Cosplay Moon has a new cosplayer interview you must read. Hellspawned_Cosplay!! Everyone who’s ever cosplayed has a story, meet one of ours who is a cosplay dad. Demetrius has some serious knowledge regarding the characters he cosplays and you won’t believe the costumes. Hellspawned_Cosplay involves his son Kaua’i in the cosplay process and the videos are fantastic.

I have been excited about this because I found out about you from Claude Xavier and the interview with him was really good.

Your baby is adorable and I love the photoshoot where you did the smoke and it was the baby and you. Tell me a little about that process and what makes Kauai such a good model? Besides being adorable???

Well first off, thank you for having me and the kind words. Those smoke bombs were provided by Smoke Effect, a company that specializes in adding practical smoke aesthetics for photography and video applications. They allowed me to showcase their devices in my own way and that video of me being the Sub-Zero Ranger from a fan series on Youtube called “Kombat In The Grid” was it. Basically, it’s a series where the ninjas from Mortal Kombat are clashing with the Power Rangers. As for the video, I was in Ranger form and I transitioned from myself to my son in his Ranger form the way it was done in the Mortal Kombat games…a Babality; where the character turns into a baby version of themselves. It’s silly but perfect for what is present in my life. That was simple process of me filming myself with the smoke bomb and then replacing myself with Kaua’i to film the rest of it. Kaua’i is super coachable. He listens and interprets the information as best as he can and he’s in that mimic mode of his second year of life. Also, I’m very patient with him and keep expectations low for what I want him to do. He’s a baby still and most of the time, babies give you gold by just being themselves and I’m just hopeful I’m prepared to capture it all when it comes.

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A post shared by Demetrius S Holt (@hellspawned_cosplay)

I see that you, me and Claude have all been He–Man fans at one point in time. Mine was in the 80’s when I was a kid and it first came out. I thought Skeletor was the bomb then. Tell me about your love for the show.

I’ll be 38 years old come the 21st of April…so I was around for the 80s Filmation series as well. My love for the show was based on VHS recordings sent to me by my dad who was overseas when they came on. So I was watching that, Silverhawks, Robotech and Transformers episodes before they were on the Sci-Fi channel at 7am on weekdays. The lessons from the PSAs at the end of the episodes always stuck with me in one way or another so that meant the character was with me as I grew up. When the live action movie came out, I was there and watched it every time it was on HBO…I know it was bad but I’m allowed to love garbage. I was always more of a “Swords and sandals/Magic and Might” fan as opposed to the GI Joe side of things. There was just something more appealing about having the inner strength of character to not let absolute power corrupt you the way that Adam never let the Power of Grayskull change who he was.

That is so well put. You are very articulate and I appreciate you for getting into that and sharing.

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A post shared by Demetrius S Holt (@hellspawned_cosplay)

I’m not familiar with hell-spawned. Is that the golden winged figure I see on your profile? I think it is absolutely amazing so tell me about the costume and where you are.

“Hellspawned” is a play off my favorite comic book character: Spawn. He is a hellspawn from Hell charged with duty of leading it’s army to the gates of Heaven and burning them down. He doesn’t do that, of course but again, his strength of character to not let power corrupt him is wholly appealing to me. As far as my name is concerned, “Hellspawned Cosplay” is a phrase that I had in my head when I think about how I want people to see my cosplay. “Cosplay so good, that a deal with the devil had to have been made.” Therefore, the cosplay was hellspawned. The golden winged figure you’re referring to is Hawkman from DC Comics. That was a collaborative project between myself and Woman of Wonders8 on Instagram where we designed and created a cosplay in celebration of Aldis Hodge playing the role of Hawkman in the upcoming Black Adam movie, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the titular character. Other entities were involved to provide funding but they wish to remain anonymous. It was put together within 3 months and debuted at KatsuCon 2022 at the Gaylord Hotel at the National Harbor in Washington, DC. I’m going to do more with it in the future, I just haven’t had the opportunity to break out the wings that make me about 8 ½ ft tall.

Wow! That’s so amazing and Dwayne Johnson has got to be at the top of the list for most people’s favorite actor. I know I think he is awesome. All of my kids (but they are grown) LOVE superhero movies so I can’t wait to see it with them.

Workouts!!!! I love working out. What is your routine and do you preworkout or no? Do you do protein powders? I know I like to make vegan gluten free cookies with my powder.

I am a former amatuer bodybuilder and I’ve won competitions on NPC circuit here on the east coast. Now that I’ve got my son, I don’t particularly focus on a routine or a regimen to get a workout in. I do however, make sure I get at least 30 minutes of cardio on the stairmaster at least 3 times a day…for now. I don’t do any protein powders or pre-workout mixes. They tend to keep you bloated and I use BCAAs, Creatine and Glutamine mixes to abate the soreness and help the recovery after a training session.

You just gave me a fact about the protein powders that I didn’t know. Good tips!!

Where are you with all of the star wars cards?

I’m not sure of what you’re referring to. I have some Tops cards but I was never an active collector of them.

Your profile says you are an electrician. Is it hard balancing work, daddy time, and cosplaying plus workouts for you?

Well….until something changes, I only get my son for 15% of the time. There’s a real disconnect in the Maryland Court system where Fathers aren’t given the same consideration for time as Mothers are when they are not a couple and it’s maddening. I’ve been fighting for 50/50 custody as the plaintiff since Kaua’i was 6 days old and have spent over $67,000 in legal fees to only end up with 15% of the time with him. So with that being said, when it comes to “Daddy Time”…nothing gets in it’s way. I don’t work. I don’t have any other engagements to attend. I just focus on him and what we could do together during those few hours or that weekend. So the balance is essentially just ripping and running UNTIL I get with him and then things just naturally slow down and become super meaningful.

Awww. That is literally the sweetest thing. I’m sure your son loves every second he has with you and kids love the fantasy world, which should indicate something to all of us in the rat race. We should be living in the fantasy world and being creative a lot more than any of us are. I believe it is the way were designed to think.

MCU INstagram at the beginning of this post there are some really cool effects. Tell me about this post.

Back in 2019, Naiquan Midyett/CosplayNay…pulled together 100 cosplayers from all over the country to come to New York for a massive photo/video shoot to celebrate Avengers Endgame. Even though I had only been in cosplay for 2 years at this point, he and the team who helped put this event together had been aware of me and asked me to cosplay as Heimdall. Those 3 minutes in that post essentially details the process of all the cosplayers converging in New York to make that magical moment happen. Oh the times we had before the pandemic.

Check out this Instagram post to see some behind the scenes clips.

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A post shared by Demetrius S Holt (@hellspawned_cosplay)

Yes, the world has definitely changed drastically and still is, but that is really impressive to be able to participate in a cosplay event like that and to be chosen!!

Hellspawned This photo is literally scary and I love it. Tell me about creating this one. Also, do you have a photographer that you like to work with?

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A post shared by Demetrius S Holt (@hellspawned_cosplay)

That Spawn suit is a durable movie grade latex/rubber suit created by Sinistur on IG. It’s the version from the 1997 movie of the same name. JayLee Photography shot that one and they’re a married couple that specializes in Wrestling Photography. Creating that image was really just being a dark place with the elements of what the character is and who he is. We knew we wanted a freshly “wet” look akin to the movie when he first gained his armor so lowering the lights and making slow, deliberate movements was the best way to achieve that goal. If you’re a fan of a certain Netflix Director/Youtuber, you’ll be seeing this suit again soon but in action.

It’s time for Hollywood to give you a call. Your cosplays are so impressive and I think you have what it takes to be a superhero.

I have worked with a bevy of photographers but I like the ones who want to stay involved with me and what I may come up with. Last year’s Juneteeth Cosplay.

Thank you so much for doing this interview with me. I really appreciate your time and I enjoyed going through all of your photos and hearing what you have to say about all of the characters and cosplays.

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SpinJoy Tells Me About Her Hooping Lifestyle

April 27, 2022 Prism Raves

Thank you for interviewing with me. You are my first flow artist and I’m very excited.

I love this first photo. Where is it and what are you doing? Performing or joining in?

So this was taken in January at an event run by the City of Sydney. They shut down a freeway in the middle of the city and set up a festival event that overlooked the harbour and Opera House. It was one of the coolest locations I’ve ever performed.

