Q&A Interview with Melanie's Muses

Where are you from?

I am originally from Rochester, England but I moved to Rochester, New York to be with my husband about 20 years ago.

How long have you been cosplaying? 

My first proper cosplay was probably for the #DressLikeADemon contest in 2016 that Lesley-Ann Brandt hosted to promote Lucifer and then I won a signed picture from her. Everything escalated from there. 

How did you first become interested in cosplay?

I've always been fascinated with dressing up but with vlogging, and then after the Lucifer contest it kind of took on a life of its own. I've always been a bit different and cosplay really lets you explore that.

What are some characters you have cosplayed?

Maze from Lucifer, River Song from Doctor Who, The "Posessed" Linda from Witchboard (which is one of my personal favorites), Stahma Tarr from the TV show Defiance, Several of the characters from the new Sandman series on Netflix, Keeley Jones from Ted Lasso .... honestly there are so many, and I take requests from my fans so LOTS have stemmed from there. I showcase new ones almost every Sunday on my Melanie's Muses Facebook live show!

What are some of your future cosplay plans?

I am debuting a new one at FC3 which I am really excited about. It's the first one that I have had custom armor made for and relates to a new book series from Author Susan Harris. I am also working on a fan-requested Pam from True Blood (when she is cursed and half rotting).

What is the most time consuming part of creating a cosplay?

The most time consuming part is usually deciding how I want to interpret them if it’s a specific person, or what look I’m going for if it’s an original character.  Things also often then to change as I start working on them too. I usually try and pick a vibe, or with characters what I connect with about them, and then go from there.

What is your biggest cosplay pet peeve?

When people make negative comments about how the characters might not exactly match the original. If you love a character then you should go for it and interpret it YOUR way. If people don't like it they should mind their own business. Cosplay is an escape and everyone should be welcome to enjoy it!

Favorite movie? Video game? TV show? Band? 

Movie -  True Romance  Video Game - Bloody Roar 3  TV Show - Salem   Band - HIM

Outside of cosplay, what are some of your other hobbies?

Reading, I watch a TON of TV and weird obscure movies. Oh and collecting Funko Pops - they are literally taking over the house at this point!

Where can fans find more of you?

https://www.melaniesmuses.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MelaniesMuses

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ItnnYjF4t16tRzh9UtSvQ

Q&A interview with Harley Nox Cosplay

Where are you from?

I was originally born in Cincinnati, but I moved to the East Coast when I was little. I've bounced around from place to place but I've called the Danbury area of Connecticut my home for the last few years. 

How long have you been cosplaying? 

I've been cosplaying since 2012! I went to my first convention that year and I was hooked.

How did you first become interested in cosplay?

I first became interested about a month before my first convention. I had always been a huge Halloween costume fan, but my best friend had gotten tickets to New York Comic Con and invited me along with him. I knew right then and there I had to dress up - he had told me that he was going to and I should too. I was hooked from that point on.

What are some characters you have cosplayed?

There's a lot of them! I've done several versions of Belle from Beauty and the Beast; I've done my own version of Beetlejuice; a bunch of different versions of Harley Quinn (including several original versions); I've done anime characters like Lucy Heartfilia and Moka Akashiya, and most recently I added Samus Aran's Zero Suit and a new Vault Suit (from Fallout) to my line of cosplays - that's not including what I'm working on for this year's NYCC! Obviously this isn't an exhaustive list, as I have cosplays that aren't mentioned here, but I have... a lot of them!

What are some of your future cosplay plans?

I'd love to finally get around to building Princess Aurora's dress (boy, do I have ideas for that), and I'd love to build Gideon (Diane's Sacred Treasure) from the Seven Deadly Sins anime. If you know me at all, you know that I (legitimately) have a seven page, single spaced list of cosplays I want to do! The list continuously grows, too, so... maybe I'll get to the end one day.

What is your biggest cosplay pet peeve?

I have two: the first is when people say that they made an item when they commissioned it, especially when they're competing, and the second is when people say that cosplayers "aren't real cosplayers" because they purchase or thrift their cosplays. Cosplay is cosplay! If you have a cosplay, congratulations, you're a cosplayer. 

Favorite movie? Video game? TV show? Band?

Rapid fire answers: Beetlejuice/The Princess Bride, the entire Fallout series of video games (most likely, if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Fallout: New Vegas), Seinfeld, and All Time Low. 

Outside of cosplay, what are some of your other hobbies? 

I actually have a minor in musical theatre, so when I'm not crafting, I sing and watch musicals. I also love to collect fan art and collectible statues, and I like reading comics and graphic novels when I can get my hands on them. 

