Gallery: These Cosplayers Do An Amazing Job Of Bringing Characters To Life

In a male-dominated world, it's good to know there's one industry where women rule, even if it isn't technically real —The Cosplay Realm. And these women are cool as EFF! In fact, a woman is credited with inventing the concept back in the late 1930s — Myrtle Rebecca "Mō-rō ‘yō" Douglas Smith Gray Nolan. Girl had a long a** name, to boot!

Unfamiliar with the term? 

Urban Dictionary user Iwachiten defined it best (albeit, hilariously) back in 2005:

COSPLAY:

It is a word that has its root in costume play. It is both a noun and a verb. 

Cosplay can mean the actual costume, as well as the action of wearing it. Contrary to popular belief, many cosplayers (well over 98%) do not believe they are the characters they are 'cosplaying' as.

That last part there is good to know, Urban. We're hoping the remaining 2% keeps their fandom on the DL.

OK, then. With that being acknowledged, Instagram is brimming with cosplayers (men and women) the world over. And we couldn't help but share our favorites. We've rounded up some of the coolest, craziest, most amazing cosplayers we could find! Be sure to follow them all on their social, fellow nerds!