Having The Courage To Cosplay Whoever You Want

Photo by Green House Photography

As a Puerto Rican girl from Philadelphia I have been told numerous times on what I "cant" do. It started early on in my childhood because I was told Hispanics could not accomplish anything. I was expected to drop out of school, join a gang, get pregnant at 16 and other stereotypes. I was even told I was brown eyed (even though my eyes are clearly green). Gender also played a part. I wasnt suppose to read comic books because I was a girl. I shouldnt be collecting action figures or wearing comic themed t-shirts. I was weak because males are the stronger sex. These criticisms often came from strangers, kids on the playground or classmates. Teachers have told me because I had "the face of an angel" I wasnt very smart. When I began costuming in 2006 I was told repeatedly by followers of cosplay (never from a cosplayer) that this was a hobby I should give up because there arent many Latinos in geekdom. I couldnt do it. Supergirl isnt Puerto Rican. There are no Hispanic Final Fantasy characters. There is no Latina Disney Princess. Once again, I decided not to listen and had the courage to cosplay whoever I wanted. Along the way, I have encountered other individuals who do not let gender, race or weight stop them from portraying their favorite characters.

Gender Swap Walking Dead Group at
Dragoncon 2014. Photo by
Project Radio. 

Recently a group of friends visited me from out of town. We had a blast hanging out and doing impromptu photo shoots with many different costumes. One of my favorite shots from the day is of me and Shemika Berry as Harley and Ivy. When I saw the photo, I thought it was a powerful statement on cosplay freedom and how it sends the message on not being afraid of costuming whoever you want. The photo features a Latina as Harley Quinn and an African-American woman as Ivy. And we look fabulous. Cosplay is about creative freedom. If you want to be a gender bender Steampunk Maleficent, go for it! Ethnic Zombie Disney Princess? Yes, please. Dont match the skin tone of the character you want to portray? So what! Plus size superhero? Done! Dont let anything stop you. At the 2014 Dragoncon convention I participated in my first gender swap group. The theme was The Walking Dead and I was Carl Grimes. I cant tell you how much fun and exciting it was to do something different and express our fandom at the same time. If I had listened to the haters, I would not have wonderful experiences such as that.


Let me tell you what this Latina did in the midst of the masses who said I couldnt do anything in life. I graduated High School. I took some collage courses. I have been paid to model. I have been published nationwide for modeling in publications such as Latina Magazine. I wrote an article for a national magazine on Bratz doll collecting. I have worked in Early Child Hood Education for many years. I have been a guest at shows. I write product reviews for my Blog. I started my own birthday entertainment business and I do princess parties. I started the Pennsylvania branch of the Heroes Alliance and manage a team of volunteers and together we do numerous charity events. I moved to the suburbs and am in a stable relationship and we have our own home (and two beautiful cats). I cosplay whoever I want.

Not bad for a Puerto Rican girl who was told she wouldnt amount to anything. My point, friends? Dont listen to the haters and have the courage to cosplay whoever you want and also, have the courage to do whatever you want in your life. It is yours after all :)  #cosplayequality

Visit me on my Official Facebook Page

Read More..

Cosplay Spotlight Jet Cosplay

Photos by Hero Hotties

Hes the Man of Steel everyone is talking about! Jason aka Jet Cosplay has the world of costuming buzzing about his screen accurate Man of Steel Superman, which he debuted this year. I briefly met Jason at the Baltimore Comic-Con and was immediately impressed. Since the initial meeting, we have done a photo shoot and charity event (for St. Judes Children Hospital on behalf of the Heroes Alliance) and I have seen first hand the excitement and joy he brings to the crowds (along with an excessive amount of swooning). So lets get to know the "it" boy in cosplay. Jason talks to the Confessions of a Cosplay Girl Blog about constructing his costume, attending his first convention as Superman, his thoughts on the Man of Steel film and how hes handling all of the attention.

Victoria: You are fairly new to the hobby of costuming. When exactly did you start?

Jason:  For the past few years, I’ve gone out with the same group of friends for Halloween. Every year, we pick a theme, and everyone would either buy their costume or make one, but it’s a friendly competition to “fit in” with the group. During Halloween 2013, one of our friends brought up the idea of going to a convention all dressed up to see what it was about. It sounded like a fun time, so we started planning out our costumes and set our sights on the Wizard World Philadelphia comic convention this past June. Everything else just fell into place after that.

