Showing posts with label cosplayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cosplayer. Show all posts

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Q&A Interview with Vanity Insanity Cosplay


Where are you from?

I am from Sunny South Africa, first generation born. I grew up in the South of Johannesburg.

When did you start cosplaying?

Photo by @wvcreative.88
I started Cosplaying officially in 2015. I made my very first costume for a local anime shop called Animeworx. It was for a competition, we had to make the mascot Eri. I had a store card with the limited-edition blue version of her and I decided to make that version. I had no idea how to make a costume so I just hand-sewed everything! I would LOVE to actually remake the costume someday soon. The artist who drew the mascot was the talented Warren Louw.  

How did you first become interested in cosplay?

I remember seeing Yuna from Final Fantasy X when I was younger, and really wanting her little hair piece. At first it was just the hair piece but I grew to love the whole outfit and I became hooked on the idea of cosplay when I saw some people actually dress up like her. Once I had the opportunity, I got a local seamstress to make me a Super Sonico outfit and I went to my very first convention in October 2014! It was just the taste I needed to push me to actually trying the cosplay thing in early 2015.

What are some characters you have cosplayed?

Miss Fortune – League of Legends

 Ahri – League of Legends

D.Va – Overwatch

Mercy – Overwatch

Rangiku Matsumoto – Bleach

Nelliel Tu – Bleach

Deanerys Targaryen – Game of Thrones

Baiken – Guilty Gear

There are lots of characters.

Photo by @wvcreative.88
Do you have any future cosplay plans?

I hope to do a huge cosplay build soon. That is all I can say for now.

What is your favorite part of cosplaying?

The catfishing. Ahaha! No, I just Like the art of it as a whole, from the makeup to the poses to the crafting and figuring out how to make the physics somehow work in the real world. I can’t even begin to describe all off the things I love about it.

Favorite movie? Video game? TV show? Band?

Pfft. I don’t have a single favorite but I can name a few; 

Movies: Year One, Almost Famous, Mean Girls, Inglourious Basterds, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Voices, Tucker and Dale vs Evil.

Video Game? PUBG, Dead by Daylight, Tenchu, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, League of Legends, VR Chat. 

Photo by @wvcreative.88
Bands (These are bands and solo artists) Mr.Kitty, Virga Music Project, My Chemical Romance, Placebo, Bad Omens, Bring me the Horizon, Joji, Conan Gray, Kavinsky, Lil Peep, Øfdream, Lana Del Rey, Selena Gomez, The Weeknd, Ava Max, Falling in Reverse,  There are too many man.

What is the cosplay scene like in South Africa? What's the biggest Convention there each year?

Biggest convention is probably Comic Con Africa. The cosplay scene is pretty small but it's growing very quickly!

What cosplay would you say took the MOST time to create and how long was it?

Probably 2B? Figuring out how to put everything together and also having the worst fabric to paint on was by my poor judgment. Ahaha!

What is a cosplay pet peeve of yours?

Messy wigs & hot glued everything! agh X_X

Another one is people making sloppy cosplays then getting angry for not getting as much recognition as they hoped, THEN getting mad at other cosplayers who spent time and effort on their cosplays. They then proceed to be salty and ugly towards them. Like, maybe if they ran their sewing machines as much as they ran their mouths they wouldn't have so much to complain about? That's my 2c salt for the day, you are welcome. XD

Photo by @wvcreative.88
Oh, another one is people dictating who can wear what and gatekeeping cosplays. Cosplay is for everyone and I'm near to damn sure the majority of cosplayers are not going to spend hours, time and money trying to offend another race. Cultural appreciation is so beautiful and people should stop saying everything is cultural appropriation because we should be able to celebrate our differences and come together and grow a better understanding of each other's cultures. Even with something as simple as sewing a kimono, for example. 


You learn how they used to be made, what fabrics were worn. Then you find out different sleeves mean different things and you get so into the history behind the kimono and then the culture and you just understand and appreciate the knowledge you gain along the way.

Sso tell me, HOW IS THAT NOT A POSITIVE THING?! <3 There are way bigger issues in the world they could tackle. If I cosplay something it's because I love the design or character, I can guarantee you I am not racist for doing so.  

