Introduction - What is it like being a Cosplayer?

Hihi, I'm Kayla I started cosplaying because sewing is a hobby of mine. When I discovered conventions and found out that people dress up like characters they like, I just had to do it. Figuring out how to make the costume and then crafting it is a lot of fun for me. I love wearing them just as much. It's the best feeling ever when someone recognizes your character and compliments you on your hard work. Sometimes I choose characters with easy outfits, and sometimes I pick something complicated for more of a challenge. It's a way of setting your own pace and knowing what you are and are not capable of making yet. Having large costume parts or big props are hard. It's tricky to carry and your space margins are different. At busy cons, people don't take your costume into account when it comes to space, so unless you are constantly on watch for the wellbeing of your sticking out parts, they will get ruined, and that is sad. Wings have been my most recent experience, and unless I walk with both arms out wide to take the hits, people will walk into my wings and destroy them (mostly due to lack of paying attention, and rarely on purpose). As a cosplayer it's neat traveling to and from a convention or photoshoot. People who have no idea what you are doing will have awesome mixes responses to seeing you. Sometimes you get these looks as if you are the devil or something and should be struck down. Other times there's looks of pure confusion or even embarrassment as they simply get away from you as fast as possible. Others will smile and sometimes wave at you, Some will compliment your outfit even if they don't know what it's from, or even take the time to ask who you are and where you are headed. Some of the conversations can be super neat. Almost all cosplayers will be familiar with the ".... why are you wearing that...?" confused stare. You get used to it, and it's funny.

What are your next goals?

My next goals are to get better at armour. I'd like to try using warbla and figure out how it works. I'd also like to get better at wiring LEDs into my costumes.

Cosplay Characters

2007: Sasuke, from Naruto 2008: Yuna, from Final Fantasy X 2009: Kanda, from D Gray Man 2010: Riku, from Kingdom Hearts 2 2010: L, from Death Note 2011: Yuna, from Final Fantasy X-2 2011: Peter Pan 2012: Katerina, from League of Legends 2013: Thresh, from League of Legends 2014: Jibril, from No Game No Life

What does Cosplay mean to you?

Cosplay means that I have a chance to get together with friends and make something cool, creative, or challenging. It's showing off your hard work at conventions with people of similar interests.

Who have been your biggest influences/role models/mentors?

My friends are my biggest influences, role models, and mentors when it comes to cosplay. We brainstorm ideas, help each other create things, and modivate each other every step of the way.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for upcoming Cosplayers?

My best advice is to always let your creativity run wild. Leave no option unexplored. Need something light to carve into bones for example? Have you considered pool noodles as a starting point? Anything and everything can be used to make a cosplay.

What is the most negative experience you've dealt with while cosplaying, and how did you handle it?

I have two stories that come to mind. The first was at my second convention. I was Yuna from Final Fantasy X, wearing her long skirt with the back bow. From my first con, I had learned that people asking for hugs are common, and it's kinda nice and fun. I agreed to a hug when a guy asked me after complimenting my costume. Instead of a simple hug like all the other guys and gals had given me, this guy picks me up into the air, keeps me there for way longer than necessary, and smells me deeply. It made me feel gross and angry. He asked for a hug, not "I want to pick you up and sniff you". He had also crushed part of my back bow and ruffled other parts of the costume. It needed repairs after that. I handled it by never agreeing to a hug from a fellow convention attendee ever again :( My second story is more recent. I was Thresh from League of Legends and it was my first time wearing the costume to a non-league-only event. This was an anime-con. A guy and his friends come over to me. He asks me if I play League of Legends, or if I'm simply dressed this way just because. I was a little bit shocked, especially since Thresh is not originally a female character, and it also happens to be rather complicated and elaborate. Why would I work so hard on something for a game I didn't even play? Why on earth would they even think that? After informing them that I played lots, they proceeded to talk to me as though I still did not know how to play. It came up in our convo that they've played for a year, and I have played for 4 (just after beta release). That did nothing for me either and I was trying to politely excuse myself from this ridicule they thought was a verbal intro to the game. After telling me they want to give me in-game lessons I started to walk away and they ran after me. Turns out their accounts were ranked bronze, and I honestly said sorry, but mine was gold. Maybe now they'd stop treating me like I've never played a game in my life? Maybe they'd let me walk away? No. I kept trying to leave anyways and eventually they stopped following. After some collaboration with friends the only thing we could think of was that I was a female and "there's no way girls play online games". So nomatter what I said, they couldn't accept that I played and loved that game just as much as they did. It kinda made me sad. What makes matters worse is that they were not the only ones to ask me that. It happened multiple times over that weekend at the convention. The others were not as persistent or rude as that first group was, but they all assumed the same thing. One of them even outright said it. Something along the lines of "girls aren't good at games like League." I mean, I'm not good, but I'm certainly not bad either. I just want to wear my league outfits without having to deal with that. It still happens, and I deal with it by being polite. I say that I play the game my Cosplay is from, and they should not assume otherwise. I smile, I nod goodbye, and I leave. My hobbies are my hobbies whether or not other people believe me.

Any final remarks or shout-outs?

Shoutout to every cosplayer who has had fun in cosplay :)