Victoria:  Your Man of Steel suit is very impressive. How long did it take you to construct?

Jason: It took me 4.5 months, and it cost about $1700. The reason it took so long was because I was very new to building a costume like this, and I only worked on it in the evenings in my spare time. And the reason it cost so much was because of the mistakes I made along the way. If I had to build a new one from scratch, I’d say it would take at least three weeks, and would cost about $1200.

Victoria: Can you tell me what your first convention experience as Superman was like?

Photo by Green House Photography

Jason: My first convention experience was interesting. Most of the costumes I made in the past involved armor or regular clothes in some form. The Man of Steel suit is a 100% full body spandex suit. I’m in fairly good shape, but it’s a daunting thing to be out in public wearing nothing but spandex. It took a little while to work up the nerve to leave the hotel room, but after that - things got very interesting. We were walking around the outside of the convention center, trying to figure out where the entrance was. We accidentally walked in one of the exits, and that’s when people spotted me for the first time. It was pure chaos. Kids and adults alike surrounded me, and formed a wall that other people couldn’t get through. I can’t say for sure how many people were waiting for pictures, but it was somewhere in the 100 to 200 range. After an hour or so of pictures, the event organizers pointed us in the direction of the entrance. From there, things got even more intense. After we registered, we made our way up the escalator, and entered the double doors to the main convention. I wasn’t able to leave that spot for a few hours due to all of the pictures. It was flattering, but overwhelming at the same time. My friends got tired of waiting for me with all of the pictures, so they took off and checked out the rest of the convention. I wasn’t so lucky. I’ve never had my picture taken so many times, and the whole idea of posing like a superhero was a foreign concept to me. All in all though, I met a lot of people at my first con, and participated in the costume contest with my friend dressed as Wonder Woman. We ended up getting second place (honorable mention) in the superhero category, but overall it was an awesome experience.

Victoria: You are a hot topic right now in the world of costuming. Costumers and fans of cosplay are buzzing about you. Ive seen for myself the amazing reaction from people when they see you. How are you handling all of the attention and praise?

Jason:  It’s a bit of a change for me, but I don’t mind it at all. I enjoy interacting with everyone, and I try my best to answer any questions people have about the suit or how they can make one of their own. I put a lot of time, energy, and money into my suit, so it definitely feels good when I get to see people’s reactions and know that my efforts are appreciated. I don’t know if it’s my demeanor, or the way I look, but people typically don’t approach me when I’m not in the suit. The Superman character sort of breaks down that barrier, so it’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Victoria: Id like to get your opinion on the Man of Steel film. People are very split on their feelings towards the movie. What were your thoughts?

Jason: I have mixed feelings about it. I think Henry Cavill was the perfect choice for Superman, and I definitely like the concept of modernizing the character and making it as realistic as possible. With that said, I think they overdid it with the action/destruction that was prevalent throughout the second half of the movie. You can only see so many explosions before you become numb to it, and I definitely felt numb by the end of the movie. There was very little emotion in the movie, and the connection between Lois and Clark felt forced. I didn’t get the impression that Superman cares at all about the Earth or its inhabitants, but instead he just tolerates us. I also think they rushed the film, and tried to put too much into one movie. They could have spent the entire first movie doing a more realistic version of the backstory and explaining why he’s the man of steel… Similar to what Christopher Nolan did with Batman Begins. Instead, there was a lot of jumping around, then suddenly he’s Superman, and now he has to fight Zod. It was difficult to process. Regarding the major controversy in the film, I think Superman HAD to kill Zod. There was no other way for it to end. I just hope they use that scene in some way to help shape Superman into the character that everyone knows. All in all, I’d give it a 6 out of 10.

Victoria:  What would you say is your favorite thing about your new found attention thus far? What are you enjoying most? Exposing your work to a new audience? Photo shoots? Friendships? Charity events? Conventions? etc.

