A cosplayer is someone who uses fashion accessories and costumes to portray a fictitious character so that they may express themselves. Members of the cosplayer community constitute a subculture, which may also be referred to as role-playing.
Cosplaying requires a thorough knowledge of the character you are portraying in order to accurately portray that character on social media or in any other medium. Make-up, stitching, and building up the character’s vitality all need the use of numerous creative forms. Olivia was one of the first cosplayers we encountered while we were looking for someone who could link us to the world of cosplaying.
Olivia is only 18, making her one of the youngest cosplayers we came across. Her dedication to her cosplays is pretty much evident in her cosplays. On Instagram, we stumbled onto Olivia’s profile. Opening her profile serves you with almost all the cosplays of Tokyo Revengers, starting from Smiley and Angry as well as Mikey. Then comes the characters of Jujutsu Kaisen, such as Nobara, Toge Inumaki, and more. She’s done an excellent job portraying all of the characters she’s cosplayed as. In a world where cosplaying is an underrated art, profiles like Olivia’s will encourage youngsters to embrace their creative side more. When asked for an interview, she said yes. So we used the occasion to reach out to her by email.
You can follow her work on all of the social media platforms listed below throughout the interview, so don’t miss it!
Olivia, would you like to introduce yourself to our audience first before we start the interview?
Olivia: My name is Olivia, I’m 18, and I’m a cosplayer. On a day-to-day basis, I’m a normal teenager who enjoys spending time with friends.
Question: Being a teenager, what prompted your decision to pursue a career in cosplay?
Olivia: Reason why I decided to become a cosplayer.. hmm.. That was kind of a spontaneous decision; one day, I saw that one of my idols from Instagram dressed up as an anime character. Back then, I didn’t know it was, in fact, a cosplay, but I really liked it, and I decided to try it out myself.
Question: So you have done multiple cosplays. What do you think felt like a hurdle you had to overcome?
Olivia: I would say there were a lot of them, but the most challenging one was definitely make-up. Some characters require a lot of skill.
Question: As a cosplayer, what is the most memorable experience you’ve had?
Olivia: My most cherished memories are the times I’ve spent on group photoshoots. They are just unforgettable.
Question: What was your inspiration, or was there someone who had inspired you to step into this field?
Olivia: I don’t remember the name of my first inspiration, but now my inspiration is @_hakkencoser_. I’ve been following her progress for a couple of years, and I really admire her work.
Question: Did it ever make you feel like giving up being a cosplayer with all the hurdles that have come your way?
Olivia: I didn’t only consider it; I, in fact, gave up on cosplaying for two years. At that time, I thought I would never cosplay again, but as you can see, I’m back, better, and more motivated than ever! Although at the time, that break was needed.
Question: Among all the cosplays that you have created, which one of them was the most fun while creating it?
Olivia: I really enjoyed prepping Smiley from Tokyo revengers. Styling a wig was really fun, although it required some good skills.
Question: You have a lot of experience creating your version of different characters. So what among them seemed the hardest for you to create?
Olivia: I consider Hisoka from hunter x hunter as one of my most time-consuming and difficult cosplay. I’ve spent a lot of time sowing the outfit and doing make-up, but it was all worth it.
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Question: We have asked you enough questions about cosplay. Would you mind sharing your favorite anime?
Olivia: My favorite animes are:
– Hunter x hunter
– Tokyo revengers
– Owari no seraph
– Saiki k
– Inuyasha
– Horimiya
– Kamisama Hajimemashita
Question: Well, what else do you like other than cosplaying?
Olivia: Besides cosplaying I really enjoy sports like swimming, skiing, ice-skating and much more. I’m also interested in photography, and I do like to sing and dance.
Question: Now that you have done a lot of cosplays, is there a particular type of character that appeals to you? Also, what are your favorite characters?
Olivia: I especially enjoy cosplaying characters with calm expressions but mischievous smirks. I think they fit me the most.
Question: What is your future plan on cosplaying? What characters do you have in your mind for the future?
Olivia: At this moment I’m working at Koko from Tokyo revengers. I’m ready and excited for this particular one because I’m planning a mini photoshoot for him. Next, I’m planning Power from Chainsaw, man.
Question: Have you ever attended a convention? When was the last time you attended the con, and how was your experience?
Olivia: I haven’t really been to any convention for a couple of years. The last one I went to was three years ago. I also don’t really remember how big they were or what were the names they went by.
Question: Do you have any favorite parts about your cosplay? Like something that keeps you hooked on?
Olivia: My favorite part of every cosplay is definitely styling a wig. Back in time, I really wanted to become a hairstylist, but for now, I’ve put that aside. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll come back to that dream of mine.
Question: After doing so many cosplays and having a good amount of fan following. Is there any advice you would like to give to people who are interested in the same direction?
Olivia: My advice is to never give up, even when it’s rough. I myself started with little to zero skills, and I’m sure a lot of you wouldn’t even believe that me back then, and I now am, in fact, the same person.
It was a great interview. We learned a lot about you as well as the art of cosplaying. Would you like us to attach your social media profiles at the end of the interview?
Olivia: Of course, but I have only Instagram.
