Home Features Mary Nicolette Esmilla: Transforming Faces, Breathing Life into Characters

Mary Nicolette Esmilla: Transforming Faces, Breathing Life into Characters

Early Beginnings and Creative Roots

Mary Nicolette Esmilla, who likes to be known as On Her Journey, has always carried creativity with her. As a visual artist she found herself drawn to makeup in a very simple way. “It’s actually a funny story why I wanted to learn makeup, I just didn’t want to look bad when facing other people,” she shared. Back in elementary school she became more conscious of her appearance, and by high school she was already the one her classmates would turn to whenever there was a school pageant. Her love for dressing up as a kid naturally blended with her skills as an artist, and soon she was creating her own costumes and joining cosplay competitions that encouraged her to grow even more.

Breakthroughs and Recognition

One of her proudest moments came when her Siren cosplay unexpectedly reached audiences around the world. “At first, I really couldn’t believe that our fun shoot with my co-creatives was being featured on different media platforms, even in other countries. Of course, I was so happy and honestly in disbelief at first. That feature also helped me gain more followers on my Facebook page and became a great addition to my makeup portfolio. Because of it, I was also able to book cosplay gigs, which made the experience even more meaningful for me.” What started as a creative collaboration with friends became a milestone that allowed her to share her work with a much bigger community.

Crafting Characters Through Makeup and Cosplay

For Mary, makeup is not just about looking good, it is about expression. “What I love most about makeup is that it feels limitless, not just about looking pretty, but about creating, transforming, and expressing myself.” With a background in painting and drawing, makeup became her new medium. She treats her face like a canvas, studying the personality and vibe of each character she wants to portray. While she enjoys experimenting and does not lock herself into one style, she believes her approach is noticeable because she always tries to balance accuracy with creativity, adding a touch that makes the look her own.

Cosplay for her is not complete without comfort and movement. “For me, cosplay isn’t just about looking like the character, it’s about moving and feeling like them too. Comfortability is the most important part of making the costume, because if it’s too stiff or heavy, I can’t really bring the character to life. Mobility lets me embody their vibe, pose naturally, and have fun while performing or interacting. It makes the whole experience more fun and alive.” She is mindful of how long she will be wearing makeup, choosing products and techniques that last while still looking striking, and she creates costumes that are light enough to wear but detailed enough to stand out in photos and in person.

Mindset, Advice, and the Road Ahead

When asked about what she would say to young cosplayers who might feel discouraged, Mary explained that no one should feel pressured to have expensive products. “Don’t feel pressured to buy high end makeup brands just to fit in. There are plenty of affordable and safe options that offer the same quality as more expensive ones. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment and try DIY techniques in makeup, it can save you from having to buy new and costly products.” She also shared some of her own tricks, like using colorful eyeshadows to recolor brows and applying concealer as a base to make colors pop more. Most of all, she believes that mindset is everything. “Cosplay is for everyone. It’s normal to have imperfections because we’re only human, and that’s okay. Virtual characters usually have perfect faces and bodies since they’re not real. Don’t mind what other people say, you’re cosplaying to make yourself happy, not to please others.”

Looking ahead, Mary dreams of working on more complex projects, especially characters from Identity V and Love Death and Robots. She knows her skills will only continue to grow, and she is excited for the challenges that come with that. Above all, she wants people in the community to hold on to one simple truth. “Cosplay is really for everyone. Don’t stress about being perfect, characters look flawless because they’re not real, but we are. What matters most is that you’re enjoying yourself and creating in your own way. Don’t let other people’s opinions stop you, because at the end of the day, you’re doing it for your own happiness. Keep experimenting, keep having fun, and never be afraid to bring your own style into your cosplay.”