Tag: Cosplayer Interviews

Hello,everyone, today will be our new cosplayer interviews day, this time CheekerCosplay will join us and share her cosplay story 🙂

• Introduce you and CheekerCosplay first 🙂 

  My real name is Megan; I’m 19 years old and currently living just shy of New Orleans, Louisiana. I’ve been cosplaying since 2008 and I’ve made over forty costumes to date. (Not including commissions)

• How did you get started in with cosplay, what was your first cosplay?

  I was part of the anime club in high school and our teacher was a cosplayer. She introduced me (as well as everyone else in the club) to the hobby. The summer after my freshmen year was the fourth year of Louisiana’s big convention, MechaCon, and I was very much under the impression that I needed to have a cosplay in order to attend. (I’m not quite sure why) After waiting until the week of the convention, I finally decided what character I wanted to be. One of my cousins and I stayed up all night the night before sewing our butts off to complete Kairi’s pink dress from Kingdom Hearts II. Unfortunately, I have no photos of the costume, and it doesn’t exist anymore.

• What has been your favourite cosplay?

  Right now my favorite cosplay is a tie between Panty (from Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt) and BeastBoy (from Teen Titans). Panty’s personality is so much different than the characters I normally portray, I love it! I also feel like I pull off her character really well. I feel like I actually look the part, which is awesome! My friend and I have won two awards as Panty and Stocking as well, it;s a really awesome feeling. As for BeastBoy, he is just obnoxious and outrageous. It was the second time I had ever crossplayed and I loved it. So many people were convinced I was a male, it was hilarious. I got to be loud and obnoxious and do stupid stuff all around New Orleans Comic-Con, and I got to be green! Haha. I really can’t wait to get to cosplay him again.

• Describe your creative process for starting a costume through completion!

  I’m really bad about overworking myself and picking way too many characters I want to cosplay at once. Usually, one character will really stand out though, and I will just be dying to get a head-start on them. The first thing I always tend to do is buy a wig. Wigs are my favorite thing to shop online for, you can never have enough! I’ll sit and think about how I want to make the outfit for a few days, or even weeks, before I got and buy fabric. Normally during that time, I’ll order the other things I need, like shoes or contacts. Once I purchase the fabric, I sit down and draw out what I’m making and the pieces I’m going to need. I have a stash of patterns that I tend to use or alter to make most of my things, although I will also draft my own or, honestly, just guess and cut pieces out. (Which works surprisingly well most of the time) Once all the pieces are cut out, they’re pinned and sewn together! (With some procrastination in the middle, of course) Then I go through a series of trying things on and altering them and trying them on again until everything fits right. Then it’s time to put the tiny finishing touches (like the accessories or minor details) and prepare to debut the costume for good! Normally I don’t try on the entire cosplay with make-up and all that good stuff until the day of the con. So it’s always a surprise! (I’m not sure if that is a good or a bad thing, haha

 Kio as Kid ChiChi

Black Tie Cosplay as Ox King

Photo credit: Dinnerfortwo Photography (GeorgeM)

• Do you have any favorite Asian films?

  I actually don’t watch a lot of foreign movies aside from anime. But right now, Summer Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time. I love everything about it, the concept, the art, the characters! The movie was so well put together, I cried when it was over because I was just so overwhelmed by how great is was.

• What is the biggest learning curve you have learned about the cosplay in the past years?

  Patterns! I used to never use them, EVER. They just made my head hurt and left a mess all over my living room. It took a long time and a lot of convincing, but finally I started using them, and I must say, my costumes started looking a lot better. Although I still won’t use them from time to time, it’s nice to have them for when they’re needed. I’m also terrible at styling wigs and making boot covers, but hopefully I will get the hang of it eventually.

• Do you have one piece of advice that you would give to cosplay virgins?

  Cosplay what you want and not what you think other people will like! Also know your limits when it comes to making something. It’s better to wait until you’re skilled enough than to try and end up with something you’re going to wish never existed. And lastly, remember to stay strong, work hard, and remember to have fun!

• Lastly, what is your con schedule looking like through early 2013?

  As of right now, my plans are for Katsucon, MegaCon, and Anime Matsuri; none of which are in my home state. 2013 is feeling kinda like “go big or go home!”

Thank you Megan share her real cosplay story at Miccostumes.com, I’m seeking a sponsor opportunity for her, so here we go!