Name: Jade Lees
City: Manchester, United Kingdom
Twitter: @LadyPandaCute
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoddessLokisaurusCosplay
What was your first Cosplay Experience?
My first cosplay experience has to be the Manchester MCM Expo 2012. It was my first ever convention and I cosplayed as Lightning Farron (Final Fantasy XIII). At first, I didn’t know what to think but as the day progressed I found myself hooked! My love for cosplay has only grown ever since that day! It has also increased my confidence and self image. I’ve met amazing new friends which have inspired me to start designing/making my own cosplays!
How long have you been Cosplaying?
I have been cosplaying since 2010. I actually went to my college dressed as Rukia (School Uniform) for a friend’s birthday/Halloween. This back-fired because on that day we were in the science labs, and we had to wear lab coats. People thought that I didn’t have a skirt on which was funny and embarrassing at the same time.
What is your favorite cosplay you have worn/created?
My all time favourite cosplay I have worn has to be my Lady Loki. This was the first cosplay that I had a hand in designing/making. I had so much fun creating a fully working tesseract and the headdress. It filled me with pride when everyone had positive comments about the design. At one point during the Manchester MCM Expo 2014, I had Cosplayers dressed as Sand People from Star Wars stroking the tesseract!
If you had unlimited resources, what Cosplay would you create?
I have two cosplays in mind. My first one would have to be a fully functional Iron Man Mark 7 Suit. It would be amazing to arrive at a con the way Tony Stark does. (It would also save me the trouble of sorting out transport to and from the event. The second one would have to be a Transformers cosplay. It would have to be Bumblebee. I’d love to make it full size but I wouldn’t fit through the doors at the con.
What advice would you offer others trying to break into Cosplay?
Just be yourself! There will be haters but that goes for a lot of things in life. No matter what your skill level, your age, weight, skin tone or gender, you can cosplay as anyone you want. If there is any bit of a cosplay that you are uncomfortable wearing, like a short skirt or a low cut top, just remember that you can change that little bit. Never be afraid to show of your independence and creativity!
