Tell me a bit about yourself and your cosplay persona. How did you get started with cosplay?

I started cosplaying around pandemic and I still don’t have a cosplayer name. So I`m stuck on my gaming name “Euphoria” . Going back, I’m on the verge of finding and developing myself into a better one, hence going back to what my inner child wanted to be and that is doing arts. Since pre-elem , I have really loved doing arts but it became inconsistent when I eventually started to go into Senior High. So in recent times I have decided to take this opportunity to go back to my artistic self . I started dying my hair and reliving myself with the creative artistry of makeup. That’s when an idea came into me, why not cosplay a character according to what my hair color is since I’m already an enthusiast of anime and the like. That marks the beginning of my persona as “Miyu Cerise”.

What was your first cosplay experience like? What did you learn from it?

My first cosplay experience was purely DIY because cosplaying is really an expensive hobby. It was Fem Sukuna , where I dyed my hair pink , used a red and blue hoodie, and applied my makeup skills. It was a fulfilling start because I never knew I had it in me. I never tend to be determined in things that I do, but when I started that first DIY cosplay of mine, I felt that this is really what speaks of me and I pursued it. I continued doing DIY cosplays until many people recognized my creativity. Eventually, I started to develop my skills in cosplaying, editing, makeup, shooting, styling and the like. Eventually, I took a lot of time to save money and also used my talent and skills to be able to gain some. I am a freelance makeup artist here in our city. Nevertheless, I still do DIY cosplay because it saves a lot of money.

Who or what were some of your early inspirations in the cosplay world?

I think one of my inspirations firstly in cosplay makeup is the makeup / cosplayer tiktokers esp. @Runscay and @Kirapika. Check them out on Tiktok! Also, in joining my first Cosplay Competition where I became champion, my inspiration was Hiro Lyte, Pink Neko 1, and Yan Zhou. I’ve been watching and giving my full support to these cosplayers in multiple competitions and eventually they run rent free in my mind. I studied how they do their skits from the acting , what scenes should be included and most importantly the canon expressions. I also asked one of them personally on how to perform well in these kind of competitions. I’ve been very thankful to them, because if not for them I might’ve not been able to be a champion in a competition <3

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Threads of Inspiration: The Journey Begins

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Walk me through your creative process for choosing a character to cosplay.

I usually cosplay characters that are psychopathic kinda ones, crazy jolly ones, horror ones, gothic ones, cool ones, pretty slayful mother ones, tough ones , small ones, and a few cute personality ones because I feel like I don’t fit the part T^T . Mostly characters who are more animated and someone I can relate to.
How do you research your characters to ensure an accurate portrayal?
Basically when I cosplay someone it’s either characters that I get attached to, characters that are so interesting to me, and those characters that I have memorized their personality and get up once I finished the series. So basically I have to watch , play the game or complete the series first to be able to canonically cosplay them. Then for the makeup, I usually do on the spot research and study on their facial structures since I’m a visual learner.

Do you have any special skills or techniques you use for prop-making or costume construction?

The special skill I was known for until now is my shapeshifting skills or makeup skills. From the most simple to the most complex.

In prop making, Since I don’t want to spend so much on props, I tend to recycle materials here at home. For example, instead of Eva foam, I use cardboard and carton for my Jinx PowPow gown, Enderman head, and grass block. I also used cardboard and paper for my angel wings. For the Costume, If I dont have the budget , I DIY based on what is available in my home since I know how to do fashion styling. I also sewed some of them . For example my “Golden Woman” costume which I made from an old gold gown.

Can you tell me about some of your most impressive or challenging cosplays? What made them special?