Jason: I like it all. I enjoy meeting new people that share similar interests, doing photo shoots with friends, going to charity events, attending conventions, and getting feedback from the audience. My favorite part of it is definitely the kids. It makes me feel good when they feel good. I enjoy seeing their expressions, when they give me high fives, and when they stare at me as I walk by. I was a huge Superman fan when I was growing up, so I’m honored to be able to bring that character to life for them. They’re the most innocent and honest people on Earth, and I think kids are the only people that experience pure emotions. If you can make a kid smile… it’s because they’re genuinely happy. They don’t have ulterior motives, and they don’t want anything from you. They live in the moment, and I’m happy just to be a part of that moment. I’ve given up entire days at conventions so that I’m able to meet and greet every little kid that comes my way. I’ll never pass up an opportunity to create some smiles.

Victoria: What is next on the horizon for you in regards to costuming? Any characters in the works?

Jason:  I really don’t see myself as one of those cosplayers that create a bunch of different costumes. I have nothing against them, but it’s just not for me. I’d rather pick two or three costumes and really nail the character. I’ve gotten quite a few suggestions from friends on Facebook that range from Commander Shepard to The Punisher, but I don’t have any immediate plans to make a new costume yet. Superman was such a central part of my childhood that it became my passion to create the suit. I’m going to wait until I identify with another character like that before I make a new one. In the meantime, my son Gabe wants me to make him a Master Chief costume, and my son Alex has requested Ironman, so I’ll be putting my attention in that direction. People seem to enjoy my Superman costume, and I’m happy to keep portraying it for now. I’ll also be portraying the Man of Steel in the upcoming fan film Justice League: Mortal that’s going to be filming next summer. I don’t have any acting experience, but the role seems pretty easy, and I’m going to put forth my best effort.

Victoria: Any plans to attend any major cons in 2015?

Jason: I’d really like to attend DragonCon and the New York Comic Con. I’ve heard that DragonCon is an awesome time, and I’m looking forward to meeting all of the cosplayers in person that I’m friends with on Facebook. And NYCC was such a blast this year that I have to go back and do it again.


Victoria: Where can people contact you and view a portfolio of your work?

Jason: The best place to contact me is on my JET Cosplay Facebook page. I update it pretty regularly, and I respond to all of the messages and comments I receive.

CLICK HERE for the Hero Hotties Man of Steel Album

and HERE for the Hero Hotties Trinity Album 

Read More..

Regina The Evil Queen Once Upon A Time Gallery

With the Season 4 finale of the ABC television series Once Upon A Time airing this Sunday (May 10th), it seems like the perfect opportunity to showcase my Evil Queen costume. Regina is the Evil Queen from the classic story Snow White. She has banished all of the fairy tale characters to a town called Storybrooke which resides in our world. As if being banished wasnt bad enough, all of our heroes have also been mind wiped and dont remember who they are thus ripping away their happy endings. Regina holds the position of Mayor over the town thus "ruling" them. Seasons 1-3 can currently be viewed on Netflix while Season 4 is streaming on Hulu. Regina is ruthless, sexy and smart. She doesnt let anyone stand in her way and has no problem voicing what she thinks, no matter how brutal.  Below is a gallery of my Regina costume and her Storybook alias, Mayor Mills. You may also notice some other Once characters in the photos ;)

Photography Credits: Photos and Designs by Piera

Green House Photography

Robin Hood: Kevin D Cosplay

Snow White/Mary Margaret: Moonflower Cosplay

Prince Charming/David Nolan: Dave Williams

Visit me on my Official Facebook Page: Victoria Cosplay 

Read More..

Cosplay Spotlight Jenn Croft

 The legendary Lara Croft will be making her triumphant return March 5th, in the highly anticipated Tomb Raider reboot. The game will focus on Laras early years fighting for her life on a deadly and mysterious island.  In honor of Lara returning to the world of video games I contacted Jenn Croft, who is my favorite Lara Croft costumer for an interview with the Confessions of a Cosplay Girl Blog.  The California beauty, who currently resides in Australia, chats about her thoughts regarding Laras new beginning, her 25 Tomb Raider costumes and which actress she would select to bring Lara back to the big screen.











Victoria: How long have you been cosplaying Lara Croft?

Jenn: 13 years.

Victoria: How many Lara costumes do you currently own?


Jenn: I think its somewhere around the 25 mark. I stopped counting long ago.

Victoria: Do you have any Tomb Raider costumes planned for the future?

Jenn: Yes, I am about to start working on the sola wetsuit next week.

Victoria: What did you think of the movies starring Angelina Jolie? Would you like to see those films continue or do you think a reboot is in order?