Puppy!!!! I love dogs and if someone has a dog on their profile I like to include a pic. What’s the name and tell me about where you got him/her. Pic

Our dog is a 5 month old Golden Retriever named Cactus. He’s got his own instagram @_cactusjoy_

There is a camel in the background!!! Where is this? I love it…

Rave Princess Lightweight Cotton T-Shirt

This is a video of Soyella (@soyfulladventures) using some SpinJoy hoops on the Camel Ranch she works at. She’s actually amazing and is definitely worth a follow.

Very cute outfit. So you make products with your name on them?

While we do sell our own SpinJoy merch, this outfit in particular is a custom costume I have for me and my team. We wear these in alternating neon with the business branding. You definitely can’t miss us, they’re bright!

Haha thank you. The event had set up giant glowing mushrooms that people could walk amongst. It was awesome.

I love how colorful this photo is. Are you doing a shoot or getting ready to go somewhere?

This was a photoshoot of a look that we get booked for a lot. The donut outfits are really popular. This kind of bright, happy and colourful vibe is very on-brand for the type of work we do with kids and community events. We like to add a bit of colour and fun. The kids love it.

Such a great photoshoot. Tell me about this one.

This is another shot from the same shoot for our costume portfolio. These characters are called the ‘Harlequeenz’ and the costume itself is our standard for circus themed gigs. For higher end corporate jobs we work with a make-up artist @themakeupwardrobe who does some really epic looks that take the costume to the next level.

Who or what inspired you to start hooping?

I saw hoop dance online and decided I wanted to learn. I thought it looked so beautiful and graceful. I also wanted to connect with a community of people and make some new friends/find a new hobby. It kinda took over my life from there. I ended up quitting my desk job 8 months later to pursue this as my full time career. I’ve been hula hooping professionally for over 8 years now.

Who is your favorite flow artist and why?

It’s impossible for me to identify a favourite flow artist. I really appreciate the unique perspective each individual brings to their own practice, no matter their level. I find it especially satisfying to see when someone has managed to switch off to the pressure of the audience gaze and really drop into their flow.

What’s coming up for you?

At the moment I’m focusing on keeping my business running while also studying full time. I started a Bachelor of Nursing a couple of months ago.

Working as an entertainer through the pandemic has been challenging and nursing has been something I’ve always wanted to pursue.

I’d love to see if the two skills intersect down the line, possibly utilizing all the experience I have with children’s entertainment to help me with pediatric nursing. Who knows!

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Vampire Obsession

March 28, 2022 Prism Raves

Nosferatu Ringneck Tumbler, 30oz

Why do we have obsessions with vampires? What makes a blood-sucker so exciting and addictive? Is the vampire a romantic in your mind or a killer? Is it the strength, the beautiful skin that will never change, or the dying devotion. How long will this desire for a dead man live in my head; never to fade away. The thoughts of eternal life from one bite was so exhilarating.

Vampires have come a long way from my years on the earth from reading Salem’s Lot in the 90’s as a young teen, and the vampire being an old creepy thing. To the books I ready from Anne Rice later in the 90’s; The Interview With The Vampire series. I even had two cats name Louis and Lestat. The blonde cat was of course Lestat and my black cat was Louis. I also read the Vampire Diaries books in the 90’s and I remember Elena being described with long silvery hair that was so long it hung across the hand brake of her car. You may know what a hand break is to realize how long her hair would have been in the book.

Daeva With Vampire Teeth Champion Women’s Heritage Cropped T-Shirt

See case study ↗

I slightly remember Bella Legosi; the original movie Nosferatu. So, when I say Billy Wirth playing a vampire alongside Keifer Sutherland in The Lost Boys, I about fell out suffering from a heartbreak knowing I couldn’t have Billy. I was only about 13 at the time, but my love for vampires was cemented into my heart. The love for a pale man with long dark hair and blue eyes with red lips was it for me. I would never waiver in my love for these men even though I am now in my late 40’s.

The thought of a man who has lived through many decades and seen so many changes in history, yet he finds you to be the most irresistible woman after all of his lonely years suffering on this earth. This is what deep romanticism is all about. Take Edward and Bella; the newest addition to the vampire love. Pouring through lifetimes that will never end. The story is always the same; love me forever with passion that never wanes.

It is hard to remember what the book series says about Elena’s love life, but with the television series, Elena is so irresistible to two brothers who have lived over 100 years makes you want to be her. She’s so amazing she has a doppleganger…

For the younger generation born after 2000, you may not have heard about Type O Negative. The original vampire band from the 90’s that isn’t goofy vampire music. hey use truly transcendent sounding notes from what would you imagine the vampire music would sound like from the 20’s or before. Where Peter Steele rolls his R’s and sounds like an old school vampire the way he says Nosferatu in Black No. 1. after the first chorus their music, as well as using some harpsichord notes towards the end of the song. Then it transitions into hard rocking metal that hooks you once the bass drops. A little bit of Herman Munster organ with Alice In Chains banging, goose-bump inducing music. Peter Steele epitomizes what a vampire singer would really be like.

Daeva With Vampire Teeth Toiletry Bag

https://cosplaymoon.com/products/daeva-with-vampire-teeth-toiletry-bag

Then we move onto Supernatural, a series I love so much I am watching all 15 seasons for the second time around. The vampires in that show also have an undying love for their lifetime mate. Yet their teeth are so not sexy in the show. It is not what I want my vampire to look like and I see vampires as having lived long enough to be very good with money and having saved and created a financial heap so large they have a gothic mansion to live in. Not a barn or an abandoned building.

So this leads me to Klaus Mikaelson, Oh My God!! He is so beautiful and Joseph Morgan played such an amazing vampire patriarch who loved his family but wasn’t afraid to put a stake in them for a few decades. He shows his vulnerable side to very few. But, Camille he loved and it made us want to be Camille and how could she reject him and not love him back the way he loved her.

Those Lips, Damn

I guess I will be 80 years old and still rocking out to Type O and Alice in Chains. As long as Netflix plays my beloved vampire series’ and movies I will still be re-watching all of them. There is a power in staying young and not getting the wrinkles and sagging body. Maybe in the next life this will become a reality. The superstitions and myths came from somewhere and they must exist in another universe. Until then, I will be waiting for my vampire love of a lifetime.

Prism Raves

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Candy Keane Is A Cosplaying Mom

March 27, 2022March 28, 2022 Prism Raves

Thank you so much for interviewing with me.

One of your highlights that I thought was interesting was a yard full of bubbles and kid’s playing. How did you fill up a yard with bubbles and while we speak about kids, tell me about your kids, how many, ages, homeschooled or school, etc…

My son Keelan is 6 and in 1st grade. The yard full of bubbles was for his 6th birthday party and a company called SuddenlyFoam.com comes out and pumps the yard full of foamy bubbles. It’s pretty cool and lasts a few hours, then disappears. The kids loved it!
Here is the link to the video on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sewgeekmama/video/6893124024247782662?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id6928360530521900550

I am also a mom, but my children are grown… what’s it like being a mom cosplayer and do you come up against any opposition with anyone saying anything negative, or do you get positive vibes from everyone?

It’s been very positive so far. I try and keep things fairly family-friendly on my social media and I have a pretty short fuse for people who say anything rude or negative and just delete and block when necessary. I don’t have time to engage with negative people.

That’s one thing that changed since becoming a mom- I just don’t have the time and energy to deal with toxic people anymore. Dealing with a high-energy little kid is enough, lol.

Photo: Chewbacca and Darth Vadar, photo by Sean Keane

I get a lot of Lita Ford vibes from your rocker pics, I love them, and I remember Jem and the Holograms from when I was a kid. I thought that was the most amazing cartoon so have you seen the series from the 80’s or 90’s or is there a new series out? Tell me about why you chose Jem?

Jem was one of my favorite Saturday morning cartoons, so I grew up with it. I always liked The Misfits and picked Roxy because I already had a wig that would work. I pick a lot of cosplays because I already have a piece to start with. I also thought the make-up would be really fun to do!

Side note about the guitar in the pic- it’s a real guitar I won with a Monster High group cosplay at Spooky Empire years ago. Our group won first place and one of the prizes was a hand painted guitar.

That’s amazing!!!

Photo: Roxy from The Misfits (Jem and the Holograms), taken by Candy Keane

Did you write a children’s book? Looks like the title makes it a great book for little Otaku’s to read. Tell me about it pls.

