Today we’d like to introduce you to Devante Jones (DJ Croft).
Hi Devante Jones, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a social media influencer, published cosplayer, and model. I started my journey back in 2016 when I learned how to handmake my own costumes and looks from scratch and I always wanted to be a main character in front of the camera and I had a passion for always seeing myself portraying lead characters from video games, movies, and superhero comics. I created my first character from a video game called Tomb Raider, when I got in front of the camera I knew this is what I would love to do. I am self taught, my skills fall into: Worbla, eva foam, armor building, cardboard, hand painting, weathering, sewing, and fabric. I learned how to model by winning modeling competitions, walking on runways in New York and in Atlanta, and I used my modeling skills to give more edge to the characters I cosplay as. I build costumes that feel authentic and lived-in. Every look is more than a costume—it’s a performance, bringing characters to life with energy while inspiring others to create boldly and to freely be themselves no matter their skin color, sex, or gender identity.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes, I have had struggles along the way. It gets challenging learning new skills when creating a costume with materials I am unfamiliar with examples such as learning how to expand my skills by learning how to work with certain materials I had challenges with. Also being a male and also a black male in a community where people who don’t look like me (can) dominate sometime. I push through by knowing I am well enough capable of my skills, kindness, and drive to let anything get in my way of what I am passionate about. I overcome any obstacle by believing in myself and what I can do. I had to also learn how to be a content creator, learning how to create and edit your own videos and learning skills for social media.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What sets me a part from others is I’m known as something who takes female characters from comics, video games, and movies and transform them into a male version no matter my skin color or my sex. I’m most proud of that I can influence people that you can be whoever and whatever you want through my cosplay and content no matter your skin color or sex because life is free and there is no rules to how you want to show up in the world because we live in a world that likes to define you by your skin color, sex, and gender, stereotypes, and puts us in boxes. I am here to break the rules and be me just like you can be you, there is no such thing as a box to live in
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
What is most important to me is my drive to be someone important in life. What I say is consistency, passion, strong mindedness in the things or career your passionate about and drive are the things that will get you to where you want to be in life. Also being kind to others because that is very important for any form of success in your life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djcroft_/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/djcroftcosplayy/?ref=bookmarks
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/DJCroft_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DJCroft
Image Credits
Image Credits:
Tonny Caicedo
Christopher Mandragora (Mandragora Media)
Brett Downen (downenphotography)
Roderick Rodrigo (rahtography)
Jonathan Cabrera (Jonathan_w-cabrera)
