First name and last initial:  Claudia K.

Where are you from originally or reside currently?  Washington, DC

How long you have been cosplaying?  1 year

Other Characters cosplayed: Chloe Price from Life is Strange and Ada Wong from Resident Evil 6.

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1. Who or what inspired you to cosplay?
I used to dress up as Tifa Lockheart from Final Fantasy 7 for Halloween, kind of often. I have all of the action figures from Final Fantasy 7 and people who have seen my room often though Tifa or Yuffie were me. I like the art form of transforming into someone else and being in character similar to my passion for acting.

 

2. What do you do when you aren’t cosplaying (hobbies, community service, or work)
I am an actress, digital artist, sound recordist, and promotional model.

3. What costumes have provided the biggest challenge and rewards so far and why?
I hadn’t really found anything to be real challenging. Although, I did have to trim the blue wig down a lot that I wore for my Chloe Price cosplay. The original wig was much longer but I am used to cutting my own hair for years so it was okay. The biggest reward was cosplaying Chloe because I love the video game and her character so much. I used to be such a punk in high school so I feel very connected to Chloe’s character.

 

4. What is the best advice you would give someone new to cosplaying?
I would not worry about being the first. I would focus on being the best you can be and what you can bring that is new to the cosplay whether it is in the style of dress, style of photography or special effect. Don’t worry about people copying you because they can always copy what you’ve done but they can never copy what you are going to do next. Do not worry about people who judge cosplays or artforms for face value because it speaks more about them than it does about you. Have fun!

 

5. What is one thing the cosplaying community can do better when it comes to dealing with each other?
I had not come across much dislike when it comes to the cosplay community that I would want to change, but I would just generally say that it is important to be encouraging to each other and not to become extremist or elitist when it comes to the art of cosplay. Do not sum up a cosplay or art form for face value. To be extremist in art, in general, is just insanity and something people will lose trust in quickly.