Outside of video games and cosplay, what are some of your other hobbies?

My other hobbies include traveling (when I can) binge watching stuff, making things or trying to learn something new.

Where can fans find more of you?

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanityCosplay

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

OnlyFans: https://onlyfans.com/cat_insanity

Photo by @wvcreative.88



Friday, July 3, 2020

Q&A Interview with Honey Hiromi



Where are you from?

I am from Thailand.

How long have you been cosplaying?

I've been cosplaying for a year and a half.

How did you first become interested in cosplaying?

I just thought to myself one day that it would be so cool to be a character you like and then I found out that cosplay was a thing so I couldn't say no to not cosplaying!

What are some characters you have cosplayed?

I don't remember all of the characters that I've done but so far I've cosplayed Nico Yazawa, Arcade Ahri, KDA Akali, Rem, Arcade Riven, Hanako Kun, Zenitsu and sooooo many more!

Any future plans for cosplays?

I'm really trying to get my Classic Akali cosplay out there one day.

Favorite movie? Video game? TV show? Band?

My favorite movies are probably Mamma Mia and Disney's Descendants. Video game would of course be League Of Legends since I play it everyday. TV show right now more like Netflix series and it's Trailer Park Boysssss. Last but not the least my favorite band... not sure do groups count? I LOVE TWICE but I got into singing and songs all thanks to ABBA and Queen!

What LoL champions do you enjoy playing as most? Which do you hate laning against?

I always change champions that I enjoy playing but right now I'm kinda an Akali main. I need some action in my life! Hate: Yasuo and Zed, mostly assassins. I'm horrible against them.

What is the cosplay community like in Thailand? Are there many conventions to attend? Which is the biggest?

The cosplay community here isn't bad at all. People are nice but of course there are bad sides, too. Too many drama people can be very dramatic. There are quite a lot of cons here. The biggest is probably Jfest, TGS and Thailand Comic Con.

Are your cosplays commissioned or homemade?

It depends on my budget and whether I can do it myself or not. My Harley Quinn one was handmade!

Photo by Nattapon Sumsew
What's been the most fun part about getting deeper into the hobby for you?

The best part is being able to be confident in something I do and meet new friends without knowing that the friend would become your BFF!

What are some of your hobbies outside of cosplay?

My other hobbies are drawing, singing, dancing and of course I love gaming. 

Where can fans find more of you?

Twitch 


Facebook Gaming 


Facebook Cosplay 


Instagram 


 

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Q&A Interview with Angel Kaoru



Where are you from?

Ecuador.

How long have you been cosplaying?

13 years.

How did you first become interested in cosplaying?


I have loved wearing costumes and Halloween since I was little. I've also loved anime for a long time as well. Cosplaying was just an excuse to put a lot of costumes all the time whether or not it was Halloween.

What are some characters you have cosplayed?

Bayonetta 1 and 2, Gamora, Black Widow, Mystique, Mt Lady, Jessica Rabbit, Poison Ivy, Mileena (MK), Dark Magician Girl, and Joker.

Any future plans for cosplays?

Totally! One of my dream cosplays is Tyrande from World of Warcraft. I'll also be doing more Marvel superheroes and villains.

Favorite movie? Video game? TV show? Band?

I love animated movies. My favorite is Inside Out. Favorite video games are Bayonetta and Super Smash Bros. Favorite TV show is How I Met Your Mother. And favorite band is Big Bang.

What are some of your hobbies outside of cosplay? 

Photography, photo editing, and music. I own a photo business in my country so most of my cosplay photos are produced by me and a co-worker. I'm still trying to come back to music. I was raised with music so I hope I can come back soon.

You mentioned you were a big anime fan. What are some of your favorites in that regard?

Totally! I love shonen and action anime like Hunter X Hunter; that's one of my favorites. Also Yu Yu Hakusho. Although I also love crazy and bizarre anime like Gurren Lagann, Darling in the Franxx, and FLCL. If you noticed, most of them are from the same studio creator, Gainax and Trigger.

Are you playing any video games currently? If so, which ones?