I did! It’s called “I’m Going to My First Comic Convention” and is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Here’s a link to the book: https://amzn.to/3IccxJM

It tells the story about a little boy who’s excited to go to his first con, and imagining all the fun things he will see and do there. It is illustrated by another local Jacksonville mom, Katherine Margaritis.

Cosplay Moon

https://cosplaymoon.com

Wow! That’s really awesome. I hope you make a lot of sales from it.

The pic of you on Cosplayzine is AMAZING! I love that look. How did you get featured and tell me about the look and the process.

Thanks, that’s one of my favorite pics, taken by Mary Carver of Red Velvet Photography. The cover was from several years ago. I submitted a few pics and it ended up on the cover.

I put the look together using items from my costume shop. I owned a costume boutique for many years, but closed it about 6 years ago now. I just piled on a bunch of stuff for a steampunk look. My store was all about putting items together to create your own look, so I would often do photos to show people how it can be done, without needing to make anything.

Photo: Cosplayzine Magazine cover, photo by Red Velvet Photography

What inspired you to start cosplaying, when did you start and I love the sexy ghostbuster. Great take on it.

I’ve been cosplaying since before it was called cosplay. In fact, it was years before I finally assimilated and would call it cosplay. I just called it “costuming.” My first big cosplay was Aeon Flux in 1995. I won a lot of costume contests with that.

Yeah, me too. I was Wonder Woman when I was about six years old. An aunt made me the costume on her sowing matching with a rope and everything.

I didn’t really start going to conventions in cosplay until 2005, the same year I started my costume business and realized it was a great way to advertise it. I gathered a long resume of published work during those years:

https://geekmamas.com/candy-keane-cosplay-and-costume-design-resume/

And here’s the Ghostbuster look you mentioned. I thought it would be fun to do a makeup look inspired by Slimer, lol.

I love it!!!

Photo: Ghostbuster, taken by Candy Keane

This is crazy but on the maleficent photo you refer to Alyson Tabbitha, you are the second cosplayer to ref her. Tell me about collabing with her.

I mentioned Alyson in the pic where I was thanking certain people for inspiring me to dress up again. Maleficent was the first costume I’d put together in a while, and it was a last minute idea for Halloween. It reminded me how much I enjoyed cosplay.

I got very burnt out after doing costumes and cosplay professionally for 11 years. It was starting to just be work, and no fun. After I had my son, I decided to close my store and take a big break from it and do the stay-at-home-mom thing for a bit. I did conventions here and there, and a few commissioned costumes, but found I just didn’t have the time to make costumes for other people anymore. What used to take me 3 days now took 3 months.

When my son started school is when I started to have more time to myself again. The whole scene had changed by then and social media had become a big thing. At first it just seemed like everything was overrun by barely costumed cosplayers trying to push their Only Fans site. Slowly I found more people who were more into the craftwork, the makeup and bringing characters to life, and Alyson Tabbitha was one of those people. Her work really impressed me.

And I actually got started dressing up and taking photos again after @susie_creates_cosplay asked me to do a TikTok collab dressed as Antiope. I don’t think I was even on TikTok at the time. It was my first “cosplay transition” video. I enjoyed it so much I started doing more of them. And once I figured out how to take my own photos, I really started getting into it more. Almost all the photos I post now are self-shot.

I noticed that and I wonder what you use to take your pics. Could you tell me, please?

The ones I mentioned by Red Velvet Photography were done in a studio with a camera, but all the ones I take myself are done at home with my iPhone12 pro and a ring light plus natural light. I have one spot in my house where the light is just right at a certain part of the day.

I love the scenery in the Maleficent shot. Where is that?

Malificent was shot in my front yard. I have quite the jungle around my house. Lots of tall oak trees, ferns and tropical plants. I’m always adding more plants!

I love the female Mad Hatter, tell me about getting ready for that.

I’ve done many Alice in Wonderland and Mad hatter looks over the years, so the latest outfit was a combo of several different outfits. I pretty much just made it up as I went along. My favorite thing about it is the sash with all the thread. I sacrificed a lot of thread for that!

I love the spools on this costume. You obviously are very creative. Did this idea just pop in your head? Tell me about creating that part of the costume.

When I had my shop, I often shot with local photographers Red Velvet Photography and they’ve done some of my most memorable photos, like the steampunk ones and my first Dazzler pics.

I took the idea of the spools of thread from Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter. I basically took bits and pieces of the Mad Hatter costumes I liked and mashed them all together to come up with my own. But I wanted my thread sash to have lots of different colors and textures and types of thread. Some of them are yarn wrapped around and glued to the spools.

Do you have any photographers that you would like to give a shout out to or that you really love working with and why?

When I had my shop, I often shot with local photographers Red Velvet Photography and they’ve done some of my most memorable photos, like the steampunk ones and my first Dazzler pics.

Photo: Dazzler, taken by Red Velvet Photography

I also have a few favorite images from shooting with David Love Photography. I was a couple months pregnant when we shot, and it was my last cosplay photoshoot for a while.

Photo: DC Bombshell Supergirl, taken by David Love Photography

What was your favorite cosplay photoshoot and why?

My favorite photo shoot wasn’t even one where I was a main model. I was the costume designer for a group shoot on the Black Raven pirate ship. I also dressed up and got a few pics. The pic below was one of the behind-the-scenes snapshots. It was really fun to be part of that.

Antonio Miller

Blog: Geek mamas

Candy keane instagram

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Youtube

What is your favorite show, or cartoon, or anime and why?

My favorite cartoons are the ones I watched in the 80s like Jem and the Holograms and Dungeons and Dragons. I haven’t been able to get into anime lately. I used to watch it, and have tried some of the newer popular ones, but it’s not holding my attention. I mostly just get stuck watching whatever my son is watching at the time

But I am loving all of Marvel’s new spin-off shows like WandaVision and Loki.

I love all of the supernatural shows the best. Including Supernatural, The Originals, Vampire Diaries, Legacies, and all of those vampire, witchy type of shows. I actually read Vampire Diaries in the 90’s before it was a series and I remember that Elena had white silvery hair.

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this with me. I really enjoyed it and know the readers will as well.

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Roger Senpai Gives Great Advice to Aspiring Cosplayers and Bloggers

March 13, 2022 Prism Raves

Hey Roger. Thank you for taking the time to let us get to know you through this interview. I’m looking forward to getting to know more about you.

Photo taken and edited by cloudbreakhero

roger senpai website

What is the farthest you have travelled to go to a con?

The furthest I’ve ever traveled for a convention was to Seattle, Washington for Sakura-Con, and according to Google, that’s over 4000 km! To be fair though, I flew over to the West Coast to visit my relatives in Vancouver, British Columbia and that’s about a 3 hour drive away from Seattle.

For me, I try to go to big conventions outside of my hometown in places that are also worth visiting. I attended Anime Central in the Midwest because I love the city of Chicago. I’ve attended Holiday Matsuri because I wanted to visit Florida and Disney World! And for Sakura-Con, I was able to see my relatives and visit Vancouver and Seattle at the same time. It’s definitely not cheap compared to a local convention, but being able to do more than just attend a con makes the trip worth it.

I certainly would love to attend some conventions in Europe and definitely ones in Asia. I heard the ones in Asia are even larger than the North American ones, although there’s no nightlife like the ones in North America.

Have you met anyone who cosplays for a living or do you?

Personally? The only one I know who potentially earns a full-time living with cosplay is Vickybunnyangel. She’s an amazing cosplayer who I personally know and got to meet. As a professional cosplayer from Toronto, I think she represents our community so well!

I can’t say I’ve been able to meet too many professional cosplayers in-person. For my website, I’m planning to do some more interviews with professional cosplayers and getting to know them and their story, so stay tuned for that!

As for myself, I do not cosplay for a living. But as you can tell from my website and the cosplay events I’ve hosted, I feel like I contribute to the cosplay community and it’s truly fulfilling when someone enjoys the events I host, or finds one of my articles helpful to them.

Where were you born and raised and what is your heritage?

I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. My parents came from Vietnam as immigrants and worked very hard to earn a living in Canada and eventually raised me and my older siblings.

Since Toronto is the biggest city in Canada and being relatively close to Montreal, I’ve had the opportunity to attend many cosplay conventions in both cities!

Much like the cosplay community, I was born in a city that’s tolerant and diverse, so jumping into the community was very easy for me.

It’s always amazing to me when people have the inner drive to leave their home country and everything they know for a better life for their future generations.

