He has the power!
In the cosplay scene, Prince de Guzman is known as the “Cosplay Prince of Horror” because of his transformations into characters like Pennywise, Valak, and other creatures that have fueled nightmares.Prince recently answered the challenge of a different kind of cosplay with the same passion, dedication, and discipline that have gained him followers and fans: He took the Sword of Power in his hands, transforming into He-Man as part of Columbia Pictures’ promotional tour for the movie Masters of the Universe, where Prince visited cinemas and toy stores, interacting with visitors as the beloved 80s hero.
BIRTHDAY GIFT Prince got to cosplay He-Man on his 30th birthday.
But unlike Prince’s horror transformations, which rely on heavy makeup and prosthetics, stepping into the shoes of He-Man meant bulking up and getting in shape to capture the character’s famous muscular physique, a transformation that took six months.“When I found out that Masters of the Universe was showing exactly on my birthday, I swore that I would give myself a better, healthier body. I consider the chance to cosplay He-Man as my 30th birthday present,” Prince said. “I have always wanted to cosplay as He-Man.”A serendipitous journey“When I was young, I was tall and lanky, and people would tease me about it. I was so thin that my parents would bring me to the doctor just to check that everything was okay,” Prince said. “I wanted to try doing sports, but I was afraid that people would tease me because I was so thin, so when I was fifteen years old, I decided to start on my fitness journey.”
THEN A young Prince before his fitness journey.
He describes his cosplay as serendipitous: “At first, I only wanted to cosplay horror characters, but I wanted to grow as an artist. I wanted to challenge my range as a cosplayer, which is why I think it all worked out; I had already started taking care of my physique at a young age, and so deciding to do more muscular characters just fell into place. I find purpose, fun, and happiness in cosplaying really fit characters.”Hitting the gym and working out became part of Prince’s lifestyle. “It was a long and hard road because I knew nothing about fitness; there was limited information available, unlike today, where there are more professional coaches and health gurus.”He said that though he’s achieved the body he wants, it’s not his dream body yet, but he has already come a long way.Hitting the gymPrince has been going to the same gym since he was fifteen years old. “I grew up with this gym,” Prince said, adding that working out helps him find peace. When he doesn’t have a packed schedule, which is rare, he does cardio in the morning and lifts at night.Prince is often invited to international conventions, and when he is in another country for work, he makes sure to still work out. “Right now, it is part of my contract for event organizers to arrange for accommodations with hotels that have a gym.”
SHOWING UP Prince working out at the gym.
One of the challenges when traveling abroad is that Prince has to deviate from his strict meal plan. “One thing I learned is that, if you stay committed, disciplined, and on point (in your fitness routine) for months, it won’t be messed up by a week of enjoying food. The only things I avoid as much as possible are sugar and sweets,” he said. “I love food so much, and traveling to different countries means I get to experience their culture, and I believe that you cannot experience a culture without tasting their food.”On his cheat days, Prince indulges in salmon sashimi and Indian food. “Fitness is both mind and body, and you have to experience life once in a while for a better mind,” Prince said.Joy and purposeReligiously going to the gym, working out, and sticking to a meal plan is not easy, but Prince has help in staying motivated: “It gives me so much joy and purpose whenever I inspire someone to continue whatever journey they are on,” he said. “At this moment, what inspires me to be dedicated is my community, especially my younger audiences who are inspired by what I do. It gives me so much joy and purpose whenever I unknowingly inspire someone to continue whatever journey they want to take just by sharing my fitness and cosplay journey with the world.”
PRINCE DE GUZMAN as He-Man for Masters of the Universe.
The 2026 Masters of the Universe film challenges toxic stereotypes about men, and for Prince, this is a good thing for young boys, because He-Man’s alter ego, Prince Adam, is not afraid to be kind, talk about his feelings, and show his softer side. “I’m happy that this generation has Prince Adam to look up to,” Prince said.And Prince does have a lot in common with Prince Adam. More than just his impressive physique, Prince is a proud cat dad of three who always carries a pack of cat food in his gym bag to give to stray cats. He is also a staunch ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and is comfortable with his sexuality.“I never thought that I would be deeply attached to this character,” Prince said.Show up no matter whatPrince said that his favorite interactions have always been with the children. “I love seeing the children’s genuine reaction to my cosplay; it was truly unforgettable and has been such a big honor,” he said.
DISCIPLINED AND DETERMINED
The results of Prince’s hard work.
For those who might want to start their own fitness journey and start hitting the gym, this is what Prince had to say: “Prepare your mind. You have to accept that you will not always be motivated, but you still have to show up no matter what you’re feeling. If you have a fitness goal, you have to stick to the process whether you are feeling sad, happy, tired, or angry. You need to know why you are doing this because the foundation of your mindset is very important.“Lastly, you have to do things because you know they are FOR YOU, not for other people. Doing something based on people’s expectations about you will lead to burnout or quitting because you will never please everybody.”And just like Prince and Adam, know that you also have the power. (Photos courtesy of Prince de Guzman)