Yes. Actually I'm playing Bayonetta 1 and Mortal Kombat 11.

What would you say is the most difficult part about being a cosplayer?

Maybe the lack of support in some countries like mine. It's so hard to get a sponsor or someone interested in your job. You are rarely promoted. But you also need that financial support to make cosplays so it's hard sometimes.

Where can fans find more of you?


INSTAGRAM:
www.instagram.com/angelgdkaoru

FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/machikaoru

DIGITAL PHOTO SETS
gumroad.com/angelkaoru

PRINT STORE
Storenvy.com/angelkaoru 

KO-FI
ko-fi.com/angelkaoru

PATREON
patreon.com/angelkaoru

Friday, May 1, 2020

Q&A Interview with Sweet Angel Cosplay

Photo by Irish Gerry

Where are you from?

I'm from Italy!

How long have you been cosplaying?

I started around the end of 2008 in a very little event in my free time. There were fewer than 15 cosplayers and my first costume was Tifa from Final Fantasy VII.

Photo by NyaoNyao
How did you first become interested in cosplaying?

I think it was due to my interest in video games and anime. I liked the idea of being creative and making a costume inspired by my favorite characters.

What are some characters you have cosplayed?

Oh, the list is quite long! I can tell you some of my favorites, but you can find the full list on my website: Yoko Littner from TTGL, Holo from Spice and Wolf, Yuna and Rikku from Final Fantasy, Kairi from Kingdom Hearts, Jibril from No Game No Life, Rena from Elsword, Wizard from Diablo, and Kirin from Monster Hunter.

Any future plans for cosplays?

I just finished Riven from League of Legends and I'm working on Akali from the same game.

Favorite movie? Video game? TV show? Band?

Is it bad to have no favorite film/TV show/music? I can tell you my favorite video game for sure is Final Fantasy X.

Have you gotten the new FFVII remake yet? What do you think about remakes of older games in general? Good idea or ruins the nostalgia?

Unfortunately I still have to buy and play the game. Two reasons mainly: I still have to finish other titles and I'm really busy with my daily routine. I should also buy a bigger monitor because with mine it's a pain every time. In any case, I hope to play it soon and avoid spoilers until that moment! I'm more for new games and not for remakes, but sometimes it's not a bad idea. Cloud/Tifa/Aerith in HD are a way better now than the pixels of the past. Definitely a pleasure for the eyes!

Photo by A.Z. Production Cosplay Photography
From start to finish how long does it take you to create a cosplay from scratch on average? What's the longest one has ever taken?

I'm very slow in making cosplays. Usually an average costume takes several months. I spend many hours on the research of materials, on the project, on the test, and then on the real creation. Small example: I'm working on Akali now and the light green piece on her legs has some brown cords. Only to hand-sew the brown parts together takes me six plus another six hours, and it's just a small detail (you can see here).

I'm a perfectionist so I probably spend hours and hours on things that nobody will even notice, but it's the way I like to cosplay!

In your opinion, what is the most important skill for someone just starting out in the hobby to develop first to get the most out of the cosplaying experience in the long term?

I think the best "skill" is to always have fun and enjoy what you do! In particular cosplaying for you is a hobby so you have to do what makes you happy, and this could be different from another cosplayer so don't compare yourself too much to your friends or your idols. Do what makes you happy!
Photo by NyaoNyao
What are some of your hobbies outside of cosplay?

Considering cosplay takes most of my time since I make my own costumes/prop/wigs and I organize many shootings and attend many events, the remaining space is not enough to do a lot in my free time.

I do rock climbing (bouldering in particular) and I really love to travel both in cities and summer places. I also enjoy trekking and skiing. During this quarantine, I unfortunately can't do any of them so I focus on home workouts.


Where can fans find more of you?

SOCIAL MEDIA:
DeviantArt
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube
Official Website

SUPPORT:
Ko-fi
Storenvy



Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Q&A Interview with Dynamic Duchess Cosplay

Image by @fascettiphotography
Where are you from?

I'm originally from Maryland and currently live in Florida.

When did you first start cosplaying?

When I was 14 years old, so about five years now.

Image by @spicy_chikan
How did you first become interested in cosplay?