I have always wondered if it is cold in Canada year round? You guys are so far north and I live in Mississippi so just curious.

Oh yes it is freaking cold in the winter! Apparently Toronto is one of the “warmer” cities in Canada, and yet temperatures can drop down to as low as -30C (I believe that’s -22 in Fahrenheit). We might be much further north from Mississippi but it’s not too far to be honest; a plane ride from Toronto to Orlando is only a few hours. Yet the climate is completely different, which I find crazy!

On the other hand, it can get pretty hot in Toronto as well in the summer. Temperatures can get regularly into the 30’s (40’s with the humidex). I generally don’t like the weather in Toronto; too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer. The good news is that many of our conventions here are indoors, so we got some nice heating or air conditioning.

I don’t think I could handle those super cold winters. I already don’t even wear a jacket unless it is below 20 degrees. LOL

The pic of you at the top of the mountain in South Korea is breathtaking. How high up were you and were you there with friends, family or for a con?

I’m glad you liked my photo from Busan, South Korea! I actually wasn’t up on a big mountain, but a hill. Me and this other person walked up a huge hill to get to that spot. Even though it wasn’t a full mountain hike, it was pretty tiring to get up there. But the views were totally worth it. 🙂 I recommend anyone to visit Busan, it’s a beautiful city.

Me visiting South Korea was part of a long trip I planned a long time ago. I visited Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and then to the U.S. But funny enough, I actually did attend a con at the end of my trip – Anime Weekend Atlanta. I don’t recommend fitting a cosplay convention on a long travel journey. I’ve done it twice already so I can’t help it. But it is pretty annoying to carry a cosplay and wig with you around; it takes a lot of luggage space, I can tell you that.

When did you start cosplaying, what inspired you, and what was your first cosplay?

I started cosplaying back in 2010. My first cosplay was Sora from Kingdom Hearts. Haha it was so bad, but as cosplayers, we always cringe when we look at our first cosplay and I’m certainly no different. 🙂

After attending conventions for a couple of years dressed in normal clothes, I wanted to experience what it’s like to be an actual cosplayer. So for Fan Expo (Toronto’s largest convention), I cosplayed the Keyblade master. And even though it wasn’t the greatest cosplay I’m proud of, so many people loved it anyways. People asked for my photos, had a bunch of KH fans I got to meet and overall it’s just super fun to cosplay!

And I haven’t looked back since. Nothing can replicate the feeling of when someone asks for your cosplay photo. Cosplay and attending cons is incredibly fun.

What is the most money you have spent on a costume, the con, the travel, food, all for one event and break it down, please.

Photo by **ooc_photography**
https://www.instagram.com/ooc_photography/

Oh man where I do start!

I always tell my readers that cosplaying and attending conventions can be incredibly expensive if you’re not careful. It doesn’t have to be, but if you’re not watching your budget, then costs can quickly add up.

Fortunately for me, I always save up my money for large conventions so I never actually go into debt or anything like that. Nevertheless, some cons are more expensive than others.

I’d say I easily spend over $2000 USD whenever I attend conventions in the United States. It’s not even the plane ride to/from the US that’s expensive; I can get tickets for under $400 USD if I book in advance. But it’s usually the hotel accommodation in America that’s expensive.

One time I spent $200 USD/night at a convention hotel, and that really ate into my budget. Normally you’d get roommates to help split the cost, but unfortunately I can only do this at a local convention. My friends don’t travel abroad as much as I do, so a lot of the times I end up using a hotel room for myself. I know some cosplayers/convention attendees will invite strangers to split the room. But I had a really bad experience one time when I did this, so I don’t do it anymore. I just budget and save so I can afford my own hotel room.

As for food: normally when I travel, I stay in a place with a kitchen so I can make my own food and eat healthier. But at a cosplay convention, this isn’t really an option (unless there’s a hostel or Airbnb nearby). I usually just eat at a restaurant near or in the convention, and that’s usually $5-10 a meal. I feel like food doesn’t take up too much of a convention budget. I love going to the US and enjoying all the amazing food down there!

I’d say my most expensive cosplay is my Marth cosplay. I spent about $400 USD in total on all of it and I got it specially designed by Cosplay Station (a cosplay store based in Toronto). It was totally worth the money. I got it about 7 years ago and it’s still in great shape to this day.

Overall, I spend a lot more money for American conventions than Canadian ones. But it’s honestly worth the extra money. The 24 hour programming (pre-pandemic), the large scale of activities, the people, the whole experience makes it totally worth it.

PS you might be interested in this post: Differences in U.S. and Canada’s Cons.

roger senpai blog

I read this article and it is very informative. I guess Americans just always go harder in every way. Anytime I hear anyone outside of America talk about us they say we are loud and extreme. Guess it is true. LOL

I love the post for LINKEDIN FACEBOOK, TINDER, and IG. That is so funny. Tell me about it.

Oh, haha I totally forgot about that. It was one of those viral cosplay memes that was going around back in the day. I saw a bunch of cosplayers on Instagram, so I decided to do the same thing. Sebastian Michaelis is one hell of a butler, so it’s only fitting that my Sebastian cosplay gets the Tinder pic. 🙂

https://instagram.com/rogersenpai.com

I would agree, I always thought they drew him well. Hee Hee

Your instagram is definitely different than most. You ask questions for the follower to respond too. That makes your instagram more likable in my opinion. Do you get to read all of the comments?

Yes, I always read my comments and respond to them. I always try to engage my followers because I want them to be part of my cosplay life and journey. Not only do I ask questions and try to engage my followers in my posts, but also in my stories. I’m always doing polls and questions in my stories, because I try to relate to cosplayers and their everyday lives.

I always take the time to respond back to questions that I ask in my stories, even the response is dumb! Because my viewer took the time to write a reply to me, so I think it’s only fair to give them a response.

Have you had any costume mishaps and you weren’t that might have been embarrassing?

Other than a few times that someone accidentally picked up my prop and broke it, I don’t really have any cosplay malfunction stories. Perhaps I’m too careful with my cosplays, so they don’t break as often as usual.

I am grateful for cosplay emergency stations at conventions, as the tools inside those rooms help you fix your cosplay in a pinch.

Cosplay peeks, and lows…. And go…

As a cosplayer, blogger and event organizer, it can be tough dealing with difficult people in the community. You’re never going to please everybody. And holding a cosplay event can be frustrating with all the rules you need to follow.

But what keeps me going is the fulfillment aspect of this hobby. Whether it’s people emailing me saying how much they appreciate my blog posts. Or seeing people happy at my cosplay events, it makes me feel good too.

In terms of dressing up in cosplaying, there are times when wearing a costume can be uncomfortable. I remember going to Otakuthon in Montreal during the hot summer with my Marth cosplay. As soon as I stepped outside, I was immediately sweating, especially with the wig on. It was not a fun experience. Fortunately, the convention was mostly indoors so I could cool off in the A/C.

What would you say to someone who wants to be a cosplayer or a cosplay blogger and they have some fear about it?

For beginner cosplayers: It’s okay to start off slow! I feel like there’s a lot of pressure on beginner or aspiring cosplayers to look as good as professional cosplayers, and that’s just not realistic for most people when they’re starting out. You shouldn’t expect to look as fancy as the professional cosplayers for your first time, nor do you need to spend the money to. You can wear a casual cosplay to your first convention if you want; there’s no expectation at all. In the end, cosplay is supposed to be fun, so you decide how you want to go about it.

If they want more information on how to get started, they should check out my beginner’s guide: https://rogersenpai.com/how-to-cosplay-for-beginners/

https://www.instagram.com/bigtofuphotography/

For aspiring cosplay bloggers: It’s great to see someone start a cosplay blog and share their thoughts and experiences. I’d love to see more cosplay bloggers out there personally; we need more cosplayers sharing their thoughts and wisdom! There are quite a few platforms where you can start a blog for free.

I’d also say to be careful what you say online and before you publish a post, ask yourself, “Will my post hurt or offend anyone?” It’s important to consider the perspectives of everyone in the community and respect them.

I agree. As a blogger I think about things like that and wonder if some of my questions may offend someone and that actually pushes me to the point of being a little afraid to ask some of them.

Thank you so much for doing this with me. I really appreciate it and I enjoyed learning more about you and reading some of your blog.

Ashley’s Cosplay Cache is a top rated cosplay, anime, goth, and gift store. Check out the products today. Our blog is all about cosplayers, costumes, and more. Check it out now.

