![](http://www.firststopcosplay.com/cdn/shop/files/Amanda2_1500x.jpg?v=1716323851)
Amanda "Mari" Gregory
Founder and President
Amanda (aka Mari) is our company’s president. She was born and raised in San Francisco, CA, and moved to Los Angeles, CA, in 2006. She went to FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) in 2006, where she would make cosplays for homework assignments, and earned degrees in fashion design and theatre costume design. Since her first cosplay and anime convention in 2007, she’s been addicted to cosplaying and challenging herself. While helping her friends create their own cosplays, she wanted to find a way to help others as well. After FIDM, she went on to work in the film industry for a few years as a costume designer before she realized that what she actually wanted to do was help other people make cosplays. So she went back to school at ELAC (East Los Angeles College), where she earned a degree in humanities, and then transferred to Chapman University, where she earned a degree in business administration with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. From there, she started First Stop Cosplay with the hope to help educate, inspire, and empower those who want to create their own cosplays.
Loves: Her husband, music, writing, video games, cosplay, video editing, and sleep
Previous cosplays: "Sinon (Caith Sith version)" from Sword Art Online II, "Yang Xiao Long" from RWBY, "Black Rock Shooter", and more
Dream cosplay: "Freya" from FFIX
Pronouns: she/her
![](http://www.firststopcosplay.com/cdn/shop/files/Kelly_6c8cb120-a6bc-43ae-bccd-37f58e4bd398_1500x.jpg?v=1716321278)
Kelly Willey
Marketing and Sales Lead
Loves: Playing FFXIV, cats, birds, and sleeping
Previous cosplays: "Linkle" from Hyrule Warriors, "Furret" from Pokemon, "Yowane Haku" from Vocaloid, "Panty" from Panty and Stocking with Garter Belt, and more
Dream cosplay: "Yamato" from One Piece and "Yukari's runway dress" from Paradise Kiss
Pronouns: she/her
![](http://www.firststopcosplay.com/cdn/shop/files/Elaine2_1500x.jpg?v=1670735856)
Elaine Ha
Project Manager
Loves: All things Miyazaki, all things adorable, Disney, and Terra's theme from FFIII
Previous cosplay: "Tifa" from FFVII
Dream cosplay:"Cinderella" from the live-action film
Pronouns:she/her
![](http://www.firststopcosplay.com/cdn/shop/files/Olivia_59bc847d-32e7-47c4-a44e-179143bb2cca_1500x.jpg?v=1716322941)
Olivia Ochoa
Executive Admin
Loves: Animal Crossing, anything Marvel, possums, cats, and coffee
Dream cosplay: "Celeste" from Animal Crossing
Pronouns: she/her
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Ashley Kirk
Patternmaker
Loves: Playing video games, watching anime, and hanging out with her three cockatiels
Previous cosplays: "Zelda" from Twilight Princess, "Lucina" from Fire Emblem, and more
Dream cosplay: "Aerith" from FFVII
Pronouns: she/her
![](http://www.firststopcosplay.com/cdn/shop/files/Sil_Pan_Gray_250x250_22a6deb5-163d-4912-8a4c-f2ea8e0f8ed4_1500x.jpg?v=1670974351)
Paige Klemens
Technical Writer
Loves: Dystopian books/movies, musical theater, design, and making cosplays for her daughter
Previous cosplays: "Katniss Everdeen" from The Hunger Games, "Amy Pond" from Doctor Who, "Adora Princess Prom" from She-Ra, and more
Dream cosplay: "The Corpse Bride"
Pronouns: she/her
![](http://www.firststopcosplay.com/cdn/shop/files/Nacho_8c2549ed-f52f-4302-a04d-6b6589122688_1500x.jpg?v=1716322935)
Nansir "Nacho" Sok
Video Engineer
Loves: Film production, movies, anime, video games, and ramen
Dream cosplay: Anything armored, like "Alphonse" from Full Metal Alchemist
Pronouns: he/him
![](http://www.firststopcosplay.com/cdn/shop/files/Naomi_1500x.jpg?v=1716323314)
Naomi Shikumi
Video Engineer
Loves: Drawing anime, camera operating, her german shepherd son named Spock, and Hatsune Miku
Previous cosplays: "Homura Akemi" from Madoka Magica, "Hiro Hamada" from Big Hero 6, "Makima" from Chainsaw Man, and more!
Dream cosplay: Different versions of Hatsune Miku (like Senbonzakura & Racing Miku)
Pronouns: she/her
![](http://www.firststopcosplay.com/cdn/shop/files/Pfp_1500x.jpg?v=1716315911)
Sarah Pan
Social Media Coordinator
Loves: Shounen manga, art, car rides with friends, wintermelon tea
Previous cosplays: "Mikey" from Tokyo Revengers, "Power" from Chainsaw Man, "Reki" from Sk8 the Infinity, and more
Dream cosplay: "Saber" from Fate
Pronouns: she/they
![](http://www.firststopcosplay.com/cdn/shop/files/Silhouette-removebg-preview_1500x.png?v=1670736001)
Dirk Flowers
Admin Assistant
Loves: Dungeons & Dragons, designing costumes and characters, figure collecting, literary analysis, my partner, and boba tea
Previous cosplays: "Beetlejuice" the Kotobukiya Bishoujo figure, "Luna freya" from Final Fantasy XV, "Squirrel Girl" from Marvel, "Cinderella" from Disney's 2015 live action, "Belphegor" from Obey Me!, and more!
Dream cosplay: "Milady" from Persona 5 and "Imogen Temult" from Critical Role
Pronouns: they/them