I saw a cosplay wig on Amazon from an anime I was watching and decided to buy it.

What are some characters you have cosplayed?

Neo-RWBY, Cinder Fall-RWBY, Salem-RWBY, D.va/Black cat D.va-Overwatch, Ambitious Elf Jinx-League of Legends.

Any future plans for characters?

A ton! A few more Jinx (League of Legends) cosplays, as well as other League characters. I also have an original design in the works for Anime Fest Orlando this year.


What is your favorite part of cosplay?

I really love doing my makeup and styling wigs. It's really cool to watch myself transform into a character.

What about the hardest part?

Motivation, for sure. I really struggle to work on costumes, especially when it comes to sitting down and sewing.

How long does it generally take to complete a complex costume by hand?

Several months, usually.

When you do makeup for a cosplay, do you generally do it yourself or do you have someone that helps you? 

I typically do it myself, though if I need to airbrush my face I have my boyfriend do it.

Favorite movie? Video game? TV show? Band?

Movie: Crimson Peak. Video game: League of Legends. TV show: Shiki. I don't really have a favorite band.

Do you have a favorite genre of music, then?

I’m a fan of metal, and I listen to a lot of anime openings.

Tell me something about yourself that nobody knows.

I eat black olives out of the jar.

Where can fans find more of you?

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dynamic_duchess_cosplay/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DynamicDuchessCosplay

Image by @spicy_chikan

Monday, April 6, 2020

Q&A Interview with Adia Cosplay

Image by Chastten Cosplay Photography
Where are you from?

I am from the Netherlands.

Image by Chastten Cosplay Photography
How long have you been cosplaying?

I started in June of 2013 so I have been cosplaying almost for seven years.

How did you first become interested in the hobby?

I watched a lot of anime when I was younger. I started searching for certain characters and I saw people doing cosplays of them. Shortly after that there was an event nearby so I went with a friend and I was amazed by all the cosplayers. I wanted to be like that as well, haha.

What are some of the characters you have cosplayed?

I cosplay a lot of different characters. I love doing Disney cosplays (Aurora, Ariel, Anna and Rapunzel), but I also love video game (2B, Samus and Ahri) and comic cosplays (Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Mary Jane Watson and Black Cat).

Any future plans for cosplays?

I have way too many plans, but I would love to make my dream cosplay happen (River Spirit Nami made out of Dragon Skin silicone)

Image by Jimmy Purimahuwa
What are some of your favorite conventions?

I love Gamescom and Elfia. Both are very different, but I love the gaming industry and fantasy scene, Plus I love mead!

What's the furthest you have ever traveled for a con?

For now I would say Germany (Gamescom) which is two and a half hours away by car.

Favorite movie? Video game? TV show? Band?

My favorite movie is Tangled.
My favorite Video Game: The legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
My favorite TV Show: The Witcher on Netflix.
My favorite band: I don't have one hahaha.

If you don't have a favorite band, do you have a favorite genre of music?

I mostly listen to pop music, but it also depends on my mood! I listen to the Jonas Brothers a lot now.

What do you think is the hardest part about cosplaying?


Image by Chastten Cosplay Photography
Feeling the right connection with the character. Even when you love a certain character a lot, you can still have no connection at all when cosplaying as him/her.

Is there a difference in how you prepare for cosplaying for a photo shoot vs cosplaying at a live convention?

Yes! My cosplay has to be perfect for a convention, and I don't mind if a certain item is taped to my body for a photoshoot.

What advice would you give to someone new just starting out in the hobby?

Do not give up and start off easy. Every one of us started somewhere and you don't want to spend way too much money on a hobby if you only end up doing it for one day.

Tell me something about yourself that nobody knows.

I love staying at home and doing nothing at all. I enjoy dressing up for parties, photoshoots and cosplay, but I love wearing my comfy clothes at home.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Feel free to contact me if you have more questions or if you want to ask for tips! You can contact me on instagram because that is the fastest way to contact me!
Image by Robin Morgan Photography

Where can fans find more of you?

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Q&A Interview with Lux Avem

Where are you from?


Wake Forest, North Carolina and Staunton, Virginia (I bounce back and forth for college).