Jenn: The movies were fun. I dont think they were as close to the games as they could have been but Angelina Jolies acting job was great. That being said, I really hope there is a reboot because although they were entertaining, the movies do need a reboot to match the new Lara from this years game.

Victoria: Speaking of reboot, the new Tomb Raider game will be released soon. How do you feel about them rebooting the franchise with a young, inexperienced Lara?

Jenn: I think its great! This is a side of Lara that nobody has seen before so it was always this void in Laras history that we never got to experience before. I am excited to see how the story of this game pans out and how it will compliment the heroine we all have come to love over the years.

Victoria: If you could cast a new actress to take over the role of Lara, who would you select?

Jenn: I would pick Lyndsy Fonseca because to me she looks just like the reboot Lara and has proven that she can act the part of an action girl from her role in the TV show Nikita.

Victoria: Aside from cosplay, what other hobbies do you enjoy?

Jenn: I have many hobbies. Probably too many, in fact. I enjoy extreme sports such as rock climbing, base jumping, skydiving. I love motorcycles and firearms. I have a huge passion for animals as well. And that is just to name a few.

Victoria: Do you have any new costumes currently in the works?

Jenn: Yes, the Sola wetsuit from Tomb Raider 2!

Victoria: Will you be attending any conventions in 2013?

Jenn: I may be attending some conventions in Australia this year such as Supanova or Oz Comic Con both in Melbourne, but its still uncertain at this point.

Read More..

Interview Kingdom Come Director Andrew List

In 1996 DC Comics released the mini-series "Kingdom Come" written by Alex Ross and Mark Waid (with art by Mr. Ross). The series chronicled the events of a retired Superman going back into action after the world has fallen into chaos due to the new generation of superheroes. Supermans return inspires other retired heroes to get back into the game but not without challenges from the government and Lex Luthors Mankind Liberation Front. A war ensues when the rebellious new generation of heroes revolt and face off in a battle against our classic heroes (lead by Wonder Woman). Armageddon arrives when Captain Marvel, who is fighting for the MLF, and The Man of Steel face off.

The series quickly became a best seller and is a favorite amongst comic fans world wide. A Fan Film directed by Andrew List and starring Margie Cox and Danny Kelley will be released sometime this year. Read below to find out what the director has to say about bringing the classic story to life.

Victoria:  What made you decide to turn Kingdom Come into a fan film?

Andrew: I’ve loved comics forever. Superman stories are typically my favorite. I’m a big fan of the Death and Return of Superman story and Kingdom Come. They both have very biblical type feels to them and Kingdom Come was basically an untapped resource in terms of live action.

Victoria: What is it about the story that intrigues you?

Andrew: I really love the biblical feel it has in it, like Superman’s second coming in a similar meaning to Jesus’ second coming. I love the way the story is written and the way everything plays out in the story.

Victoria:  It was reported that fans donated a total of $10,000 to the film. Is this true?

Andrew: Incorrect. Our goal was to raise $8,000 for this project, we made it to $5,617! It ended up being just enough to cover some very important aspects in making this project come to life. I was beyond happy with how many fans dove in and donated to this project to make it come to life. I know it’s a cliche thing to say, but this really would NOT be happening if it was not for the fans help.

Victoria: How long did filming take and how many locations did you visit?

Andrew: Filming was packed into two very long days (6am to 10pm each day approx.) Without going into too many details we did visit 9 different locations to bring this to life.

Victoria: Will we be seeing memorable scenes from the graphic novel such as the battle at Gulag?

Andrew: No comment.

Victoria:  I understand that the film is in fact an extended trailer. How long will it run?

Andrew: Correct. We went the route of an extended trailer because to make the Kingdom Come novel into a full length film it would cost millions of dollars (as anyone who has read the novel can agree with). We wanted to get our favorite scenes and bring them to life. The estimated length of the trailer will be between 3-4 minutes.

Victoria: Can you give me a complete list of the cast and what part they will be playing?

Andrew: Sorry. I really can’t! But all that have been made public are listed on our Facebook page.

Victoria: When will Kingdom Come be released and where can people see it?

Andrew: No projected date at the moment (other than this year). It just really comes down to getting the visual effects to look as good as they can, which takes time! We want NOTHING rushed on this!

Victoria: What was your favorite scene from the book to bring to life?