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Ashley’s Interview with Sano.cos Part 2

March 10, 2022 Prism Raves

Get ready for Part 2 with Sano.cos. This talented cosplayer is from San Paolo and will encourage you to believe in your dreams to get out their and cosplay.

Instagram: instagram.com/sano.cos http://instagram.com/sano.cos

You were featured in cosplay real magazine. How did that happen?

Cosplay Realm Magazine is a digital and physical monthly magazine ran by Emily Rey and Aesthel. Their work has been doing a great service for the cosplay community, the magazine covers events, interviews prominent cosplayers and shares cosplayers from all over the world. Each month the magazine covers a different theme and every year there’s a big variety and features from many talented cosplayers. I’ve had the opportunity to appear in the magazine some times! My most favorite publications are from the “Mages & Magic Issue” with my Gilgamesh cosplay [from Fate Grand Order.] and the “Martial Arts and Fighting Issue” with my Terry Bogard cosplay [from Fatal Fury & King of Fighters]. They are currently accepting submissions for the next issues and I strongly encourage any cosplayer who wishes to have their work feature to get in touch with them and give an incentive to Emily’s and Aesthel’s amazing work.

Submission Link and Guidelines

https://www.cosplayrealmmagazine.com/submit

CRM #55 – The Mages & Magic Issue

CRM #53 – Martial Arts and Fighting Issue

What is your favorite photoshoot that you have done and why?

I’m almost a 100% it will be Arataki’s (the pictures I’ve already took are not the final photoshoot I have in mind and I’m still working on his weapons for the final “Ultimate” photoshoot), but while this shoot doesn’t happen I think I’ll pick Chainsaw Man as my favorite for several reasons. The first one is that I’ve had the opportunity to take some pics together with Sami and have both our works featured! It was also quite fun to do some Meme videos for TikTok and Instagram stories, lol. Also, I’ve had the opportunity to take some pictures of this cosplay in an amazing setting; an abandoned highway tunnel right in the middle of the city! It was also incredible to see the details of the Helmet in the final pictures as this was one of my most challenging projects to date and It’s always satisfying to see such a project come to life!

Have you ever had a costume malfunction?

Tell me about a cosplayer who hasn’t gone through these challenges, yet! Of course, I’ve had my share of mishaps in photoshoots and conventions alike! My most recent one was with Arataki Itto’s costume during my visit to the Genshin Impact event here in Sao Paulo! Oh my…I was really happy with the reception of my cosplay by the crowd and all the Genshin fans over there! However! Many fans wanted to get closer and how can I say….they wanted to be lifted by Arataki Itto!!! It was my first time wearing this cosplay on an event and it was not prepared for this, making long story short: had to take off all my false nails because they were falling every time, my wig was constantly being pulled back due to all the lifting and well…body contact during the event. Also, I have damaged some parts of the cosplay because of this…But you know…it was all worth with all the smiles and great reception of everyone there! I’ve definitely had a blast and became really happy with this repercussion. Well, for the next time I guess I’ll need to reinforce some parts of the cosplay to be Con-Ready!

Some pictures with Energetic Fans! I’ll definitely need to make some adjustments on the cosplay to endure the next cons! lol

I see you have a patreon account. What should visitors to the page expect when they log in?

Yes, I have! Well it is still a work-in-progress and I plan to expand to other platforms as well, such as, Gumroad for example. This is part of a plan to give personalized gifts to all cosplay fans and it’s part of my project to share cosplay culture to people from all ages all over the world! On my Patreon page I upload full high quality pictures of my produced photosets, making-off stories and I’ve also created some interesting digital products such as the cosplay digi cards where I include character information, mood boards with imagery related to a character, and the graphic quotes where there’s a famous character line along with an image. I also have some prints and polaroids available for sale. ❤ Some examples of my content available below:

Digital rewards showcase and Character moodboard

Cosplay Digicard Example (Thanks Ashley!)

sano.cos patreon

This is really cool. I love it and that you personalized it. Awesome.

Thanks to Sano.cos for allowing us a peak into his life. This was really amazing and I so appreciate it.

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Sano Will Inspire You To Follow Your Dream of Cosplaying!!

March 3, 2022 Prism Raves

I’m super excited about this interview with Sano, thank you so much for taking the time to interview with me.

The first photoshoot that stood out for me is Arataki, I love everything about this. Tell me about the set up and why you chose it.

I guess Itto became one of my biggest photoshoots till today! To be sincere I was quite surprised at how big the repercussion for this character was! It was my first Genshin Impact character and it was really incredible to portray him! He has everything we love in a character! He looks great, has a strong and positive attitude and wow…the guy has style! It all started when he was first announced! I think Itto had a different “twist” from most Genshin characters, He had a muscular build, a goofy personality and even some “flaws” (the guy had his Geo vision stolen from him!), these aspects along with his awesome character design made this project possible.

When I had the costume ready, I just took pictures right away! For this first photoshoot, there was much pre-production involved, One of the hardest parts was the make-up and his body drawings. I’ve used a Red Posca Pen to make all the red body illustrations and make-up was used to enhance shadows and highlights of my body physique as well as my facial features. The idea for the background was a nice brown-colored textured fabric called Suede, I believe it matches his Earth-based powers and background. There’s still more photoshoots planned and now I’m working on his accessories and weapons…along with collabs with other cosplayers in the future, so we can expect many new cool stuff for Arataki in the future!

Sano.cos instagram link

From your Instagram profile I see that you also are into photography. What do you like to shoot and when did you begin?

Yes! I’m a big Photography fan! I love taking pics as much as I love to cosplay my beloved characters. My first time taking pics with a “Professional” Camera was during college. I’ve done Graphic Design and among our disciplines we had photography too! During two years I’ve studied the principles and also developed my own techniques. At that time, I took pictures of my friends and had a big project exploring alternative subcultures and fashion styles. My favorite photography style is Editorial, Fashion, and basically everything that has Humans (lol) involved. I like to take pictures of people. For now, I am the official photographer of my cosplayer partner in life Sami and I always get excited when she has a new monthly project. It’s just incredible to be able to help her and I’m really proud of our work together. We are planning to do more cosplay collabs but, for now there’s a Chainsaw Man photoshoot We’ve done together which is published on Instagram. Photography is a big part of my life both as an individual and a cosplayer, too.

My husband loves photography and he always says, “It’s the lighting”. LOL, If it is a bad pic, it was the lighting. If it was a good pic, it’s the lighting.

Some of my past Photography work during college –
(There are some still up on my Deviant Art Profile:
Deviant Art Link)https://www.deviantart.com/sanodesign

I checked out your Deviant Art Page and all of the photos look like they are true cosplayer photos. Like, your photos should be used for costume product pages. I love all of the pics.

ashleys cosplay cache blogs

Some of my present photography works with Sami

She is very beautiful. I love the Asian culture as well. They just seem so innovative and ahead of everyone!!

The Tokyo One Piece tower looks amazing. Where is it and what is going on there and in this photo?

Oh, I have lots of fond memories from Tokyo One Piece Tower. As a big fan of the series it was great to attend the grand opening day event! I was quite lucky to be there at that time! But, let’s start explaining a little bit about this incredible place.

Tokyo One Piece Tower was an amusement park created and based on the third/fourth floor of one of Japan’s biggest Landmark: “The Tokyo Tower”. It was an exclusive attraction solely dedicated to the One Piece Series. They had a big store which sold exclusive and themed merchandise, a restaurant with dishes inspired by the series (one of the main characters is a chef), large floors filled with life-sized statues from our beloved characters and many attractions! Each one is based on a character of the show. It was like a dream come true to any One Piece Fan! *-*.

My first visit on the Grand Opening in 2015:

I went there two times. The first one was at the grand opening in 2015 as a civilian. I got to know the park and took many, many pictures and of course…got some merchandise (yes…I’m a One Piece Fanboy). The second time was in the 2016 Halloween Event. this time as a Cosplayer (dressed as Roronoa Zoro)..and omg, It was a blast…for my surprise I was called to go onstage as part of the cosplay contest! I didn’t know much Japanese, but it was just an incredible experience! I’ve got to know many fans and Japanese cosplayers alike and not just that! The Park’s official cosplay actors went there and took pictures with us! It was a day I’ll never forget! Unfortunately due to the pandemic, the park had closed its doors in 2020, but I really hope they are going to reopen one day, Maybe not in Tokyo Tower but somewhere else…One Piece is almost part of Japanese modern legacy, with MANY episodes and Mangas published! They just have to keep this dream alive!!!

https://www.instagram.com/ashleyscosplaycache/

My second visit (now as a cosplayer) on the 2016 Halloween Event:

That sounds truly amazing and the way anime culture is so popular in Asia that they literally have theme parks and stage actors and other incredible events surrounding their animes. The photos are awesome so I’m sure it really was a dream come tru.