What are you majoring in?

Currently looking at majoring in Marketing and Communications with a focus on communications and possibly a minor in French.

When did you first start cosplaying?

I started cosplaying in 2016 at RTX.

How did you first become interested in cosplay?

I became interested when I saw Lux from League of Legends and was quite attached to her character.

What are some characters you have cosplayed?

Penny Polendina and Weiss Schnee from RWBY, Star Guardian Lux, Supergirl, and Panther from Persona 5.

Any future plans for characters?

Currently I am working on a Tamamo No Mae from Fate Grand Order.

What is your favorite part of cosplay?

My favorite part is the makeup and the community. I've made a lot of friends in the community and built up my own little family.

What about the hardest part?

The hardest part is the discrimination that happens in the community and balancing my own health and classes while working on costumes.

What do you mean by discrimination in the community? 


Image by @iron.photography
There are a lot of issues on racism and body-shaming in the community that I have seen. PoC cosplayers don't get the same treatment as others and are often degraded by the community which includes calling them racial slurs. I also often see a lot of chubby cosplayers getting similarly poor treatment.

Are there any cosplayers that inspire you?

Honestly, I don't think I could count how many. Jessica Nigri and Meg Turney were two of the first ones for me, but now its a lot of my friends in the community like HelloBonehead and Sketching_Dinosaur.

What advice would you give to cosplayers just starting out?

Just be kind. Don't worry if your costume isn't as amazing as someone else's or if someone else is cosplaying the same thing "better" than you. Cosplay is only a competition if you're entering one. Just have fun and take care of yourself.

Image by @jonv_photography
Favorite movie? Video game? TV show? Band?

My favorite movie is Expelled from Paradise. I'm a big fan of Child of Light. I love Criminal minds and I think I've seen almost every episode. And my favorite band currently is The Oh Hellos.

Tell me something about yourself that nobody knows.

Lux is only my Tag name.


Where can fans find more of you?

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxavem/
Twitter https://twitter.com/AvemLux
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luxavem/

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Q&A interview with Moka Torota



Where are you from? 

Bogota, Colombia.

When did you first start cosplaying? 

In 2008, when the geek events started to sprout up in my country...however I have loved costumes and alter-egos ever since I was very little.

Image by JC Frost
How did you first become interested in cosplay? 

The internet (okay, Google) showed me the community of people who dress up as characters they loved from all over of the world!

What are some characters you have cosplayed? 

I have done quite a few now. In 2019 I made: The Morrigan from SMITE, Inkling Girl as Agent 3 from Splatoon, and Tulum Sombra from Overwatch.

Any future plans for characters? 

Tons! But I guess I'm starting with Sorceress Zyra from League of Legends for a contest.

Are there many conventions in Columbia? What's the biggest one? Do you travel much? 

Sadly, there aren't. The only, and biggest, decent one is called SOFA (salon del ocio y la fantasia). I don't travel much in-country because there is no "con - reason" to but sometimes fans overseas will want me to join them at other cons...so I'm very happy and open to receive such invitations!

How long does it typically take you to make a cosplay?
Credit Frost Photography & Zach Fischer Illustration


Depending on the character... easy/moderate is one or two months, difficult/hard... three and forever months (or sometimes I also split them in semesters because I get saturated or something happens.

What costume has been the most difficult / time consuming for you to create so far?

Sindragosa... one and a half month rush build for an attempt of Halloween party, then the next year another one or two more months of work for completion and still it needs improvements.

What is your favorite part of cosplay? 

The whole thing! From the making of costumes to actually getting to use them.

What about the hardest part? 

Always making them. Trial and error of details can be a pain when you do your beloved characters.

Is there another cosplayer that inspires you or that you are a fan of? 

Yep, a bunch of European ladies such as Kamui, Inaste, Germia, Cynderis...

Favorite movie? Video game? TV show? Band? 

Image by Mónica Cotes
Move is The Road to El Dorado. Video game is Nier Automata and the Metroid series. TV show, I watch anime mainly and have a ton of favorites. I don't have a favorite band, though.

Tell me something about yourself that nobody knows. 