Andrew: I know, another thing I can’t talk about! But I will say the Kent farm scenes were a whole lot of fun to film. Everyone worked together and made this come to life!

Read More..

Cosplay Spotlight Zack Santiago

 Zack Santiagos costumes and craftmanship are best described as impressive. The New York native who currently resides in Florida, is well known in the world of cosplay. Zack took some time to talk to the Confessions of a Cosplay Girl Blog about his craft, commissions he has available and the world of comic books .

Victoria: How long have you been cosplaying?

Zack: I think its been around 6 years really doing cosplay for cons and focusing on projects. Though Ive been making costumes since I was 6 designing characters and making costumes. Playing pretend throwing whatever I can on to look like the character Im pretending be. My parents always thought I was odd sometimes but Im also from an odd family. lol. They were always encouraging of me and my hobbies. My mother was the one who taught me to sew with a thread and needle.

Victoria: What are your costume plans for 2013?

Zack: My plans for 2013? Im currently working on a IronMan mk7 suit. My goal more so then anything is I wont be making costumes that I cant also use for doing charity events and visits to childrens hospitals. I enjoy costuming and cosplay but Im always asked by friends to make costumes for groups and skits and whatnot but its costly unless they make the suit lol then Im game. So major goal is to focus what costumes I can do to change up what people will see me in usually and also be effective for charity events.

Victoria: What is your favorite convention memory?

Zack: My favorite con memory? Honestly I cant really say. Usually each time is definitely a crazy experience lol. Though recently I did have a really amazing chance to meet Dean Cain at Dragoncon. During the big DC universe shoot I was wearing my Dean Cain Superman suit that my friend Danny had given me. I was told by my friend Bryan he was working on trying to get him down for the shoot. Naturally Im excited though I figured I probably would be lost in the crowd of people to Dean. Lo and behold they ask me to step down from where I was to stand next Dean for the group pics. I just was in shock meeting the Man of Steel! I did everything in my power not to cry in front of him (I totally cried after though) he liked my suit and complimented me. We grabbed pics together and honestly it still makes me tear up knowing I got to meet a big part of my childhood.

Victoria: Would you say that cosplay has had a positive impact on your life?

Zack: Cosplay like anything else has its positives and definitely its negatives. Its always nice to let those positives outshine the negative. Whats been something positive is Im known for doing alot of different Super Hero costumes. Most people are just people in Costume sometimes theyre the same person despite the cape or mask. I know many others who feel otherwise and its inspired me to do the same. I dont suit up and act like someone else as much as people feel. Ive been inspired by others around me to maintain that wanting and willing attitude to still be a positive role model. Im imperfect as all humans are so I do have my moments that are less then positive though I strive towards self-improvement everyday and offering to help others whenever I can. A big thing I enjoy most is the feeling of putting on the suit and visiting children in hospitals and seeing them smile and being in high spirits despite their health. It really makes everything worth it.

Victoria: You are currently accepting commissions. What types of costumes and accessories are you offering and how can people place an order?

Zack: I currently make custom pillows for nerds I have a wide selection of possible styles and variations I can make. Hats are something Im.toying around with too. I also do props and costumes, though, Ive been pushing more of the pillows since they been a popular item. I make RedHood animated style hoods (theyre fabric not resin). Im currently working on other projects like custom hoodies an utility belts for future options for people who want to commission. Im always open to messages via cloudwarrior75.deviantart.com Im working on an Etsy and fb page. I do have a fb though Im trying to separate commission stuff and personal.

Victoria: What comics are you currently reading?

Zack: Ironically with all the crazy stuff going on and in around comics I havent read one in some time now. I do know my comics and I keep update though its gotten costly so I stick with reading my old stuff. lol.  Less hassle to deal with for my wallet and I stay up to date with whats going on in the stuff I like.

Victoria: What are your thoughts on the new Man of Steel trailer?

Zack: The Man of Steel is the topic alot have been discussing. I am a Supes fan for sure the new trailer recently I think really reminded me what Im excited for. People been upset still with the content of the trailer be it music or something. I honestly enjoyed seeing the action and something that didnt seem like a trailer for Aquaman the movie. lol.

Victoria: Speaking of comic films, what is your favorite comic book movie?

