Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Q&A Interview with Tiffany Witcher



Cosplayer and voice actor TWVoices is featured in this week’s MMOsite League of Legends Cosplay Spotlight. Tiffany Witcher is a disabled east coast cosplayer most noted for her video game cosplays and being an advocate against cosplay bullying. She has even been featured in the Summoner’s Showcase. I spoke with her about cosplaying and of course League of Legends in general.

Where are you from?

I'm from Washington D.C. but I currently live in Toronto, Canada.

How did you become interested in cosplay?

Going to many conventions and seeing people in costume. I wanted to do it but at the time I couldn't due to lack of funds.

Is cosplay expensive to get into? 

I believe it's how you make it. You can make cosplaying expensive to get into or you can start small and do a budget-based cosplay to get the feel of it.

How long have you been cosplaying?

Six years now.



Which LoL champions have you cosplayed so far?

Oh that's a lot. Classic Karma, reworked Karma, Illaoi, Safecracker Evelynn, Genderbend Ryze, Bard, Genderbend Coperate Mundo, Battle Bunny Illaoi and more casual ones as well.

Who is your favorite champion from the game to play?

It really depends on the mode, I'm a support main so I enjoy playing Rakan, Sona, Karma and Soraka. Now if we're talking URF mode then I love playing Sona, Karma, Illaoi and yes Teemo.

What do you think are some of the challenges of cosplay that most people don't realize cosplayers face?

Besides being a POC cosplayer, I also suffer from Lupus. I don't get to move around or have as much of a presence at conventions because my body hurts and I feel fatigued a lot. Being a black cosplayer is also hard due to the constant harassment I have received for cosplaying a character out of my skin color without also altering my skin color such as my Steampunk Sailor Mercury.

What was the first cosplay you have ever done?

Lana Kane from Archer.

So you are also a voice actor?

Yes, I voice act currently for dozens of indie games and animations. One day Riot senpai will notice me!

What is one character you'd like to cosplay the most but haven't been able to yet?

I want to cosplay Illaoi more; she's just an amazing character all around and I love being her. I've only been able to cosplay her once.

Outside of cosplay and gaming what are some of your other hobbies?

Of course I do voice acting but I also sing as well.

Do you have any advice for beginning cosplayers?

Cosplay for yourself and have fun doing it. Try not to listen to the negativity of others and always try to be respectful in the community.

Where can fans see more of you?

My website, https://www.tiffanywitcher.ca/

Monday, October 9, 2017

Q&A Interview with Kyahri

Photography by The Shadow Dinosaur


I interviewed Kyahri for this week’s League of Legends Cosplay Spotlight. She and I talk about some of the difficult parts of cosplaying and she also shared some advice for people who want to start getting into cosplay but are naturally shy.

Where are you from?

I am from Glasgow, Scotland but am currently living in England.

Photo by Riot Games
How did you become interested in cosplay?

I started watching anime again. I hadn't seen it since I was younger and watched DBZ and Sailor Moon on TV and then my friend took me to a cosplay meet back in 2010 and I thought it was so cool that people dressed up as their favorite characters. That soon started my love for cosplay and I began attending conventions.

How long have you been cosplaying?

Since 2010 technically but I hand-made my first cosplay in 2013 which was Ahri from League of Legends.


Which LoL champions have you cosplayed so far?

Ahri was always my favorite champion so I cosplayed her Default, Dynasty, and Pop Star skins. I have also cosplayed Dryad Soraka. Once Jinx was released I went Jinx crazy and have been cosplaying her ever since. So far I've done Classic, Mafia, Star Guardian Jinx as well as my own fan versions!

Who would you say is your favorite champion from the game to play?

I am a filthy support main and my favorite champs to play are Morgana, Zyra and Nami!  I also love to play Ahri and Jinx but can't say I'm terribly good at them…

Photo by David Kane Photography

Do you think there are any champs that are currently legit OP?

I’m going to tell the truth, I haven’t really played LoL as much since Xayah and Rakan came out so I’m not very up to speed with what’s OP right now. I will always hate Yasuo and Vayne, though!

What is the most difficult/complex cosplay that you created by hand?

I personally don’t think I’ve made anything too complex compared to other cosplayers; I just like to slowly learn new techniques and try perfecting them. Recently I’ve been trying to make my own patterns for cosplay and that can be quite challenging. Examples include my Aqua from Konosuba where I spent a lot of time patterning and making sure all my seams were nice and Star Guardian Jinx where I made the pattern from scratch and I also found that very difficult. I’ve also started making her rocket launcher which has been quite hard for me as I’m terrible at making props, haha.

Photo by Progenitor Photography

What's the biggest convention you have ever been to?

Biggest convention I’ve been to is London MCM Comic Con in UK. I haven’t been to many cons but I would like to travel abroad and visit some of the major conventions around the world.

Any advice for someone who wants to get into cosplay but doesn't know how to start or may think they are too shy?

Starting cosplay can be a scary thing especially for a shy person! I’ve always been terribly shy and had problems with anxiety but I feel that when I’m in cosplay as a character I really love, I become them and I feel much more confident. I feel that a lot of people have started viewing cosplay as really competitive and elitist and some people feel like they 'have to' cosplay something to impress others and it takes away the fun of the reason you want to cosplay in the first place!

So my advice would be to choose one of your favorite characters, visit your first convention and have fun. If you are having fun then that's all that matters. There are so many wonderful people who go to conventions so even if you attend it by yourself, by the time the con is over you will have made so many new friends. If you are not good at sewing or making things then there's nothing wrong with buying costumes either. I’ve bought and made cosplays and although making your own cosplay can be really rewarding, it is also very stressful so sometimes I end up enjoying myself a lot more in a costume that I bought.

Photo by GAK Photography


What are some of your hobbies outside of video games and cosplaying?

I don’t have a very interesting life outside of cosplay. It is my main hobby and pastime. If I’m not working on that I usually just end up watching anime or TV. I'm a pretty lazy person.

Where can fans find more of you?

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: @Kyahri

Photo by Dajathwi Photography