Most times during con-crunch I end up crying. (kill me plz)

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

Eat, sleep, play SMITE/OW, and going to the gym.

Where can fans find more of your work?

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

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

ETSY: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElTallerdeMoka


Facebook Shop: https://www.facebook.com/eltallerdmoka

DeviantArt: https://mokatorota.deviantart.com 

Worldcosplay: https://worldcosplay.net/member/MokaTorota

Image by monicotesfoto

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Q&A Interview with Karrigan Taylor



Where are you from?

I am from Massachusetts!

How long have you been cosplaying? 

I have been cosplaying for about three years.

What first got you interested in cosplay? 

I was huge on playing dress up when I was young and for one of my birthdays I received an entire wardrobe filled with Disney costumes. I remember when I was young I wanted to be a vampire, devil and princess on Halloween. My parents told me I couldn’t be them all, so I came up with an original character that was all three of those things in one. It was a huge hit.

What do you think is the most difficult thing about cosplaying? What is the thing that you enjoy the most about it?

I would say the most difficult thing about cosplaying is finding time to take photos, make sure the costume looks perfect in the photos, etc. I often take around 2-5 hours just self-shooting cosplays and editing them myself.

Do you watch anime?

Yes! I do.

What are some of your favorites?

I like dumb animes. My favorite type of anime is what I call "titty anime" so basically really simple plot with a lot of cute anime girls. Right now I would say my favorite anime is Future Diary because I love Yuno.

What are some of your favorite video games?

I love Overwatch, Final Fantasy XIV, The Witcher series, and Lolipop Chainsaw, just to name a few of my favorites of all time.

Playing anything currently?

I haven't been gaming a lot recently, as I haven't had much time and I haven't found a game I've been interested in.

Favorite television show?

I don't really watch conventional TV, but I like Black Mirror and America's Next Top Model.

Favorite movie?

My favorite movie of 2019 was Aladdin. I have a lot of all time favorites though! I am a huge movie buff.

I was worried about seeing live action Aladdin. Since you liked it, do you think they should continue doing more live action remakes of Disney classics?

I love Disney. Writing for Disney is my dream job, so some part of me wants them to come up with new unique story ideas so that I can help them develop and write them in the future.

Favorite band?

My favorite band is Starset and Slipknot!

Is there a cosplayer that inspires you?

Alyson Tabbitha is a cosplayer that I admire! However, I admire all of my cosplay friends!

Plans for your next cosplay?

I have a bunch of plans in the works, but I really want to cosplay my Final Fantasy character.

Tell me something about yourself nobody knows. 

I am pretty open, so people know mostly everything about me. I would say something most people don't know is that I love to dance and have performed over 100 times.

Where can fans find more of you?

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karrigan.taylor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/karrigantaylor

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/karrigantaylor

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekarrigantaylor



Saturday, August 31, 2019

Q&A Interview with Luxlo Cosplay



Where are you from? 


I'm currently living in Canada's Toronto area.

How long have you been cosplaying?

I first cosplayed in 2012 at Anime North!

Photo by Con Mom Photography
How did you become interested in cosplay?

I was attending my first con with my boyfriend and a couple of friends and they vaguely described how people dress up as characters they like to these things and I immediately thought that sounded super fun so I scavenged my closet for items that I could make work and references of Marceline from Adventure Time. When I actually got to the con and saw tons of cosplayers proudly walking around in amazing costumes and displaying their love for their favorite characters and series, I was instantly inspired to cosplay more.

Do you watch anime? 

I watch some. I'm a bit picky when it comes to anime and I don't spend much time doing it since most of my free time goes toward video games, but a few favorites of mine are Gankutsuo, Death Note, Parasyte, Ajin, Fate Zero, Death Parade, and the Ghibli movies.

What are some of your favorite video games? 

A classic favorite of mine is Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, along with Mario World, Mario Kart and Donkey Kong. My current favorites are Sekiro, Dark Souls 3, Monster Hunter, Fire Emblem Echoes, Persona 3 and Persona 5. After just finishing Sekiro, I'm currently (and slowly) playing Hollowknight, Celeste and Spiderman, and also super excited to begin Fire Emblem: Three Houses when it arrives in a few days.