Zack: Good question. Im a simple guy actually I find something I can appreciate in most comic book movies I watch. I really cant say which I like more really itd be a long list lol though for the sake of picking one of them Id say I always enjoy watching BATMAN Returns.

Victoria: Whats the worse comic book film youve seen?

Zack: Now I know Ive said I look for the good in every film I watch .......but omg I can still list horrible comic book movies Ive seen. lol. Though at the top of the list would probably be "Catwoman". Ill just leave it at that. lol

Read More..

Insulting Photo Requests Cons

"I HATE Angelina Jolie! But that new movie  looks cool. Can I take your picture?

These were the words that were spoken to me as I toured the convention floor in my Couture Maleficent costume. This costume was important to me for many reasons. I had put a lot of work into making the horns, gloves and staff. It took me an hour to do my makeup and put my contact lenses in. Maleficent is my favorite Disney villain and Angelina Jolie is my favorite woman in the world. My Couture Maleficent was a labor of love and I created it to express my fandom for the character and the woman who was bringing her to life on the big screen. So imagine my utter disgust that someone told me directly to my face that they hated her.

Normally when I encounter a difficult person at a convention, I simply walk away. I feel that is the classy way of dealing with a situation and it certainly gets the point across that I want nothing to do with you. Unfortunately in this case, I was at this particular show as a guest and didnt want all of the hard working people who put the show together to look bad on account of my behavior. As such, I posed for a photo for this incredibly rude woman (who was a vendor) who insulted me.

Yes, I consider it insulting when I spend hours upon hours creating a costume and accessories in the image of a particular Hollywood actress and you tell me that you hate her. Sadly, I know many other costumers who have faced the same infuriating situation. People have insulted their character and expressed their hatred for them. They have gone as far as getting into debates with costumers. Why is it these individuals feel that this is appropriate? What are they thinking? Or perhaps it is the simple fact that they are NOT thinking. To quote the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz:

"Well, some people without brains do an awful lot of talking dont they?" 

 Dont be a douche bag. Cosplayers are not interested in your disapproval of the characters we are portraying. We could easily tell you we hate your hair and that outfit you put on. If you have nothing nice to say, dont say anything at all. If you dont like how we are dressed, then keep on walking. Insulting photo requests are not the best way to ask for a picture. And to my fellow costumers, if you have a run in with the village idiot, walk away or better yet, tell that person to step off. You are not interested in their petty anger towards a fictional character. Go away.



                                            Visit me on my Official Facebook Page.

Read More..

10 Epic Wonder Woman Cosplays

Since her debut in December 1941 in All Star Comics #8, Wonder Woman has become a world wide phenomenon and pop culture icon. With her strength, warrior skills, compassion and intellect theres no argument in stating that she is the most famous and recognizable female super hero in the world. She has been celebrated in comics, television, cartoons and various fan art and fan fiction. Millions of cosplayers have donned the tiara and golden lasso including yours truly. The Confessions of a Cosplay Girl Blog is proud to feature 10 amazing costume artists who breathe life into the Amazon Warrior Princess.

Margie Cox

Valerie Perez

Golden Lasso Cosplay

Meagan Marie

Candy Keane

Katie Cosplays

Callie Cosplay

Illyne

SnuggieMouse

y-o-s-s-i

Read More..

The Biggest Critics of Cosplay The Non Cosplayer

Much like movies and gossip magazines, the world of cosplay has its own group of critics. I have been the recipient of many comments on what I "did wrong" with my costume. I have also seen similar comments on other cosplayers pages. The funny thing is, I dont post pictures with the head line What do you think? Open to critique. What did I do wrong?" (and majority of the time, neither do other cosplayers). I post photos on my public account simply to share. I ask for advice where it matters; from my personal cosplay friends on my private account (which is locked up). What boggles my mind is that the biggest critics of cosplay are coming from the non-cosplayer.

I like to do my research. Whenever someone criticizes my photos or costumes, I take the liberty to click on that persons profile. I usually find a false name with a cartoon avatar. On other occasions I have scrolled through the persons profile to discover that they are not a cosplayer, not a professional model, not a professional photographer, not a makeup artist and they are not into physical fitness. They are generally a fan of comic books and like to follow cosplayers. Guess what? THIS DOES NOT MAKE YOU AN EXPERT ON COSTUMING.

