Trinity
Carnival of Masks presents Sarasota Springs, UT based costume designer, Trinity DeJong, as part of our Beyond the Carnival: Interviews with Costume Folks Around the World series.
In December of 2023, I taught myself how to crochet and crocheted the Lucifer Hat in this picture. I made the jacket from a thrifted jacket that I altered.
CoM: Trinity, tell us about what you do.
TD: I am a cosplayer and crochet small business owner.
CoM: What inspires you?
TD: Mostly my different fandoms and other cosplayers cosplaying those fandoms. When Frozen came out, I would wear the Elsa costume that my grandma made me everywhere I went. In 2014, Five Night's at Freddy's came out and I was obsessed with it and still am.
CoM: How did your life in costumes begin?
TD: Around 4th grade, I joined my first musical of Annie Jr. That started my love for all things theater. Before I even knew cosplay was a thing, I grew up loving theater and fashion and anything that had to do with that stuff.
I've liked Five Nights at Freddy's since it first came out in 2014. Then in 2020, I got on Tiktok at its peak and found the FNAF songs that ended up being my favorite - "Alive" and "In Your Eyes Now" by NightCove the Fox. When I found her on YouTube, I realized she was a cosplayer. That's how it all started for me.
I had watched cosplayers online before but had no idea what they were. Turns out, cosplay is what I love more than anything. My first cosplay being Puppet from Five Nights at Freddy's.
CoM: Do you attend costumed events?
TD: I go to FanX Salt Lake every year. It has been my #1 convention since day 1.
I found Helluva Boss because of Hazbin. I got really attached to Stolas and he has been a dream cosplay of mine since the beginning of Helluva Boss. I made the cape and the ascot myself.
CoM: What's your favorite thing about costumes?
TD: The effort that gets put into them. After I finish the cosplays, it's like, “Wow, I made that?!”
CoM: Anything else you’d like to share?
TD: I discovered 2 shows called Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss. I've been a fan of them since the pilots. Hazbin Hotel was really meaningful to me because I relate heavily to several of the characters and it helped me when I was at my lowest. The one I relate to the most was Lucifer who first appeared in Season 1 Episode 5 of Hazbin Hotel.
My senior year of high school, I took all 3 sewing classes because I wanted to make my own cosplays. There was a cosplay I wanted to add on here but I don't have any pictures of it yet. Ever since taking those classes, I worked hard all summer to make my cosplays for FanX Salt Lake in 2026.
CoM: Any cosplayers you’d like to give a shoutout to?
TD: Miss Twisted, Nightcove The Fox, and SlightlyVillainous.
CoM: Thanks so much, Trinity!
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