I love the FFVll in the train yard. Where does this take place and do you have a photographer you like to use and if you want to give them a shout out!

One of the main concerns always is WHERE can we take our pictures and what the limitations are on our selected places.
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It is a really nice place indeed! As a cosplayer sometimes we face some hardships during production and planning a Photoshoot. One of the main concerns always is WHERE can we take our pictures and what the limitations are on our selected places. There are some countries that have photography studios and places dedicated to support the hobby. However, there are other places that have so little resources and not many creative studios to work on…and that’s when you need to get creative and do your research (or as we like to say here, “To wring blood out of a stone”.

For my Reno photoshoot, I had an idea where to take the pictures since I’ve went to the same place before with Sami for her Tifa’s Photoshoot. HOWEVER…when it was my turn, they’ve closed a major area to the public…so it was off-limits to us…luckily there was still an open area with two really old train wagons on the sight and we could work with that. The place is called Fepasa Complex and it is some miles away from my Home Town in Sao Paulo/Brazil. Frequently we catch ourselves traveling miles to get to that perfect spot to take pictures…I’ve done this a lot with Sami…to the length we have to travel to other states to get our works done, but, I gotta say…after we see the results, it was totally worth it!

I think the trainyard was worth it. These shots turned out so beautiful.

As for my Photographer, I have to credit Sami for that too! As I help her to take pictures of her works, I’m happy to have her support on Photography and many times on my production as well. We really try to help each other since we have this big passion for cosplay in common! I’m always learning something new with her and I hope I can share one thing or two with her too. ^-^’

Wow! I didn’t know you are from Brazil. That’s amazing! I love being able to connect with people from all over the world and finding out more about them and their life stories.

Some Pictures taken at the event:

Mirio Togata (a.k.a Lemillion) Photoshoot made with Coga (my favorite aspect of this cosplay is the cape I just love how it shimmers):

So you are playing Genshin Impact right now? That is super popular right now but I’m not a gamer so what is the premise of the game?

Truth be told…I downloaded the game when it was first announced in 2020, played 2-5 hours of the game…..and dropped it! HOWEVER! When Arataki Itto came out just recently! I’ve just got the game again and decided to immerse myself in the Genshin Impact Universe! This is the kind of game that you have to be persistent and play for several hours to get the good parts of it! In short, Genshin Impact is a RPG with a continuous story (the developers are always adding new maps, sidequests, bonus content and of course, the new characters…it’s just brilliant..it never ends lol).

Genshin Impact Meme

That sounds really amazing. Technology has come so far in just the last ten years and it shows how intelligent humans really are.

The great catch is, it’s a Gacha game, this means they always release new characters and weapons and you can always try your luck to collect the gems in-game to try to roll for a favorite character for free or buy gems (with real cash) to make this process easier. As for now, I believe there are 40 + Characters available to get, but it’s easier to get the 5 stars characters right when they are released and have their own time-limited banner in-game. Many things changed in the game since I first played back in 2020…now there are GIANT maps to explore, many new regions and well….infinite characters to get…XD I have to make up for the lost time, but I guess I’m doing well so far! (I’ve got 10 Characters right now! But no Arataki Itto yet…*sob)

aww, lol

I believe this style of games (Gacha Games) are just an incredible way for a studio to release a game, make it available for free to everyone and yet make a profit with paid-contents and merchandising….The game became so popular that you can see its advertising everywhere! (there was even a whole Train in Rio de Janeiro wrapped with a Genshin Impact themed design and I know they have a very strong marketing presence worldwide too). In my opinion, we are really lucky to have an Anime/Manga Style Game with such popularity today, it helps us cosplayers and Anime fans to reach new audiences and spread our word around! I have a feeling that Genshin will have Massive Stands and Marketing Actions during the next Major Events! That’s really exciting and I’m really looking forward to it!

It all sounds so incredible. I love hearing your enthusiasm as you discuss this.

The games I play the most today include Overwatch, Genshin Impact, and most of the recent Japanese Game Releases (mostly JRPG Games).

A picture from my childhood with my cousin playing some Mega Man Games at the computer

(That’s a Compaq Presario from the 90s! :O)

I’ve always loved playing Video Games since my Childhood! My first console was an Atari and till today it’s an absolute passion. My all time favorite game franchise is the Mega Man series, I’m just so in love with the games and style that I collect everything that comes out from the Blue Bomber.

So, that is Part 1 of my interview with Sano.cos. I will be working on Part 2 and get it out as soon as possible. Please enjoy this part of the cosplayer blog and check out the links through out the interview.

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Ashley’s Cosplay Talks About Pets, Cons, and The Arcane with The Demon Fox

February 28, 2022 Prism Raves

The Demon Fox as Harley Quinn at a Convention https://beacons.ai/demonbabe

This is Ashley’s Cosplay Cache’s Interview with THE DEMON FOX. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer some questions for me and the fans. I’m looking forward to diving into your cosplays and finding out more about you. I see in your profile that you are from the UK. What part? Have you travelled to other countries?

It’s my pleasure, thanks for taking the time to interview me. I’m born and based in the North West of the UK. I have recently got back from a 3 and a half month long trip to the US visiting my partner.

What languages do you speak?

English is my mother tongue, but I do try and learn bits from a lot of languages, I can speak bits of Welsh, German, French, Greek, Spanish, Italian and Japanese but I’m still learning a ton 😅 if I visit a country that’s mother tongue is another language other than English I always try to learn at least a few sentences in that language as a sign of respect to them.

It looks like you create some of your own costumes. Which one’s have you made yourself and tell me a little about the process.

I normally make adjustments on most of my cosplays but one I made mostly myself would have to be my black cat cosplay. I bought a very simple black cat suit that unfortunately didn’t fit me at all when it arrived. I don’t have a sewing machine either so I had to hand sew everything to the correct measurements to fit me, then cut a bunch of white faux fur fabric and sew that to the catsuit too. Painted the cat collar myself and sewn more faux fur to the boots and gloves and ta-da she was complete.

shop my store

The Demon Fox as Cat Womanhttps://ashleyscosplaycache.com

I think it is awesome when people are creative enough with fabrics that they can improvise their costumes themselves. Do you have any wardrobe malfunctions or funny stories during a photoshoot? Or anything memorable that may have happened?

I remember a few years ago when I was as confident wearing heels, my ankle accidentally gave way and I ended up eating the ground in front of about 20 other cosplayers at a convention… I felt so embarrassed at the time but, now looking back it was hilarious.

I would totally be embarrassed too. Seems it hurts our pride more in the moment than our body and then our body hurts after we walk away from the accident.

Do you have any costume mishaps or adventures that you can think of?

I’ve definitely had my fair share, from straps snapping to my props breaking at a con from so much use, but that’s why we bring lots of repair kits!

What are your pets names and what and how many do you have? I am a huge animal lover myself. Currently, I have a beagle bull who is my baby.

That’s adorable, I currently do not own any pets (I really want to though, cats, snakes and lizards) however my last pet was my beloved cat who passed away 2 years ago at nearly 19 years old, I had him since he was a kitten and he literally was treated like my child, his name was Ronnie (after the Kray twins, we did have his brother Reggie but he passed over 15 years ago) I used to also call Ronnie ‘my little prince’.

It truly is like losing a family member.

I recently saw the movie with Tom Hardy about the Kray twins. They are some gangsters that I wasn’t aware of. I have seen most gangster movies that are American based, but that was a really good one to see.

Do you model at conventions or go as a participant? Do you have any upcoming events you are planning to participate in?

I do model at conventions and will happily work with stalls and the convention itself. However, I do also go as a participant (almost always cosplaying) and I always have fun no matter what I’m doing. This year I’m planning to go to Megacon in Birmingham (hopefully) both MCM London; May & October and then a few local cons too, like Chester comic con, etc..

I’m assuming you mean Birmingham, England? I am from Birmingham, Alabama. I was born and raised there until I left at about 28 or so.

The Arcane Me App, what is it? It actually looks like you painted a picture of yourself from the Instagram post.