  

Just because you read comics does not mean you know anything about how to care or style wigs. It does not make you an authority on sewing. It does not make you a trained psychical fitness expert. You are not the chief executive on womens fashion. You know nothing about applying makeup, false eye lashes or body paint. You dont know anything about fabric. Its really best you keep your thoughts to yourself unless you are willing to provide your stunning costume portfolio. 

Note to the critical non-cosplayer; cosplayers dont do anything "wrong". They create an outfit and emulate a character how THEY want to. Its not about you and your personal standards. Its about the individual cosplayer, their vision and how they used their creativity to bring a character to life. 

How can you give "advice" or a "suggestion" when you dont have any experience? 

Visit me on my Official Facebook Page

Read More..

Cosplay Spotlight Lucid Cosplay

For this edition of Cosplay Spotlight, I chose to showcase my dear friend Lucid Cosplay. Lucid is one of the most beautiful and talented costumers in the community. In addition to being my friend, I have always admired Lucids craftsmanship. She took some time out to talk to the Confessions of a Cosplay Girl Blog about creating costumes, her love for the character Poison Ivy and what she has in store for the future.




Victoria: How long have you been costuming?

Lucid: Ive been sewing my own costumes since 2002 but was putting together costumes from found items back in 1998. My first costume was Mileena from the original mortal Kombat game. I was part of a martial arts demonstration team and we all dressed as the characters for our fight skits. I bought a purple dance leotard and cut up purple tights for the "boots," gloves, and face mask. I was pretty much hooked after that.

Victoria: Where did you learn how to sew?

Lucid: My grandmother taught me how to hand sew when I was little so I could make dresses for my stuffed animals. I was in the 8th grade when my mom bought me an inexpensive sewing machine and she showed me the basics. I learned a lot from a course I took in college. The rest has been a lot of trial and error.

Victoria: What advice would you give to people who want to learn how to hand stitch and use a sewing machine but dont know how? Where can they learn?

Lucid: Definitely take a class. Working on your own and trying to teach yourself is a good start, but Ive learned most of the really important stuff from watching someone else. Its a great way to learn how to take care of your machine and keep it running smoothly, getting the basics down, learning the little tips and tricks that make projects easier, and its always nice to have someone who knows what theyre doing answer questions and point you in the right direction.

Victoria: Youve done many versions of Poison Ivy. How many have you done and which one is your favorite?

Lucid: Oh man... I think Ive done 6 variations of Ivy: two Classic, two 1950s style, a spring time Ivy, and a Disney Princess Ivy. While I have always loved the classic Ivy, Id have to say the 50s Ivy has been my favorite. Its sassy without showing too much and I adore period fashion. But I will say I still cant get over wearing the giant princess dress. I dont care what anyone says, big dresses are fun!

Victoria: What are your thoughts on Ivys costume in the New 52?

Lucid: I really like the New 52 Ivy. Its a completely different look for her and thats what makes it interesting. Ivy is one of the few characters that doesnt have to be canon to get the love. I have seen so many versions of her out there. I get excited going to D*C (Dragon Con) because of the giant Bat Family shoot. Seeing all the variants of Ivy and how everyone does her differently is the best! It shows shes more personality than costume. I am currently planning another 4-5 incarnations of Ivy, including the New 52 look.

Victoria: What is the most complicated outfit you have ever created?

Lucid: Id have to say the costume Im working on right now probably takes the cake on that one. Yuuko Ichihara from xxxHolic is a character known for her lavish lifestyle, so this incorporates a lot of different elements - from a traditional Japanese kimono to hand beading, creating custom appliqués... Im even trying my hand at props making, which is a first for me. Ive learned a lot from previous costumes that I can use for this character. I was thrilled to figure out a way to make the obi into the shape of a butterfly! I love being able to learn new techniques to use on future projects.

Victoria: What costumes do you have planned for the future?

Lucid: Too many. But I think thats par for the course with costuming. Im currently planning on re-working "Femy" (gender bent Gambit), Black Canary, other seasons of Ivy, and a few more I havent quite hashed out the details for as of yet.

Victoria: In addition to being an accomplished costumer, you have also appeared in a comic book. Can you tell me about that?

