“I like a fair mix. Making items feels great because seeing people get excited about the props and work gets me excited.” -X
Meet Xavier
Xavier is a creative, expressive, and larger-than-life cosplay artist whose work reflects both craftsmanship and personality in equal measure. Known online as Yandeezy or Yandeezy_bb, he has built his creative identity through years of experimenting, building, and continuously showing up for the art he loves. He also has one of those rare personalities that can light up a room without trying—someone who can genuinely make friends with just about anyone and bring people into his world with ease. There is a steady devotion in the way he approaches cosplay, always learning, refining, and pushing his skills further with each new project.
I am incredibly proud of his consistency and the way he continues to grow within something he genuinely loves doing. This month also marks his birthday, and it feels especially meaningful to highlight his creativity right now. There’s also his connection to the full moon and howling at it, something that just feels very him once you know him. So I asked him a few questions about his cosplay journey, his process, and what continues to inspire him.
Our connection is rooted in respect and admiration. Even without growing up together in the traditional sense, I’ve always valued the person he is and the creative path he has carved for himself. Watching him commit to cosplay with consistency, curiosity, and a very bold personality has been something I deeply admire. He doesn’t just create characters—he brings energy into spaces, and that same energy carries through everything he builds.
Creative Conversations
Creative Conversations is a monthly Q&A series where I sit down with creatives from all walks of life—some familiar, some newly discovered—to talk about creativity as it really exists. The pauses. The pivots. The returning. And the courage it takes to keep creating in the middle of everyday life.
For Xavier, creativity shows up through cosplay, prop building, and immersive character work. Whether he is crafting armor, experimenting with EVA foam and 3D prints, or preparing for conventions, his process is grounded in both imagination and hands-on experimentation. His work reflects a deep appreciation for detail, community, and the joy of bringing characters into physical form.
✦ Everyday Creativity
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into cosplay?
Hello I’m Xavier Hollins My username name on socials is either Yandeezy or Yandeezy_bb. I got into cosplay when I was in Highschool maybe my 3rd year so 2013 I think I got more serious into cosplay around 2018. I love cosplaying because its a fun craft activity and I like seeing people get excited over nerdy stuff that I like also.
What was the very first costume you ever made or modified?
The very first charater I did was a very bad version of Naruto I saldy don’t have pics of it anymore but it was my start the first character I made and did was ekko from league of legends when he was released in 2015.
How do you usually choose what character or concept to create next?
The way I choose my cosplays is a few things. I choose of course characters I like or feel like I connect with, or I cosplay things you either don’t see often or haven’t been animated, and the last way is I’ll cosplay something I don’t know only if a friend ask me to I don’t wanna be a poser but I will look up the character and get a run down to just know what I’m in for to feel the character.
How much of your process is planned out versus figuring it out as you go?
I say its 50/50 but probably planning is more easy when it comes to building and making its rough just because you can do things in different ways.
✦ What He Loves to Make
Have your costume making skills or style changed over time? If so, how?
yes they have gotten better figured out new things to mix together like I love making weapons and armor so mixing EVA foam, 3D print, and Clay has been such a nice save.
Is there a costume you’ve made that you’re especially proud of?
that’s a hard one some of the cosplays I’m proud of that I can name are Messmer, Buddha, Kintoki, Shadow, and Chobe.
What’s been your favorite Comic-Con or convention experience thus so far?
My fav cons that I can say that I’ve been to that I enjoyed so far have been Colossal Con, San Japan, Fan Expo Dallas, and Anime Dallas I’m very excited for more down the line we have going.
✦ Encouragement and Reflection
Have you ever had a costume that didn’t turn out the way you expected? What did you learn from it?
Yes I’ve had a few outfits that I put on and I thought I looked so bad I never wore them again I could just need to change some things but some I’m just like nah never again.
What part of cosplay do you enjoy the most, the making, the wearing or the community?
I like a fair mix. Making items feels great because people get excited. Seeing the props and work get me excited. I do love the community but the community does have a lot of problems that need to be fixed and addressed.
What other ways are you creative that others might not expect?
Maybe when it comes to making props in certain ways because we mess up somethings but just have to go with the flow and it will turn out well somehow.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start making their own costumes but doesn’t know where to start?
I always tell people to start off easy and not pick out something too big or has a crazy amount of detail unless they want the challenge otherwise I don’t recommend it from personal experience.
If you had unlimited time and resources, what kind of costume would you want to make?
If I had a crazy amount of time I would aim to work on big projects that I plan to do but with time I would just start 2 off the back of my head are the Berserk Armor and a unqiue Godzilla Cosplay.
What does creativity mean to you through costume-making?
It means a lot to me in like I can change things up add more detail to stick out.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your creative journey or cosplay experience?
Take things slow and don’t overdo it with ideas try to stick to your main cosplay focus if you plan too many out it will feel like you overburden yourself and maybe it will kill your motive.
Where can people find your work or follow along with your creations? (social media, etc.)
I have differen’t accounts mainly all of them use the same name which is Yandeezy or Yandeezy_bb I use IG, Tik Tok, Faceback, Snap, and Twitch.
Closing Reflection
Creativity, for Xavier, is something constantly evolving—something built through trial, excitement, and hands-on creation. It lives in armor pieces, sculpted props, convention floors, and late-night builds that turn ideas into something real. But it also lives in his personality—the way he connects with people so easily, brings energy into spaces, and leaves an impression that sticks long after the moment passes. There is something steady and powerful in the way he keeps showing up for his craft, refining it over time rather than rushing it.
As his sister, I’m proud of the dedication he continues to show to something that clearly means so much to him. And as he steps into another year, it feels fitting to celebrate not only his work, but the energy he brings into everything he does—creative, bold, and unmistakably his own, like something answering the call of a full moon.
Leave a Reply