Photo by Dream Land Photography
Favorite television show?

Brooklyn 99, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Summer Heights High. I also really enjoyed the three seasons of Stranger Things! I'm currently watching (and loving) the original Teen Titans since I never did watch it as a kid.

How about favorite movies? 

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, The Hunt, Hercules and The Lion King... and probably many more I'm forgetting.

Favorite band?

Silverstein! I also love Blink 182, Angels & Airwaves, Bayside, and ABBA.

Is there a cosplayer that inspires you? 

Tons! I love having my social media feeds filled with cosplayers and artists who inspire me. Kamui Cosplay has to stick out, as her tutorials really helped me out when I started cosplaying.

Plans for your next cosplay? 

Ohh I have a bunch, haha! I'll be doing three different versions of Starfire, a casual Raven, Camie from MHA, Officer Jenny, Edelgard from FE3H, A Star Wars OC (actually just finished but I have yet to wear it), Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Effie from Fire Emblem (which I've been working slowly on for many months now) and a big surprise project for Katsucon 2019. These costumes are a mix of store-bought costumes, alterations by me, thrifted pieces, and pieces or in some cases whole costumes made by me.) PHEW. Some may have even been left out there but those are currently lined up!!

What is your favorite part of cosplaying? What about least favorite part?

My favorite part is wearing a finished cosplay for the first time! (Especially if it's one that took months to make!) I also love being in group cosplays with friends because it's always so much fun. My least favorite part is probably the times when I first start a new cosplay and feel stuck or don't know where to begin, and patterning can be confusing and frustrating for me.

Photo by Cyber Head Designs
What advice do you have for someone who is just starting out and maybe hasn't even cosplayed at all yet?

Know that there is no wrong way to cosplay! Made, store-bought, commissioned, thrifted, cardboard, bikini, sexy, genderbend, redesign, or original design... just have fun with it!

What do you do with costumes after you are done with them? Do you save them somewhere? 

I either sell them, store them, or trash them. If I run out of space and especially if the costume itself is not holding up anyway, I sadly have to throw them out. It's always really hard to part with them but I try to do multiple photoshoots in all my cosplays, and then I can at least treasure the photos forever!


Outside of video games and cosplay, what are some of your other hobbies?


I don't have a ton of other hobbies. I recently formed a DnD group with some friends which is a lot of fun, and I do love playing board games when I get the chance to. I also enjoy watching movies and shows, and I'm currently listening to the podcast Critical Role.

Tell me something about yourself nobody knows. 

I think Cosplayers (and other online figures or content creators) are often just seen as "online people/personalities/photos" and not as real people.. But as definitely real people, we all sometimes struggle with personal things going on in our lives or mental health issues, etc. This usually isn't something you can see just from browsing someone's Instagram where they choose to show just parts they want to share. There is always more to people than the small window we see into them online, so please be kind.

Where can fans find more of you?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luxlocosplay/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/luxlocosplay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxlocosplay/
Patreon: http://patreon.com/luxlocosplay






Saturday, July 20, 2019

Q&A Interview with Ellemonade

Where are you from?

I am based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Somewhere in Southeast Asia.

How long have you been cosplaying?

I've actually been cosplaying for only a little over a year. I started cosplay in January 2018 but have been picking up more and more cosplays in 2019.

What first got you interested in cosplay?

I was actually interested in cosplay all the way back in 2009 when I first started following anime. Back then I was young kid who didn't have much freedom when it comes to going into events nor do I have many friends of similar interests. I never really got to go to any anime/cosplay conventions up until 2017 when I had started coming back into gaming. Eventually, I met more and more people within the community who were really supportive and encouraging when it comes to cosplay. Thus, my debut in 2018. Although it was not the best work, I had a great time and continued on from there.

What are some of your favorite anime? 

I used to watch A LOT of anime back in 2009 but over time I've diverted from the genre. However, several shows will always remain in my heart. Shows such as Cardcaptor Sakura, Law of Ueki, Chobits, etc. Those play a big role within my childhood years. As for now? I do take the time to watch a few anime now and then especially if I have any plans to cosplay that character.