Lucid:  Ive been fortunate enough to meet some of the most wonderful people at conventions. I met Chris and Alan Hebert, creators of Hb Comics, at Wizard World Philly a few years back and Im so fortunate to say weve become good friends. I was flattered and humbled (and really excited, I wont lie) when I was asked if they could use my likeness in their comic called Lazerman for one of the member so the villainous Diamond Gang, named Pearl. They debuted the issue with Pearl this year at Philly and surprised me with the character as a standee on their table! I surprised them by creating the costume for Pearl for the con. I may sound like Im geeking out, but its so cool seeing your face in a comic book!

Victoria:  Where can people contact you and view a port of your work?

Lucid: Im a horrible self-promoter. I can be reached via my Facebook personal page or my Fan Page and email: Lucid Cosplay (lucid.cosplau@gmail.com).

Read More..

Geek Goddess speaks out

Stereo Types. Cyber Bullying. Trolling. These are the three major issues causing stress on the world wide web today. No one is safe. Everyone has become a victim of some sort of harassment via the Internet and everyone has been judged. I want to take this time to focus on a specific category of women who have experienced the unfair judgement of the Internet. The models at Geek Goddess "aim to show that a woman can be sexually liberated, be sexy and be empowered." Persecuted as "whores" and "fake geeks" simply because they are nude models, Oracle and Jessica Nova took the time to share their side of the story.








Authors: Jessica Nova and Oracle

There has been a lot of talk lately in the cosplay community and the overall nerd/geek community in general regarding appropriate behavior when it comes to other members of the community, especially women. Whether you want to talk about bullying or consent the problem is more complicated than simply identifying and categorizing. It’s deeper than a few creeps that don’t know better and can’t be solved with a clever tag line or an Internet campaign, no matter how well meaning. The ugly truth is that the problem is not limited to nerd culture and conventions. What is seen as a problem is really a symptom of the real problem, the ingrained and often subconscious views regarding gender and sex that plague our society.

Over time women have gained more freedom over their life but with that freedom has comes expectations and restrictions. The push and the pull of stereotypes. The Virgin and the Whore. Those are the categories and options that society gives; you are either the virgin or the whore. Stereotypes never work because people are more complicated. So what are these stereotypes and how do they relate to nerd girls?

 The virgin: If you want respect, if you want to be seen as someone with intelligence and something genuine to offer the world, you are not supposed to show you want sex, talk about sex, or dress in a provocative manner. At least not publicly.

The whore: If you want to have sex, if you talk about sex, if you look sexy or show off your body then immediately you must be a woman of loose morals with no real value to give other than that body. These stereotypes are perpetuated by society even as advertising campaigns make it clear that all a woman has to offer the world is her body and her sex. But only if that body is unrealistically perfect. How confusing a girl must feel growing up these days. Commercials tell her to dress in an outfit that is barely there while the rest of society tells her that to be respected she must be viewed based on her mind and not her body. Men are told to want the scantily clad beauty while being subconsciously shown that she is an object, that she wants the attention and that she doesn’t deserve respect. This sets him up for failure and maybe even a kick to the groin later in life, maybe many kicks. It has also led to many of the problems regarding the appropriate way to react to a cosplayer that are plaguing conventions today. Thankfully humans are, at least in theory, capable of independent thought and should be able to rise above the choices society has made for them. Woman can never be truly equal, truly liberated, until we are accepted as complex beings with many facets.

Geek Goddess aims to show that a woman can be sexually liberated, be sexy and be empowered. She can be naked and still kick your ass at halo. She can be wearing skin tight latex and still roll a natural 20 to save the day. She can have amazing cleavage and still hold a lively and intelligent debate. But change is hard and often painful. While we are confident societies views can mature and change and women can be seen as whole beings we know it won’t happen overnight. Becoming a Goddess will bring you attention... but some of that attention will be negative. It’s not acceptable or appropriate; it is realistic. Even as I write this there is someone somewhere calling one of our Goddesses fat or ugly, or saying she is a slut. Trolls are everywhere. And there will always be someone out there looking to bring themselves up by putting someone down. We can’t stop them; we don’t have to support them. We can speak out against their hatred and fear and jealousy. We can stand up for our Goddesses and all other nerdy woman. We can educate the men and women that don’t realize they are harming the community. But we’ll still need to knock the occasional Troll off the bridge. And that won’t end until all of nerdom comes together to reject the Nerd Bully in all his or her incarnations and return to our roots of acceptance over cruelty.

Read More..