  Q: When did you start cosplaying and how long for? My first cosplay was Lust from Full Metal Alchemist which I wore to the MCM London Expo in May 2006! So that’s over two and a half years now, wow ^_^’ I didn’t realise it was quite so long. It’s taken over my life a bit at times, but I’ve loved every minute of it.  Q: What attracts you cosplay? |
Q: What has been your favourite cosplay? Organic Angel Alexiel from Angel Sanctuary. It has been my most time consuming and most expensive costume to date but it was absolutely worth it in the end. She has had a bit of a remake and update between conventions but now I think she’s complete at last. I think what puts Alexiel at the top, without a doubt really, is the three feathered wings that I made to wear with the costume. Most character’s are happy with just two wings, but not Alexiel, just to be awkward! Making a harness that could support three large angel wings to begin with was a challenge but I eventually managed it, and ever since making costume wings has become a bit of a passion of mine. I’m now considering a character who has six wings, something which I would never have even dreamt of before Alexiel! Q: Most memorable moment whilst cosplaying? Oh there really have been so many! Every convention has its own most memorable moments, but a few stand out such as going up on stage in the masquerade at a London MCM Expo as Alexiel and winning second place, oh and the other weekend at the October Expo again going up on stage as part of a Steampunk group, to an incredible soundtrack and to such an applause that I was left with goosebumps ^_^ The masquerade is always a highlight for me. I love getting up on that stage, so most of my memorable moments are times like that. Q: Have you had any cosplays go wrong/encountered problems whilst making cosplays? Of course :-\ If making a cosplay is going too smoothly then you know that something really is wrong…it’s inevitable that you’re going to hit a few snags and problems along the way! I’ve had a few wig problems in the past, let’s just say that sometimes it really is worth it to pay a little extra for quality ^_^’ Postal strikes are always problematic for cosplayers, as a wig of mine once turned up two days too late for a convention because of it. Also, when I wore my Morrigan (from Darkstalkers - ed.) costume to an Expo, it was so incredibly packed and busy with people that my wings were constantly being knocked and bumped into, and one ended up being bent out of shape and broken by the end of the day :-( It’ll be fixed in time for Morrigan’s next outing though! Q: Have you ever regretted cosplaying?  Never! There’s been moments when I’m wearing the most uncomfortable boots in the world (which seems to be a recurring theme of mine!) where I just want to sit down and kick them off and take a break from being in costume for a while… but then someone comes along to ask for a picture and it wouldn’t even matter if I’d been walking around on nails all day, I’d be back on my feet and ready to go again! But seriously, cosplaying has given me some of the best and most enjoyable experiences of my life. I can’t imagine what I’d be filling my days off and weekends with if I didn’t have costumes to make and wear. It’d be so dull and boring, that’s for sure!Q: Have you ever done group cosplay? If so how did you find that experience? I’ve been a part of a few groups now, but I think that really I am more of a solo cosplayer, however I still enjoy getting to be a part of a cosplay group alongside friends. I was asked to cosplay Integra as part of a Hellsing group and, at first, I was reluctant as I wasn’t sure if Integra really fit the style that my cosplays usually go for. I prefer big and bold and making a statement! But I was eventually persuaded to do so and now I’m so glad that I did. Integra has become one of my favourite cosplays, and it wouldn’t have been so if it had not been for my group ^_^ The best part for me is being able to get so many great photo’s of all the characters together, recreating scenes from animé and manga and even creating a few new scenarios of our own. You can be so creative in groups! And you get to share the cosplaying experience with friends too ^_^ Q: What cosplays are you planning? Now that the last cosplay event has passed for the year, I’ve got so many plans for 2009! First and foremost I’m breaking out the cross-play again, as Zack from Final Fantasy VII:Crisis Core. I’m also planning on putting together my second Steampunk original character, rough and ready Skypirate, navigator and second in command of the HMS Valkyrie, Tabitha Rose Skylar (although if you call her anything but ‘Skye’ you’ll soon know about it!). My biggest and most challenging cosplay so far however will be Nu Wa from Warriors Orochi 2. It’s already keeping me awake at night with me wondering just how on earth I’m going to manage certain parts ^_^’ I suppose it’s times like that that my colouful hobby becomes a little bit more of an obsession! Q: Do you have a dream cosplay? At the moment Nu Wa is still a dream cosplay for me, until she is completed. One day I think I would also love to give Felicia from Darkstalkers a go ^_^’ I don’t think the creating of the costume will be so much of a challenge as actually having the confidence and the body to pull it off! Morrigan was one thing, I could wear tights and a corset, but Felicia is another entirely! Q: Do you have one piece of advice that you would give to cosplay virgins?  Just have fun! It doesn’t matter if you’re not the greatest sewer, it doesn’t matter if your costume is bought or made, it doesn’t matter if your costume isn’t perfect, because that’s not what cosplaying is all about. It’s about getting to spend the day being the character that you love, it’s about meeting new friends and learning new things. It’s about enjoying yourself! Everyone should give it go!Q: Do you have an account with the website Cosplay island/other social networking sites? You can find me on Cosplay Island and Cosplay.com also. My username, as always, is Efia. Hope to see you around ^_^ |