Most of the time I choose to craft though - it's the one thing that I can do and shut out the rest of the world. I run an Etsy shop (outside of my regular, mundane job), so if I'm not crafting for cosplay, I'm crafting for that. 

Where can fans find more of you?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harleynoxcosplay

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harleynoxcosplay/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/harley_nox

Cosplay Gallery Spotlight: Khainsaw

The Cosplay Gallery Spotlight is not an interview, but merely a collection of images featuring a choice cosplayer to help introduce fans to them and their work. These images from the cosplayer's shared social media posts.

Today we are looking at Khainsaw.

Enjoy this gallery of 16 amazing images.

If you wish to find more of her work, check her on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khainsaw/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/khainsaw

SuicideGirl Gamer of the Month: Meluworld (Hopeful)

Why did you choose the name "Meluworld"?

I´ve been through many usernames in online gaming, like Melysa, Meluchiis, and all based around my name "Melisa" so that´s why the part of "Melu", haha. But when I created my page I wanted not only to be me, I also wanted to show everyone how I see the world. I don't like to live a standard life of 10 hours working for others and waiting until weekend to be me. I like to live my life to the fullest and want to show everyone how my WORLD is. So that´s why I think Meluworld is what fits better.

How long have you been a part of the SuicideGirls community?

I always think that if I have no ink on me it couldn't be possible to become a SuicideGirl, but I like to try because what´s worst that could happen? Just a "no" as answer?

And here I am... hopeful since 2020, 7 sets up and 3 incoming to be release in the next few months. Always working hard to make my best at SuicideGirls.

Where are you from? 

I´m from Argentina, South America. But I'm also a Spanish girl if we go into papers.

What first got you interested in video games? 

I can say that it´s all my father´s fault! Chibi Melu waited for him to come from work to play Mario on Famicom (Or family, how we call it here).

That introduced me into video games, but life sent me through the path of anime and video games (in the era when it wasn't cool and you got bullied for it), match with my soulmate and here we are with the biggest Zelda collection of my country if I can show off.

What are some characters that you have cosplayed?

I´ve been doing cosplay since 2004 so I have made a lot of characters. Yuri Sakasaki from KoF was my first one and Lima from Saber Marionette is one of my favorite which I did in 2006. There´s a full list, but for that I recommend you follow my Instagram @melucosplay.

Any plans for future cosplays?

I´m making a full lighted Portal Gun to make Chell. I had it for years and I think its time to make it real. The cosplay itself is easy, but the props have to be perfect!

Favorite video game? Movie? TV show? Band?

I can't say I have a favorite video game, but I do have a favorite franchise. It´s Legend of Zelda. 

My favorite movie is Cloud Atlas. Love the way it talks us about freedom in such different ways. I think we all deserve it, but we have to be prepared to use it properly

TV Show? Simpsons for sure! It was born with me haha 

I have to cheat on this one and choose two bands: a Spanish & English one. I love "The Killers" but also "La oreja de Van Gogh" is one of my favorites (with Amaia the old singer, she writes like a goddess).

So no tattoos?

The only tattoos I had on me was the one which came with the bubble gums. I'm so afraid of needles, I think I couldn't handle a tattoo session.

I admire girls who have tons of them. They are brave and strong! I think I am too but in personality, and not when my skin is involved, haha. 

What are some of your other hobbies?

My main hobby is to help others to make their dreams come true. It sounds "stereotypical" but it is real. Unfortunately people aren't always ready to share their dreams with others, and when they do, they want it all served and don't want to fight for them. I love to be there to help them with the fight, making them do the first step to fulfill they dream. 

But if we have to talk about a hobby that only involves me, I like to write, read, and woodworking. I have a workshop which I do it for living.

What is something about cosplay that you find annoying? 

The competitive side of it. I hate how people get when there´s something to compete about. Cosplay is about fun, but there´s always the one who talks crap about other cosplayers, or seems nice in person and then talk bad about you behind your back. When you are a grown up adult you learn how to handle these situations, but there´s so many teenagers into it. I don't say we have to make a nice community, but at least don't bother others who are doing what they like most. 

What is your FAVORITE part of cosplaying?

I LOVE TO MAKE PROPS. My favorite part of it is make prop of guns, staff, and all that extra stuff that a costume has. My cosplay from Pokémon Black & White even has the berries from the game inside the pouch. Yes, they are inside the pouch and you can't see them in the full cosplay, but I enjoyed doing them so much!

Where can fans find more of you?

SuicideGirls: https://www.suicidegirls.com/members/meluworld/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melucosplay/