It’s an app based of the League Of Legends TV show Arcane. You just upload a photo of yourself into the app and it ‘arcane-ifies’ you into the same style the arcade TV show was made in.

That is awesome. I love it.

What is your favorite character to cosplay and which photoshoot would you say is your favorite?

I have way too many characters I love to narrow it down to one favorite but, I guess you could say Harley Quinn is definitely up there for me as I have cosplayed a ton of versions of her! My favorite photoshoot was either last September when I did a group shoot with a bunch of my friends for Halloween, or last Thursday when I did studio night for eight photographers and was the model of the night. I did three looks that I am awaiting photos on! 😁

I love the Plague Doctor Photo. What was the inspiration behind it? And who is with you?

I believe it from this post. It is incredible.

What is your favorite photoshoot?

I have so many I’ve done with so many wonderful photographers, but my favorites are always the ones done with my friends and fellow models.

What are your favorite and least favorite things about conventions?

Favorite thing would be meeting up with my friends, seeing my followers and just overall being in a giant area with thousands of like minded and happy people.

Least favorite would be how achey my body and feet get after a long day in cosplay 🤣.

Harley Quinn at the Convention. Where did this one take place and what is it called. If it is in your country could you tell me what the prices are like there? In America they are around 30 to 50 dollars for entrance.

I’ve been to 3 conventions as Harley Quinn; Chester, Liverpool and Manchester. Our convention prices mostly range from £10-£30 but some can be more expensive like the big cons (London/Birmingham etc..)

The Lady J. What a great take on the Joker in female form. What a beautiful photoshoot. The gun is awesome.

Yeah the Lady J cosplay is definitely one of my favorites I’ve done.

When did you start cosplaying and what or who inspired you to begin?

I started cosplaying back in 2017, I’ve always wanted to do it for years but, was always too nervous to start and didn’t think you could do it unless you were super slim/toned/body of perfection. But, then I saw more and more regular people cosplaying and having fun doing so and decided f*ck it and started with SS Harley Quinn and never looked back 😁

I think outdoor photoshoots are always more fantastical. I love the one where you have the blue butterfly in your hand.

Yes that is another favorite shot of mine. That was taken and edited by the talented @unmadesugar.photography. It was taken in a stunning woodland area that is kept a secret so it does not become flooded with people and ruin every photographers dream of shooting there. But, it truly is a magical place: very very mysterious and peaceful.

You also have a TikTok at DemonBabe_ _ Do you enjoy Tik Tok as much as I do? I feel like I can’t go to sleep at night until I watch it for a while….

My TikTok had actually changed names, it is @Thedemonfoxx_ now like my Instagram handle. But, yes! I love TikTok so much. I’m not a fan of their new algorithm changes and the suppression of cosplayers on there but the app is really fun and I do spend a lot of time scrolling on it and enjoying the content on there.

I had no idea about cosplayer suppression. That’s really sad.

Your KO-Fi page says you are saving up for a DVA cosplay of Evelynn. If you are interested in helping go check her page out at https://ko-fi.com/demonbabe72826

Thank you I appreciate that so much!

You can help promote and follow her pages at this link: https://beacons.ai/demonbabe

Thanks again!

Do you have any upcoming photoshoots or con’s that you will participate in?

Currently on the cards for me convention wise is: Megacon Birmingham, MCM London May & October, and then a few local cons like Chester.

And photoshoot wise I have a tonnnnnn booked in so watch this space! 😉😁

https://www.instagram.com/thedemonfoxx/

Cosplay Blog

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Ashley’s Cosplay Cache’s Blog of Cosplayer Interviews Is Growing. Check this one out!!

February 24, 2022 Prism Raves

Ashley’s Cosplay Cache Is Getting To Know Nick Pro

https://ashleyscosplaycache.com/blogs/news/nick-pro

Ashley’s Cosplay Cache is getting to know Nick Pro. He is a flipping cosplayer, literally. Check out the amazing photos and athletic skill in the photos throughout this blog. Thanks so much for taking the time to interview with me. I am super excited about this interview since you are the first male cosplayer that I get the pleasure of discovering a little more about. I love to scroll Tik Tok and I saw you there. I think your videos are awesome!!!

Nick Pro Instagram

I see that you lift and I lift as well but, for women it is always harder to tell how much muscle we really have because of our layer of fat. Tell me about your workout regimen and what are your favorite exercises?

Ashley’s Cosplay Cache Nick Pro interview

Yes I do lift! I started lifting about 4-5 years ago to help me get stronger in my parkour skills. I try to work out 2 hours a day, 6 days a week. I alternate between a push day (chest / triceps), a pull day (back / biceps) and leg day. My favorite exercises are deadlifts and squats! As a parkour athlete I use my legs a lot so I want to make them stronger.

Deadlifts and squats are actually my least favorite, but my daughter that goes with me makes me do those at least once a week. I prefer sissy squats

lunges, pushing the sled across the gym and doing good mornings. I really like to get that hamstring popping.

Those back and frontward flips. How do you do that and did you train or are you just a natural superhero?

nick pro tik tok

I am a professional parkour athlete. I have been doing flips for about 16 years now. I taught myself how to do everything. But if anyone wanted to learn I would recommend finding a gym with mats (a gymnastic center or a trampoline park).

That’s a very hard question to answer! For anime I am going to say Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia. Mostly because of his passion and dedication. It always motivates me to be better and train harder!

It looks like you are a huge anime and Marvel fan. What is your favorite character from each?

For Marvel I would have to say Spider-Man. I obviously love his acrobatics and such but I also love that he is intelligent. I love a hero with some brains!

I know what you mean….brains and brawn.

Some of your photos are taken in amazing places. I have seen waterfalls, buildings, lakes and more. Where do you live or where are these locations?

I live in Canada but I love to travel. Those pictures were probably taken in Bali, Vancouver, Hawaii but I have been to a lot more places.

That’s really awesome. You seem like a free spirit to me.

What do you struggle with the most in trying to live a healthy lifestyle? Any obstacles? I know for me it is sugar. As a gluten free vegetarian/vegan i try to stay away from sugar and processed foods, but I always slip up.

I think my struggles are different than most people. I struggle with over tracking my food. As a professional athlete I want to make sure I have enough protein and not too much of other things.

So every day, I track what I eat and the macros. So, sometimes it’s hard for me to consciously pass my calorie “limit”. Which can often be the healthy decision if I did extra exercise that day. Other than that, I have always found ways of having fun while I exercise so it’s easy for me to do it daily. I do flips which I love, and I also play Pokemon in between my sets when I rest. Which makes the 2 hour workouts go by very quick!

Those are long workouts. Mine is about an hour five days a week. I really should stay longer and put more effort into it. May be I will start now that I have learned more about you and it is inspiring.

Sometimes I also struggle with depression and thinking maybe my efforts in my business aren’t going to work out for me and I can literally stay in the bed for two days and not want to get up. Do you ever struggle with anything like that? Or anxiety or etc…?

I personally was usually always motivated and always had goals I wanted to achieve. I don’t have as many goals in Parkour anymore since I am 30 and I am focusing on preserving my body. I also have reached most of my goals with work (YouTube) since I have 8 million subscribers now. So my struggle now is to stay motivated even though I have achieved most of my goals already.
I did have something similar to you during a little heart break. Made it very hard to leave the couch and stop playing Assassin’s Creed. Filming for YouTube was extremely hard!

All blogs are written by Ashley with the consent of each cosplayer involved.

Prism Raves

Yep, I totally understand.

Any mishaps when trying to flip for a photoshoot?

I’ve never broken a bone, but I have definitely gotten a few bumps and bruises. Never for a photoshoot because the easy flips are the ones that look good in pictures. But when I pushed myself as an athlete I’ve hit my head a few times.

Parkour?!?!?! How do you overcome the fear of getting hurt when you are doing all of these flips? Or are you an adrenaline junkie? I have jumped tandem once and it was one of the most amazing things I have done so I can understand the great feeling you can get from cheating death or injury.

I think the biggest way to overcome fear is progressions and repetitions. So before trying the scary flip, I try to progress towards it. When I teach how to backflip there are a ton of things we can do before to get over the fear. Once you’ve tried it, the more you repeat it, the less scary it becomes! I get scared often but, at this point I’ve had to push past that fear hundreds of times so it became easier!

