Introduction - What is it like being a Cosplayer?

Hi! I'm C2, and I've been cosplaying since 2011. Cosplay is a fantastic hobby that I recommend to anybody that has ever wanted to be a character that they admired from a book, comic, game, movie, cartoon, whatever. It's allowed me to be creative and cultivate so many different skills, like sewing, propmaking (which I actually want to do for a living), makeup, armor patterning, foamsmithing, just SO much stuff, and I still just consider myself a beginner.

What are your next goals?

I'd really like to start doing more commissions in the near future. Other than that, I plan to take on more intricate and challenging cosplays so I can become better at my favorite hobby. :)

Cosplay Characters

My most recent cosplay is Maiev Shadowsong from the Warcraft universe. It was my first time making armor, and despite taking forever, it was such a rewarding experience that I look forward to another big project. My first costume was Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter. Other than that, I cosplayed mostly anime/manga and video game characters, like Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite, Crocodile from One Piece, a Team Rocket grunt, Suzuha Amane from Steins;gate, Isaac and Miria from Baccano with my boyfriend, Donnel from Fire Emblem Awakening, Hummingbird from Deadman Wonderland. I have many more. I also had an obligatory Homestuck phase. c:

What does Cosplay mean to you?

Ohoho, cosplay has taken over my life, for lack of better words. I've loved dressing up since I was little, so when I was introduced to cosplay in 2011, I was ecstatic. I'm very much an introvert, and even though it seems like an attention-oriented hobby, I find that cosplay is a great outlet for myself and others like me. It provides a way for me to escape my own insecurities and become the characters that I've played in games or read about in books. Cosplay is acting, and since it's mostly visual, I don't have to worry about a script or stumbling over my words. I've watched the cosplay community expand at an alarming rate in only the past few years, and I'm very thankful to be part of such a great community. Even though people may have different interests, cosplay has a way of bringing people together despite that, and I've met some of my best friends through it.

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

I have several role models in the cosplay world! Kamui was my first big role model, since she cosplayed druids from World of Warcraft, and that was my main class in the game. I remember being in absolute awe the first time I saw one of her photos. Over time, I've come to admire her even more, not just for cosplaying from games that I like, but because she truly loves what she does and enjoys helping other cosplayers improve. My other role models are pretty much all propmakers. Bill Doran has taught me pretty much everything I know about crafting props and armor, and he inspired me to want to become a full-time propmaker as well. I had the chance to meet him at Dragon Con this year and I about peed myself. I also met Will Morgan, another propmaker that I admire very much. He and Bill work magic with foam. Johnny of Junkers Cosplay Inc. is another one of my role models, and is armor work is amazing. And last, but certainly not least, are my friends! I've learned so much from my 'circle' of friends and I'm so thankful that they put up with me. Please check these people out! They're very helpful and I wouldn't have half the knowledge I do now without them.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for upcoming Cosplayers?

Don't let others, or better yet, YOURSELF, from discouraging you! There have been plenty of times where I thought I was a terrible cosplayer, or that I couldn't do something, but I've proved myself wrong just about every time. Also, failure is part of cosplaying. You will make mistakes, you will mess up, you will waste money on materials, but that's part of the experience, and you'll learn from all those mistakes. On a more practical note, do your research! I can't tell you how many hours I've sat in front of my computer watching videos on how to make stuff, and it has ABSOLUTELY paid off.

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

I haven't had many negative experiences while cosplaying other than intense foot pain, fortunately. However I did find myself in a pretty uncomfortable situation at Dragon Con this year. I participated in a costume contest as Maiev, and I was waiting for pre-judging with my friend and boyfriend. We ended up being behind a fairly drunk guy in line, and he remarked that while he didn't know what I looked like under the helmet, my costume was really good. Sure, it was a compliment, but I found the first comment to be pretty sexist, considering he probably wouldn't have said that if I wasn't wearing a chestplate with breasts. I honestly didn't really know how to respond, because I don't normally receive blatantly sexist comments, especially face-to-face. The guy continued making remarks here and there, mostly about my "alleged good looks," all while trying to maintain a friendly tone. Fortunately my boyfriend is good at diffusing tension, and he managed to settle things while still being amiable. Afterward, I realized that I should have simply asked the guy to either stop talking to me or to stop making remarks concerning my appearance as soon as it began, but at that moment I was flustered and didn't know what to do.

Any final remarks or shout-outs?

Thank you so much to everyone that has liked my work! I don't know how you do it, but I definitely appreciate it. :)