Artist, 19, fell in love with a ‘superhero’ at a comic convention… and now they’re engaged with a baby on the way
The mum-to-be used to think grown-ups who dressed as fictional characters were a 'bit weird' but it's become her favourite hobby - and led her to her Mr Right
JO Chell, 19, is an artist and lives in Stoke-on-Trent with her fiancé Lee Scally, 28, a distribution centre worker. She says:
"Walking down the street in a black catsuit with curled red hair, I blushed as people stared.
I’d always thought grown-ups who went to comic book conventions dressed as fictional characters were a bit weird, but here I was as Black Widow, Scarlett Johansson’s character from The Avengers.
I’d never have dreamed of doing something like that until September 2014, when my brother Mark, 29, invited me to Stoke Con Trent – a TV, film, comic and memorabilia convention.
There, fans get the chance to dress up as their favourite characters –AKA cosplay.
While I wasn’t into comic books, I liked Red Dwarf and superhero films, so thought it might be fun – although I drew the line at going in costume.
Once there, though, I realised I stood out like a sore thumb in my cropped trousers and top as I was surrounded by the likes of Princess Leia and Doctor Who baddies. But the atmosphere was still amazing.
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After that, I was determined to dress up at an event, so booked tickets for the MCM Comic Con in Birmingham two months later.
I wore R2-D2-inspired make-up and felt so much more at home with all the other superheroes and film characters.
Next up was Stoke Con Trent again in April 2015.
This time I really went for it – I ordered a £30 Black Widow costume and curled my dyed red hair.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to regret my choice, but when I saw the queue of Spidermen and Star Wars Sith Lords, my nerves disappeared.
As I waited to go in, someone pinched my bum. Spinning round, a small boy grinned at me.
He was standing next to a bare-chested man with spiky blue hair, who quickly apologised.
BTW
Launched in 1970, San Diego Comic-Con is the oldest and largest in the world – with over 135,000 people attending each year.
Daniel Radcliffe dressed up as Spiderman to attend the San Diego Comic-Con event in 2014
I recognised his costume as Goku from cult Japanese animation Dragon Ball Z.
I didn’t see him again, but a few days later a message popped up on Facebook from a guy called Lee Scally.
Somehow he had found out my name and told me he was the guy from the queue and that my costume was amazing.
We started chatting and I found out that Lee lived nearby, taught kick-boxing and the boy was a friend’s son.
There was no romance at first as Lee had a girlfriend, but in February 2016 he messaged to say they had broken up.
The following night we went on a date and we’ve been inseparable since.
We love going out for meals and watching Netflix – but cosplay is our favourite hobby.
I’ve dressed up as all sorts, from Fifth Element’s Leeloo to Mystique from X-Men, spending a total of £300 on costumes.
While some people might think it is strange, it’s so much fun.
If anyone asks whether it makes its way into the bedroom, I say Lee’s keen on Black Widow!
For last year’s Stoke Con, I went as Majin Buu, also from Dragon Ball Z, painting myself pink and wearing a bikini.
Lee went as Heath Ledger’s Joker and my mum Angela, 47, joined us in an assassin’s costume.
I thought it was strange she wanted to come, but things became clear when Lee and I were invited to go on stage.
I thought we had won something – but then Lee dropped to one knee and proposed! Mum had known about his plan all along.
Shaking and crying, I said yes.
We would like a traditional wedding, but also an unofficial ceremony at Stoke Con, where I’ll dress as Corpse Bride.
But for now, plans are on hold as I’m 14 weeks pregnant. It wasn’t planned, but we’re delighted.
I hope our baby will follow in our cosplay footsteps."
To understand more about Comic Con, see what happened when we went undercover at London's Comic Book Convention.