Mikomi Hokina, who dresses up as video game characters, has revealed her strangest fan encounters despite the adult star living in a tiny rural community
A sexy cosplayer has turned her gaming obsession and interest in handmade fantasy armour into a six-figure business. Due to her massive success, Mikomi Hokina regularly gets recognised in public despite living in a tiny village.
Mikomi said fans have approached her everywhere from airport security to flights and even her local supermarket – despite leaving city life behind for a tiny rural community.
The 30-year-old Belgian content creator, who has a huge fanbase online under @mikomihokina, admits some encounters have been wholesome, while others have crossed the line. Mikomi said: “I’ve had two encounters recently – one was weird and one was positive.
“I was boarding a plane and someone recognised me. They were like, ‘Are you Miko?’ but it was 5am and I was with family, so I said I wasn’t. I was trying to deflect, like ‘abort mission’, but this person didn’t care.” She added: “He put his arm around me and took a selfie without even asking.”
While some interactions leave her uncomfortable, Mikomi says others have been much more respectful. Mikomi said: “There was a flight attendant who recognised me as I boarded and he messaged me on Instagram first asking if he could have an autograph.”
“He even checked it was OK to pass by with a card and pen. He was actually very, very sweet. It was a very wholesome interaction.”
The fantasy business owner says being recognised has become a regular part of life. She has been stopped at airports, recognised while shopping and even noticed around her local area despite recently swapping Brussels for a village with a population of around 200.
She said: “A few years ago Playboy and national TV did a documentary about my job, creating fantasy costumes and content online, which aired on television, radio and online. I think that’s one of the reasons people know who I am.”
One encounter close to home particularly surprised her. She said: “A neighbour came by with a little keychain weapon from an anime. It was a little kunai from Naruto and she asked if I could make her a bigger one.”
Despite living in a quiet rural community, Mikomi says people are generally supportive and respectful when they recognise her.
She said: “It’s very contextual. If it’s 5am and I’m with my family, it’s very likely I’m going to tell you, ‘No, I’m not Miko’. But if someone is polite and respectful, I don’t mind at all.”
Mikomi rakes in a fortune from her business empire that she started after dropping out of university twice to pursue creative work full-time. Her hyper-realistic costumes and handcrafted armour is known across Europe’s cosplay scene, allowing her to sell her art for up to £10,000.
Mikomi loves to dress up, both for her loyal followers and in real life for herself – and it’s not always elf ears and resin-crafted armour. The sexy goth admits her look is “a bit of everything” but that staying true to who you are is key to happiness. She said: “I love cosplaying, but I love trying a lot of different styles.”
“One day it can be cat ears and casual or a vintage flower dress. I feel like with dressing up you shouldn’t stick to only one style. You should just buy what you feel is pretty then go for it.”
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