Read the latest from Ashley’s Cosplay Cache’s blog at the links below:

So, in 2017 my friend and I had a conversation and we just really wanted to become “YouTubers”. I had already made a ton of videos for parkour so it was normal to me. I love having those video memories of what I have done. But after that conversation we started making 2 to 3 videos a week. In December of 2017 is when it really got traction and I hit 100k subscribers.
From then, I continued to mix my passion for parkour with my nerdy side to keep it growing. I am hoping to get 10 million this year.

I’m sure you will.

Who was your inspiration for getting into cosplay and who is your idol?

As a man, I didn’t really know many male cosplayers to look up to when I started. I am sure they existed, I just didn’t know them so I never really had an “idol”.
My inspiration to get into it was my friend Adam Ferenczy. We met at the gym doing flips, and he always wore nerdy things like a mirrors edge shirt, or pokemon stuff. So we bonded over that. But one day he told me to come to Comiccon. I had never been but I had one costume in my closet (an Anakin Skywalker cosplay). I was super shy to just show up to a building in costume, alone, in public. But, I did it and I’ve been in love with conventions ever since.

Thank you so much for the interview. I really enjoyed it.

Follow Nick Pro at any of the links through out the interview.

Cosplay Moon

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Ashley’s Cosplay Cache’s In Depth with Lilit Cosplay

January 30, 2022 Prism Raves

Thank you so much for taking the time to interview with me. I’m so excited to talk about your websites.

I see you have an Etsy Shop and that you make cosplay props and it looks like you sell the blueprints for others to do so. Is that correct? Tell me about how you got started and what is your process like?

Hello everyone, I’m super happy to be here! Yes, it is correct, I have an Etsy Shop and I opened it two years ago because I wanted to have some income from my passion and I also wanted to that become a job for me. The process to make a pattern is pretty long: I start to make a sculpt of the object that I need and I tape the surface. Then I draw on the tape and divide all the shapes, put some registration marks, some instructions for the assembling and then, I cut all the shapes and they become flat. It’s incredible that a bunch of flat weird shapes becoming a puzzle that create an eva foam sculpture!

Lilit with Her own Foam Creation https://ashleyscosplaycache.com/blogs/news/lilit-cosplay-interview https://www.etsy.com/it/shop/LilitCosplay?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Sometimes I also record a tutorial that I put on my YouTube Channel for more instructions and step-by-step process. I put so much effort into making my Shop nice and useful for other people.

Are you from Italy? What is it like? I am from the US and I live in Mississippi which is super boring but I bet there is more to do where you are. Could you tell me about it, please?

I don’t know if your place is boring, I think that every piece of the world is interesting and has something special. You know, when you travel everything seems special haha!

But yes, I think that Italy is an amazing place to see. Speaking of the landscapes and especially the food! I live near Venice and I’m very proud of it.

I was go to school there for 3 years and I saw that city in every type of light and weather, also with the snow, that’s so rare! But living in an isle full of little rivers and an infinite amount of bridges is awkward, and luckily I live in the Venice coast on the dry land. And in my town Oriago is full of historical villas and houses as well.

How did you get started cosplaying? What inspired you and how old were you when you began?

I discovered cosplaying when I was at school (I was about 15 years old) and watching a lot of anime. I was so in love with the little local cosplay conventions. It’s so fun to see other people’s costumes and talk with them. I was going to art school so I always liked to create things by myself.

What is your favorite anime?

My favorite anime is Death Note.

I love Death Note as well.

You have so many amazing photos. Do you make your costumes? Do you buy some of it? Tell me about that please.

Thank you so much! As I said, I really like to create my costumes. The materials that I prefer are Eva foam, Worbla, Foam Clay and faux fur. But sadly I’m not so good at sewing, sometimes I buy some clothes and I modify them or I commission the fabric stuff to other people. Rarely I get some 3d printed props.

Please tell me about some of your favorite photoshoots.

My first favorite photoshoot is the Princess Mononoke in this amazing nature park, the photographer is Giancarlo Bigolin.

https://www.instagram.com/lilitcosplay/

https://www.instagram.com/ashleyscosplaycache/

Yes, this is really fascinating. This is an excellent photo.

The second is my Slave Leia costume made it in a studio (The photographer is the same of the first and he’s very talented).

And the third is this epic Halloween shooting that we’ve made with two friends Elisabetta and Ilaria. The photographer is Salvatore Carotenuto. I really love this shoot because it gives me “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” vibes! (I am the goat).

Tweets by AshleysCosplay

It gives a very haunting feeling. I think it is very majestic.

Do you have a regular photographer that you use or how is the photoshoot process created and completed. Who does all of the editing, etc….

I like to collaborate with different photographers, because I can experiment a lot of techniques and styles. There are few photographers that I work more often because I like their style.

This photo is absolutely incredible. I love it. Tell me about it please.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0i-66Hk09Jq6ks1Fa5kXzw

I really love these two shoots. In the beginning they were two different photos, one of my friend Giulia with Alexstrasza and one of me with Ysera. The photographer Mario Mantovani captured the lights very well and I decided to combine the two shots with a simple edit program.

This pic was taken at a very important cosplay event in Italy, in the historical park Sigurtà.

This photoshoot is so good. It is very beautiful and the colors are magnificent.

Do you model at con’s or go as a spectator? What are they called where you are from. Are they expensive to go to and what is your favorite part about going?

I always go as a model at cons. But if the con is during for more days, maybe the first I go as a spectator. This makes me so laugh because where I come from they call the cosplayers that are not in cosplay like the uniformless agents: “in borghese”, plainclothes!

O wow! Kind of like the muggles of cosplayers? LOL

There are so many events in Italy and most of them are not expensive, some are free and my favorites are the outdoors and where there are a lot of people and a lot of good drink and food! Like the San Marino Comics and Festa Dell’Unicorno for example. Where’s the mead, there’s the party!

Absolutely!!!

Who is your favorite cosplayer?

My favorite cosplayer of all the time is Kamui Cosplay!

I see her a lot online. She is very good.

As I scroll through your Instagram Page it makes me wonder how did you learn to create all of these pieces and who inspired you to do this?

Kamui Copslay is my favorite cosplayer because I learned so many things from her, and I could never make anything without her books and tutorials. I also have a lot of knowledge from the art school and I learned a lot of things by making mistakes and trying again. I always watch a lot of videos on YouTube also from other creators to learn something new. I always say: “I steal with my eyes”.

I am watching your Tik Tok videos and your Jack Sparrow is spot on. The holding of the hands and everything. Every one loves Jack. So tell me about the makeup and how you got it so perfect.

Ha ha ha! Yes I’m there, even if I don’t use so much Tik Tok.

Once I tried to make a Jack Sparrow cosplay because I was always in love with this character and Alyson Tabbitha inspired me so much with her make up video. So after 3 tries I could do it as best as I can with fake beard and a ton of makeup. I also made the wig that took me so much effort and money to catch all the details and it’s not complete yet! Maybe in the future I will complete the entire look, but now I’m happy with this.

<video controls poster="https://ashleyscosplaycache.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/dxii7907_480x480.jpg" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/671672486?h=6ae5db2672 <p><a href="https://vimeo.com/671672486">VID-20200913-WA0004</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user165156575">Ashley Sturgis</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.

I love this video. It makes me smile.

I’m wondering if most people in the world can speak English. I’m assuming you are Italian but do you just live there? How do you know how to speak English?

I always lived here, and sometimes I would like to live in another country to be able to speak more languages or make my English better. I learned English at school, but I was never very good, so now I make my English better thanks to the translator but also because I watch so many videos where people talk in English. But I have a lot to learn.

Here are Lilit’s websites so that you can check out all of her cosplays and creations.

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/it/shop/LilitCosplay?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilitcosplay/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0i-66Hk09Jq6ks1Fa5kXzw

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Thank you so much for taking the time to interview with me. I’m so excited to talk about your websites.

I see you have an Etsy Shop and that you make cosplay props and it looks like you sell the blueprints for others to do so. Is that correct? Tell me about how you got started and what is your process like?

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Ashley’s Cosplay Cache Is Getting To Know Nick Pro

Read the latest from Ashley’s Cosplay Cache’s blog at the links below:

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Thank you so much for taking the time to interview with me. I’m so excited to talk about your websites.

I see you have an Etsy Shop and that you make cosplay props and it looks like you sell the blueprints for others to do so. Is that correct? Tell me about how you got started and what is your process like?

Share this: