This SMC Interview features another one of our amazing Feature cosplay models found on the pages of our Instagram. New Yorker Livicole Cosplay does some truly amazing cosplay work. Read all about her cosplaying adventures below.
Location: NYC
Links | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
SMC: Why did you start cosplaying?
Livicole: The first time I wore a costume to a convention was before I really knew what “cosplay” was – I just understood that a lot of people dressed up and it was my first time going to a con, so I wanted to really immerse myself. When I arrived, I met so many nice cosplayers and tons of people were asking for photos with me, and I just fell in love with the whole thing. I went home and immediately started looking into cosplayers online and how to get started with cosplay, and just haven’t stopped since!
SMC: What was the first convention you attended in cosplay?
Livicole: The first time I cosplayed for a con was for NYCC in 2016.
SMC: What has been your most memorable convention moment?
Livicole: There’s been so many! I think one of my favorites though was the first time someone ever recognized me off of my social media. It was AnimeNEXT 2017, and this person I had never met before came running up to me saying “You’re Livicole Cosplay!!”. I was so surprised and it really made me feel amazing.
SMC: What is your favorite thing about cosplaying at a convention?
Livicole: Bringing the character to life. Just that moment when you finally have your full costume on and your full makeup and you just become the character you’ve been working so hard on. To be able to finally see all your work come to life and share it with others is an amazing feeling.
SMC: Where can fans expect to see you next? (2018 Schedule?)
Livicole: I’ll be at East Coast Comic Con on Saturday and then Sakura Matsuri/Cherry Blossom Festival at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens on Sunday at the end of this month (April), after that things are kind of up in the air! Anime NEXT and Otakon are possibilities, but I’ll definitely be at Colossalcon East, Anime NYC and NYCC at the end of the year again.
Mary Jane Watson (Marvel) shot by B_U_Photography
SMC: What cosplayers inspire you?
Livicole: Some of the people that inspire me most are the good friends that I’ve made in the cosplay community so far – including @mandaglorian, @rincosplaynyc, @cosplaynay, @gwensdayaddams, and so many more (all instagram handles). And of course, the really popular cosplayers like Jessica Nigri, Kamui Cosplay, Danielle Beaulieu, Stella Chuu, etc. are super inspiring as well!
SMC: Which is your favorite cosplay you’ve created?
Livicole: Oh I think it’s impossible for me to choose! I love all of my costumes for their own reasons. If I had to pick off the top of my head though, I’d say either my Night Elf Druid from WoW, Eileen Belserion from Fairy Tail, or Shiny Chariot from Little Witch Academia.
SMC: What cosplay are you best known for?
Livicole: I don’t think there’s one cosplay I’m best known for honestly – I try to push myself and constantly change my image, so I’ve only ever worn a costume at most 2 times. Some of my most popular cosplays though seemed to be my Night Elf Druid from WoW, Ladydevimon from Digimon, and Black Cat from Marvel.
Himiko Toga (Boku no Hero Academia) shot by John Gregorios. ft. Jenna Daggers Cosplay as Dabi
SMC: If money was no object what would be your dream cosplay creation?
Livicole: My dream cosplay is always changing – I have a never ending list of cosplans that just keeps growing haha. For a while now though, I’ve wanted to make Miaka’s Priestess of Suzaka outfit from Fushigi Yuugi and get a full group of cosplayers to do the Suzaku Seven! I also really, really want to make Beatrix from Final Fantasy IX currently.
SMC: Do you have any new cosplays currently in the works?
Livicole: Tons! I’m currently working on a few Boku no Hero Academia cosplays – including Midnight, Eraser Head and Momo Yaoyorozu. I’m also working on Sango from Inuyasha, and will be starting work on Yang from RWBY and Morrigan Aensland soon. Most of these will be a part of group cosplays I’m really excited for!
SMC: What are your cosplay strengths? (Tailoring, fabric painting, worbla armor, in-character performance etc.)
Livicole: I do a little bit of everything and I’m still so new to cosplay that I can’t say there’s any one thing I’m better at. I have a lot to learn and I’m always struggling and pushing myself with new techniques and types of costumes. I’d say what I do the most of though is sewing, worbla armor and props.
Black Cat (Marvel) shot by Daniel Lin
SMC: What’s one thing you wish you knew about cosplaying before you got started?
Livicole: This applies to a lot of things in my life, but I wish I knew how to NOT be such a perfectionist. I waste a lot of time and energy trying to make the smallest of details of a costume absolutely perfect – sometimes redoing things 5+ times until I feel it’s right – and a lot of the times most people don’t even notice the things I do! It also causes me to be unhappy with a lot of my costumes (even though I love them all, there’s definitely things I want to change or fix about them all as well), but that’s why I’m always trying to improve!
SMC: Any advice for people interested in cosplaying for the first time?
Just do it! There’s so many amazing tutorials online to help you get started, and there’s so many different methods of doing something that you can kind of just experiment and find what works for you. Even if you have no idea what you’re doing or you mess up 100 times, just keep going, it happens to everyone!
Shiny Chariot (Little Witch Academia) shot by Mark Horowitz
SMC: What do you do in the real world for a job? (Be specific as you like)
Livicole: I’m a waitress! Nothing too fun or interesting haha.
SMC: What is something your fans may not know about you? Other hobbies?
Livicole: I actually went to school for Game Design and seriously considered becoming a 3D Environment Artist for a while, but I just realized it wasn’t really my passion.
SMC: What part of “geekdom” is you favorite avenue of entertainment (i.e. comics, movies, video games, anime, etc?).
Livicole: I’m definitely most into video games and anime!
SMC: Any favorite TV shows, movies or cartoons?
Livicole: Currently addicted to Boku no Hero Academia (and Season 3 starts so soon!!)
SMC: What is your gaming system of choice?
Livicole: PC and PS4!
Night Elf Druid (WoW) shot by Patrick Vinh
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Happy Canadian, as well as a hardcore video game addict. Spends all day and night trying to come up with new ideas for Share My Cosplay. Need help with something feel free to contact me.