Meet Cosplayer Jacqui Shook a.k.a PepperJaq

Meet Jacqui Shook a.k.a Pepperjaq from Richmond, CA. 

This year we are excited to welcome back Jacqui Shook, also known as Pepperjaq, to our Second Annual Anime Fan and Fitness Festival as one of our cosplay guests! She is a cosplayer, designer, a master in her craft, and advocate for confidence and self-expression through cosplay. We've had the pleasure to shoot content with Jacqui at multiple conventions and her cosplays never cease to amaze us. Here is more about Jacqui Shook and her cosplaying lifestyle!

Meet The Creator Behind The Cosplay

When she's not building pro-like costumes or crafting oversized weapons for her next convention appearance, Jacqui works professionally as a UI/UX designer, graphic designer, web designer, front-end coder, and marketing designer. This creative career perfectly complements the artistic skills she brings into the cosplay world.

How Long Have You Been Cosplaying For?

Jacqui began attending conventions and cosplaying around 2017 after meeting her husband. However, her passion for dressing up started even earlier than that through the New York Renaissance Fair and annual Halloween celebrations.

What Sparked Your Interest to Join the Cosplay Community?

I saw the cosplay community as the perfect place to meet like-minded people. I'm not really into loud parties because it's hard to talk, and I haven't been into drinking either. So most of the places you'd normally go to meet people I struggle with. What's not to love about a gathering of people who are down to talk about all the things I love too, crafting, gaming, anime, and movies?

Seeing Yaya Han and Jessica Nigri make a career out of creating and wearing their own costumes was a huge inspiration for me. It took me a while to discover that cons existed, and once I did, I was in 100%. I just needed to make a space to start crafting.

What was your first cosplay? How long did it take to make? I believe it was Catwoman. I threw on a body suit and a mask for San Francisco Comic Con. It was really simple, but fun to participate finally.

Favorite Cosplays and Stories Behind Them

Queen of Hearts

The Queen of Hearts holds a special place in her heart. Having spent over a year creating the costume, it remains one of her proudest accomplishments.

Jacqui shares

"I’ve always loved the Alice in Wonderland aesthetic, and I think I’ll be building costumes from that universe forever. I’m not an angry person, so it’s kinda fun to role play as her."

She-Hulk

For Jacqui, it's about all the She-Hulks! Her admiration for the character has inspired multiple She-Hulk builds, with even more already in the planning stages.

"My days of feeling self-conscious about my height are long over, and I love cosplaying any characters that feel the same."

Mirko

Fans of My Hero Academia will recognize Mirko as one of the most fearless heroes in the series. In Jacqui's words "she was the most badass character in the show for me, and I felt she was so mistreated. Show me a muscle-bound, confident woman, especially with a big weapon, and I’m probably going to hop on building them immediately. As I did with Mirko and She Hulk, and now Rasputin IV (New build)."

How Long Did it Take to Make Your Cosplays? What Was The Most Challenging Part of Bringing This Character to Life?

Cosplay builds can take anywhere from a few days to over a year, depending on the complexity of the project. Some costumes are carefully planned for competition builds, while others are spontaneous creations that Jacqui will build immediately if she has all the material for it. One of the biggest challenges Jacqui faces isn't necessarily the crafting itself but it's managing the cost.

"It's easy to lose track of the cost of supplies over time. I factor in time to save up or thrifting time into my build timeline."

Her practical approach helps ensure that creativity remains sustainable and enjoyable.

Essential Tools for Cosplay

Every cosplayer has a few essential tools at their work station, and Jacqui is no exception.

Today, two of her most valuable pieces of equipment are a belt sander gifted by her mother and a heavy-duty sewing machine gifted by friends and family. The belt sander has become especially useful for shaping large props such as giant swords and axes, while the sewing machine helps bring ambitious costume designs to life.

Finding Materials and Saving Money

Rather than immediately purchasing new materials, Jacqui starts every project by shopping her existing supply stash.

She also participates in craft supply exchanges with friends, trading materials and helping everyone save money while reducing waste.

For secondhand finds, Savers has become a favorite source for curtains, sheets, and fabric. When specialty materials are needed, she turns to online suppliers such as Fabric Wholesale Direct and Kiki's Textiles.

Fitness, Health and Staying Active Outside of cosplay, Jacqui has a strong athletic background. She previously competed on a Division I rowing team in college before back injuries forced her to step away from the sport.

Today, she focuses on strength training and core development at the gym alongside her husband to support her back health and overall wellness. She also enjoys basketball and volleyball whenever she has the opportunity to play.

Confidence Through Cosplay

Perhaps the most meaningful impact cosplay has had on Jacqui's life is the confidence and community it has provided.

"I’m so grateful for the community I have. Most of us are introverted and neurodivergent, realizing that makes me less introverted and makes it easier to connect. These people understand me on a level others haven’t. I can be my goofy self and blab about crafting. You’d be surprised who you get to connect with through the love of making."

Through cosplay, she has built lasting friendships with people who share her passion for creativity and crafting.

Her personal growth has even been noticed by those closest to her.

"My mom recently told me how happy and proud she is to see who I am today because of the confidence I've built through cosplay."

Cosplay has also helped her develop a healthier relationship with body image and self-acceptance.

"I’m kinder to myself mentally with body image. I feel that if I show confidence in myself, others can feel confident in themselves. Negative self-image can be contagious and affect those around you, so I try to keep that in mind if I’m ever feeling down about myself."

Advice for First Time Cosplayers

"In this economy, I tend to prioritize financial health. Be thrifty. Bills come first. Craft in any way you can and make sure you’re having fun with it at any level. Do it for yourself. No one can take anything away from you if you’re cosplaying and crafting for yourself and your own joy. Ask questions! Curiosity can lead to friendships."

Anything Else to Share with The Community?

"We may hear more bad than good. THE cosplay community is not necessarily the one you build for yourself. You can choose who to surround yourself with. I’m proud of anyone who is supportive of others and who truly believes cosplay should be for everybody."

We are so grateful to have Jacqui return to our event this year! Jacqui is a true professional in her craft and we truly appreciate all her insight into cosplaying and the cosplay community. If you're new to the cosplay world, looking for some inspiration or have cosplaying questions, we highly encourage you to go follow her on all her social platforms and if you're seeking out a master artist, Jacqui is the artist to hire! Join us on Saturday September 19 at Christmas Hill Park to meet Jacqui in-person and learn more about how you can get started with your cosplay!

Jacqui Shooks Platforms:

IG: @PepperJaq

Youtube: Click Here

Commission Request: Click Here

All Photo Credit: Xplict91