What are some of your favorite video games?

Oh wow, a lot. I frequently play League of Legends, Monster Hunter World, Apex Legends and sometimes Overwatch. However, a few notable games that I really enjoyed were Harvest Moon: Back to Nature, Persona 5, Crash Bandicoot, O2Jam and so much more - I can't pick!

Favorite television show?

I don't watch many shows on TV to be honest.

Favorite movie?

I like a lot of movies but I can't pick one!

Favorite band?

Definitely Nothing but Thieves.

Is there a cosplayer that inspires you?

I don't actually have a fixed inspiration but I definitely do look up to a few people such as Kamui, Kinpatsu, and Stella Chu but I would also say a few of my inspirations are my friends themselves who constantly encourage me to go for cosses and help me out at times when I'm stuck

Plans for your next cosplay?

As for now I plan to cosplay Tifa from the Final Fantasy VII Remake, Wraith from Apex Legends, Irelia from League of Legends, and Moxxi from Borderlands 3! All video game characters, hahaha.

What would you say is your favorite part of cosplaying? What about least favorite part?

I would say my favorite parts about cosplaying is the whole experience and getting to put on the costume, together with the makeup and finally portraying the character! It's always the best part when you get to see all the individual components come together and most of the time I even surprise myself.

As for my least favorite part, it would probably be starting off because I always get too ambitious with the characters I want to cosplay and what I can actually achieve in the time span. Especially if the character I'm interested in has a lack of pictures online and I have to squint 1,000 times to decipher the elements of the cosplay.

You mentioned you are a League of Legends fan. Who are some of your favorite champions to play in LoL?

My favorite champions are probably Caitlyn, Jinx, Nami, and Irelia for her lore and the fact that I could relate to her Mulan feel.

What about most hated champ to play against?

Well it depends on the champion I'm playing at the time and who can counter them, but generally I would usually ban Blitzcrank or aggressive ADCs like Kai'sa, Lucian, or Ezreal if I'm playing bot lane. Besides that, I'm sure everyone can agree Teemo is a pain to deal with!

Do you have a favorite League of Legends pro team / pro player?

Not really to be honest, I was actually fortunate enough to attend last year's World's in Korea and got to witness IG vs Fnatic live and that on its own was a memory of a lifetime. However, even back then I couldn't pick a side!

Tell me about your time as part of the Riot Games Student Ambassador Program. 

At that time, I just only started playing League and knew little about the game itself. I had also just entered university for over a few months when I saw a post for a Riot Games Student Ambassador Program on League's client. I knew nothing much about it and didn't know what to expect but I figured that it would be fun to try. To be very honest, I expected that the program would have a few students representing one institution and I thought it would be cool to meet others from my institution. But what I didn't know when I got picked was that I would be the only representative of my institution. The role required you to host and promote gaming events, activities and support the gaming community within and outside of your institution. This program was the first of its kind in the world along with Germany.

At first, I was really out of my element. I barely knew anything about the game nor did I know anything about my institution. I recalled debating in my head that maybe I should just not do anything and focus on my studies but something in me decided to just give it a try. So there I was trying to form an Esports club in within my institution. From then on, I met people who were passionate about gaming and made valuable friendships with them. I actually felt that I had a place to belong and a family to keep providing to. So at the end of it all, it didn't even feel like a role I had to be responsible for but more of a service that I could always provide to the family I've found. The program not only pushed me outside of my shell within my institution but also allowed me to network with actual industry people and of course the other Riot Student Ambassadors from different institutions. I can't possibly describe the RSA program in a summary because this one year really gave me memories, confidence, and families that I can never find anywhere else. Unfortunately though, the program could not continue for a second year but at the end of it - I'm just really glad I decided to take that chance.

Tell me something about yourself nobody knows.

I actually grew up with a family who ballroom dances and I've been learning and competing in ballroom dancing. This also was the reason why I liked the aspect of cosplay from the start. It was because I saw cosplay as a similar form of entertainment and portraying. I also always did my own makeup since young (even though they were horrible) but that instilled the interest in me to dress up.

Where can fans find more of you?

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_adele.lim/