YouTube as Cross Connect Cosplay, has explored a lot of fandoms and created not just cosplays, but also cosplay music videos and in-character skits on YouTube. “I love this hobby and love to share my love for it with whoever will listen!!!” Ray tells me.

Some of Ray’s most popular YouTube videos are Voltron-related, so I ask her about how she got into that fandom. She tells me that her best friend got her into the show when the second season premiered, and she fell in love with the characters immediately. “I made a lot of fan content to satisfy my own obsession,” she explains. “I was thrilled when others shared the same passion as me!”

“When I made my Mech suit of the Red Lion from Voltron, I learned so many new skills!” she says. “Making a mech suit is not easy but I came away from the challenge with a much better understanding of patterning, crafting, foam smithing, and electrical usage in props and armour! It took 6 months to build and was worth every moment of it.”

Ray is best known for her Keith Kogane cosplay, and while he’s her favorite Voltron character, she says he’s the character she cosplays that she relates to the least. “Tweek Tweak from South Park is probably the character I relate to the most,” she admits. “He's a ball of anxiety and coffee and that sort of defines my life.”

While Ray no longer considers herself part of the Voltron fandom, she’s proud of what she created while she was part of that community. These days, she’s turning her creative energies towards Critical Role. Her recent favorite project is the Critical Role cosplay music video she released a few months ago, in which she plays Nott. “Filming this was the moment where I met my Critical Role crew for the first time,” she says. “I fell in love with every single one of these incredible people and I'm proud to call them all very important friends to me.”

Ray’s upcoming projects are Critical Role themed, too! She was inspired by the new designs in particular. “Level 10 Nott and Fjord are in the works, but I have no clue when they'll be finished!” she says. She’s especially excited for Nott, because “she looks so adorable in her yellow dress!!!”

If you want to follow along with Ray’s work, you can check her out on YouTube and Instagram, or pledge on her Patreon!