Introduction - What is it like being a Cosplayer?

Hi there! My name is KitKat, I've been cosplaying since 2004 when I was a freshman in high school. My love for making costumes inspired me to pursue a degree in fashion design, but after my first two years of college I decided sewing was a hobby love, not a career love. Though after college, besides making my own cosplay costumes, I've done some work as a costumer for local children's theaters. For me being a cosplayer is taking on a challenge, i find character's I love or outfits that call to me and I decide to bring them to life. I enjoy the challenges, the stress and seeing the completed pieces come together. Then it's being able to bring these outfits together and wearing them around with friends. I have one best friend I met through cosplay and we try to coordinate costumes together and then another friend who never cosplayed before until we cosplayed two characters from Tales of Graces and now she's loving the world of cosplay.

What are your next goals?

I am taking a break from cosplaying/conventions until June to save money, but I will be designing/sewing a swimsuit or two based on some of the sailor scout's princess dresses and Luna's Human form from Sailor Moon (I'm commissioning a wig from Malinda-chan for Luna, I can't wait!) After June, I may take on another Monster Hunter armor set. I need more worbla in my life!

Cosplay Characters

My first costume was in 2004 as Rinoa Heartily, I've remade this a couple times, but have not worn it since 2009/2010. Other costumes I've done were Haruhi Suzumiya (2008-2010), Yukari from Persona 3, Etna from Disgaea, Mia from Fire Emblem, Pascal from Tales of Graces, Koto from Yu Yu Hakusho (one of my favorites), Tiki from Dragon's Crown, Anaru from Anohana, Mirai from Beyond the Boundary, cowslip's Squirtle gijinka and my latest costume at DragonCon was the Nargacuga Blademaster Armor set from Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. (There have been more costume, but these are one's I've worn the most)

What does Cosplay mean to you?

Cosplay has always been creating something and having fun doing it. Then just running around and trying to bring some characters to life.

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

My biggest influences have always been my friends; especially after my sophomore year of college when I made more friends in the cosplay community. I just started following other cosplayers in the past year or two and I still don't know what cosplayers are out there and who I should be following for inspiration. The only cosplayer name I knew before meeting some talented people in the industry was Kamui and I definitely looked to her tutorials and books when I made my nargacuga armor set.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for upcoming Cosplayers?

Do the best you can with what you have. When you start you won't always have the best supplies or the best skills, but if you love the process then keep at it. You'll never know where it could lead you.

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

I haven't had a negative experience yet or I've never come across negative comments. The internet can be a dark place, but at the end of the day what's going to matter most to me is the opinion of those closest too me and my own opinion.