Featured Cosplayer: Kirstyann Rothwell

Name: Kirstyann Rothwell

City: Melbourne, Australia

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/Ladyvillain/

What was your first Cosplay Experience?

My first cosplay experience wasn’t really what you would even call a cosplay experience. A friend of mine had asked me to try going to a convention and I wasn’t really that interested honestly but she convinced me to dress up as a cat girl. I had absolutely no idea what cosplay was or even what a convention was but my mind was absolutely blown. I was already a geeky child who was raised on doctor who and Star Wars but this was a whole new universe for me. I lost my comic virginity that day and honestly I never looked back. My life from then on out consisted of comics, planning costume ideas and wasting all my money on collectables. I now cosplay at every Melbourne based convention doing mainly villain cosplays such as joker, Harley Quinn, Domino, Ziggs from league of legends, poison ivy, mad moxxi and more.

How long have you been Cosplaying?

I’m actually in that point of my cosplay “career” where I’m not a new cosplayer but I can’t say I’ve been cosplaying for very long. I think I’m going into my third year of cosplay later this year. My first convention was Armageddon Expo in November 2013.

What is your favorite cosplay you have worn/created?

I don’t really have a favourite cosplay out of the ones I’ve created so far because I enjoy all of the characters I cosplay as and if I wasn’t really passionate about the character I’m cosplaying I don’t think I’d have the courage to wear the cosplay. But with that aside I think Domino from X force would be the cosplay I am most recognised by because for some reason people find me quite intimidating when I walk around as her at conventions. The whole costume just screams badass with the catsuit, gigantic platform boots and serious amount of firepower and I feel like that badass/confident demeanour just comes naturally when you’re wearing something like that otherwise you wouldn’t be able to wear the cosplay.

If you had unlimited resources, what Cosplay would you create?

If I had unlimited resources I probably wouldn’t just create one. The first two cosplays that come to mind are Sindel from MK and Cammy from Street Fighter but I feel like they don’t push enough limits for unlimited resources so probably a female Armoured/cyber goth Joker would be awesome I think.

What advice would you offer others trying to break into Cosplay?

My advice for anyone who wants to try cosplay is just do it. Just jump in head first and remember to have fun because there’s no right or wrong way to cosplay as long as you’re having fun and doing what you love. Cosplay is all about self expression, the love for the character you’re cosplaying and becoming that character so just do what comes natural and you’ll be fine.