Where are you from originally or reside currently: Ottawa, ON, Canada
How long you have been cosplaying: 5 years
Other Characters cosplayed: Germany (Hetalia), GLaDOS (Portal), BLU Medic (Team Fortress 2), Traveller (Journey), Effie Trinket (Hunger Games) – various outfits.
Website or facebook fan page

1. Who or what inspired you to cosplay?

I was watching anime one day, and I had heard of cosplay before, so I just thought “What if I were to dress as this character?” and it started from there. This was 2009, so I had to do a bit of searching to find an anime convention and local community, since these things weren’t as advertised as they are now.

2. What do you do when you aren’t cosplaying?

I recently graduated college, as an Electrical Engineering Technician. I try to stay active by running ( I participate in 10K races), swimming, and getting outside when I can. Aside from that, when I’m not creating cosplay costumes, I can be found either with my nose in a book, or fixing something.

3. What costumes have provided the biggest challenge and rewards so far and why?

My most challenging costume was the Effie Trinket monarch butterfly dress from Catching Fire, as I had to paint Every. Single. Butterfly. By. Hand. All 452 of them on my dress (yes, I wrote that number on the dress lining, just so that I remember). I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I wanted to have the same pattern on my cosplay, as the dress in the movie. It took me 7 months to make, mainly since I was working on it on my breaks between school and work.

4. What is the best advice you would give someone new to cosplaying?

Ignore the haters. No, seriously, don’t mind them.  Also, recently, it seems that there are so many great cosplayers, and from what I’ve heard talking to newbies, is that it can feel discouraging at times when no one seems to notice your work. I usually tell anyone who feels like this that they should be cosplaying for themselves, and not for anyone else. I cosplay who I want, and if people happen to notice me, that’s a plus, but it’s not the end goal. The competitive aspect / fishing for likes will drain the fun of cosplaying very quickly.

 

5. What is one thing the cosplaying community can do better when it comes to dealing with each other?

Stop nitpicking on each other. I’ve had great experiences with my local community and with people I meet at conventions, but online, it’s a whole different story. Anyone can cosplay whoever they want, no matter their appearance. I consider myself fortunate that I’ve only had a handful of mean comments directed at me, but it shouldn’t be that way. Also, be more encouraging to the new cosplayers, we’ve all had to start somewhere.