Jay Stilipec was raised their whole life in North Pole and joined the U.S. Navy in 1995.  After traveling the world as a Broadcast Journalist, they retired in 2005 and became a teacher, cosplayer and LGBTQIA advocate.  They currently live in Maryland and attends numerous comic, sci-fi & gaming conventions every year under the moniker: Jazmine Cosplays.  They cosplay strong, independent female characters, and sits on panels with LGBT HQ.  Jay is AMAB, gender fluid and non-binary, and accepts all pronouns.