Summary
Pokémonfeatures many popular characters in its anime, but none are more recognizable than the core trio of the original series: Ash Ketchum, Brock, andMisty. The three friends go across the Kanto Region with their Pokémon, and as the series expands, fans get exposed to their battle tactics, personalities, and backstories while the world is fleshed out around them. For many fans growing up,Misty is a common favorite character, an iconic tomboy, a beloved Water-type Pokémon user, and part of a trend of lovable anime characters with red hair.
Misty’s origins lie in the anime and the first generation ofPokémongames, comics, and other media, as the Cerulean City gym leaderwhose Pokémon arsenal expandsalong with her presence in the franchise. She starts as a Starmie user, eventually deploying other fantastic Pokémon like Lapras, Milotic, and Quagsire.
But one of the greatest legacies left behind by Misty, aside from being ubiquitous in the games, is how popular she is among Pokémon cosplayers for her moxie and fiery red hair, as is the case for sasselia on Reddit and Instagram.
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Delightful Misty Cosplay Captures Classic Pokemon Pose in Live-Action
Sasselia Captures the Memorable Look and Attitude of the Cerulean Gym Leader
Spotted initially onRedditandInstagram, Sasselia recently posted a simple yet bespoke photo of her cosplay as Misty in her classicPokémonoutfit, consisting of blue jeans shorts, a yellow cropped tank top, suspenders, and fiery red hair. Even her sneakers resemble the anime character’s design, but perhaps most strikingly, she’s sportingan especially memorable pose for the character featured in promotional images for thePokémonanime. Capped off by a cute bubbly filter as if she just finished her last opponent with a potent Bubble beam attack,Pokémonfans can appreciate this live-action Misty cosplay.
Such a classic look isn’t difficult to render in terms of costume alone, but the dedication to striking the right pose and conveying the character is a great touch by sasselia. Upon exploring her Instagram, other cosplays like Wendy Marvell fromFairy Tailand Raven fromTeen Titanscan be spotted.But perhaps the most touching of all is her recognition ofMisty’s late voice actor, Rachael Lillis, whose work on the series is recognized not only for the gym leader but for Team Rocket’s Jessie and a plethora of the series' most iconic Pokémon.
Misty Cosplay Highlights Legacy of Rachael Lillis
An Iconic Talent Who Will Be Missed
Afternews of Rachael Lillis' passingon August 07, 2025, fan tributes emerged in art, social media posts, and cosplays, rendering Lillis a popular character. The Misty cosplay by sasselia is one particular instance of this and with the enormous variety of characters and Pokémon portrayed by the voice actor,including Jigglypuff, Chansey, Poliwag, Beautifly, and many more too numerous to list.Sasselia even states in her Instagram post about the cosplay with a heartfelt tribute:
Tw: death; I heard Rachael Lillis, the VA for Misty and Jessie, passed away a couple days ago. She was such a huge part of our entire generation’s childhood. May she rest in peace.
-sasselia__ on Instagram
Lillis' work was beloved as an immediately recognizable imprint on possibly the biggest franchise that contributed to anime’s explosive popularity growth in the 1990s. Her three decades of work extend far beyond simply Misty inPokémon, with fans able to identify a wide variety of series likeGall Force,Berserk, andShaman King,among other examples. Still, the delightful Misty cosplay conveying Lillis' interpretation of the character strongly speaks of the depth of love thePokemonfandom has for its characters and the longest-serving talents portraying them.
Pokémon
Cast
Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, accompanied by his loyal Pikachu. Released in 1997, the series explores Ash’s travels through various regions, where he encounters new friends and challenges, underscoring the themes of adventure and teamwork.
