"In the news today, Calgary got so much snow it broke all of their branches!"

That is how Jessica Nigri greets all of the journalists who have shown up in the hopes of asking her a question or two at the Edmonton Expo. Jessica has made a career of showing herself off and being artistic at the same time, and it’s clear by the way she pops in front of a camera that not only is she beautiful, but her personality is larger than life and bubbling over with positive energy.

She herself has used the term career to describe her position lightly, letting us know just how lucky she finds herself in the role she is in. Despite the fact that her line ups exceed some of the actors’ at conventions, not a shred of arrogance or self-inflated worth hovers over her head. "I’m stupid," she laughs, after speaking a string of gibberish to the camera.

Jessica receives a lot of attention, which can be draining, especially from the geek and pop culture community which can be a demanding, sometimes illogical, group. Still, she rises to the occasion and never ceases to have a smile on her face, even when she is facing a gigantic queue composed almost entirely of sometimes-awkward men in nerdy t-shirts.

What gives her that endless fountain of energy? Beyond a positive outlook it is something very simple: exercise. "Exercise is a necessity, completely, in my life. The reason why I’m the way I am is because I run about six miles every other day. If you’re going to feel good, you have to make your body feel good. I really think it helps with cosplaying too. You look good, you feel good, you have energy and you can say hi to people."

When it comes to what she wears at conventions and the costumes that she makes, there is no tug and pull between what Jessica wears and what the fans want to see her in. "I never cosplay what people what me to wear. I only cosplay what I want to wear; it’s only ever what I want to wear. If you want me to cosplay something and I don’t like it, that’s too bad. I’m not going to dress like it!"

For those just starting out in the big world of cosplay (which, for the record, runs the gamut from wearing a Halloween costume to hand making entire sets of armour) Jessica has a few words of wisdom: "Be prepared. It is the world, and it is the Internet. No matter what you’re going to do, you’re going to get positive people and you are going to get hella negative people. You have to mentally prepare yourself for the onslaught. No matter what you do – no matter how good you look – you are going to get negative people. At cons not so much; people are generally very nice and they want to take photos with you. Just know you are in good company. Conventions are really nice, The ‘Cosplay is not Consent’ posters are everywhere so everyone is really considerate. Just prepare yourself for the Internet. The Internet is a dick."

Whatever the anonymous peanut gallery on the Internet might say, you just have to ignore them. Love yourself and your body; that’s what Jessica does.

"Your body is a temple, worship it. Also, don’t do drugs! I don’t do drugs – so don’t do them – popular to contrary belief." A pause, and her brain catches up, then she laughs. "Contrary to popular belief!"