I think I have a lot of cosplays that people really love, but my personal favorite is those that took a lot of effort to make and those ones that people say I really look-alike to.. The Golden Woman, since I made it DIY and from scratch and I need to super bend my body just to get an accurate shot (of course with the help of my bf ) . Also my Nanno one. It’s a very simple cosplay but having to watch her multiple times, It’s like I’m slowly inheriting some of her expressions and personality in which some people said that I AM Nanno. The Last one is Jinx, She is my ultra fave because people often call me “Jinx” even though I’m cosplaying a different character, and her personality really stood up to me and also to other people as well. They liked my performance so well that they remembered me. Even Ate Magi, one of the cosplayer judges, acknowledged me and it was very fulfilling to my part ko since I poured my blood, sweat and tears just to be able to canonically cosplay her. Nevertheless, My other cosplays are done with full effort and utmost research.

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The Community and Impact

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How has cosplay impacted your life? Has it helped you build friendships or discover new aspects of yourself?

Cosplay made a drastic change in my life. It’s very life changing. It is like the number one purpose of why I am living today. I never knew a persona of Miyu would come to my life as I have never expected myself to be a cosplayer, but here I am today, happily living as cosplayer/artist. It clearly speaks about myself as it is the kind of field of creativity wherein I can express myself and hone my artistry. I have discovered that cosplaying is not only a mere portraying of a character but also it includes varieties of art forms that can be done by ONE person or A GROUP of creatives. It may be fashion, editing, styling , photography, makeup, crafting and more. Indeed, cosplaying made me build new relationships not only in my city, The Philippines, but also internationally. I have made new cosplay friends that support me and also , are my inspiration to do cosplay.

What does the cosplay community mean to you? How do you connect with other cosplayers?

I think the cosplay community is a group of creative people which has a platform for self-expression and personal growth as various aspects of life and arts can be seen in the community. It is also a place of acceptance and camaraderie because it is a group where people have shared interest and also a loving support to each one`s creativity. So when I entered the cosplay community, I felt a sense of belongingness and yes , there are people who are similar to me. Hence, I love interacting with these artistic people as they are my family. I interact with other cosplayers / artists / creators on various social media platforms, continuously supporting them, boosting their creations, and also giving them full support at conventions and cosplay competitions.

Cosplay can sometimes be misunderstood. Have you faced any challenges or misconceptions as a cosplayer? How do you deal with them?

There are a lot of challenges, like NORMIES that stand in the way of your work as if they know how to do cosplay. I have not experienced direct toxicity , but felt some of it from school and also seen it from other cosplayer friends of mine. Like their common toxic statement “you must be pretty rich because you cosplay a lot, so can I borrow some money? “. Reality speaking, Cosplaying is very expensive and a lot of cosplayers are broke. That is why you should be innovative if you want to be a cosplayer. No money to buy a costume? Do a low cost cosplay and learn some skills that can enhance your craft , makeup and editing skills. Next is, save up some money, work for it and be wise in buying cosplay stuff. A lot of them can be pricey, but if you are wise enough, you can save a ton by researching. Next, to be visually creative and innovative, you must know what stuff could be an alternative to an expensive material used for crafting or making a costume. Money always comes in the most righteous time but nothing beats being creative and clever when it comes to saving more money, then opportunities will come to you if God knows you have made a big effort in doing your endeavors. This is what I always tell people.

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The Future: What’s Next?

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What are your future goals within the cosplay world? Do you have any aspirations to compete, collaborate, or create content?

Probably after graduation or board exam, I will pursue my career in cosplaying but balance it with my daily life. As much as possible , I want to be Miyu Cerise in all aspects of my life. What do I mean by this, integrating my creativity to my work , responsibilities and career to the point where they see my trademarks and uniqueness whenever they see me ( How expressive I am in dressing up or how creative I am in my work , etc) . Also I have an ultimate goal, TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED ME IN MY COSPLAY CAREER. Just like Prince De Guzman, who gave art sets to children. There will always be people that hate what you do, or you in general but always remember to just push forward and give back to those who deserve your kindness and generosity. Hence, My revenge to those haters is to be successful and giving. If Cosplay helped me in giving me happiness in my life, I will use Cosplaying also to give happiness to others.

What advice would you give to someone who’s interested in starting cosplay?

Don’t be hesitant to do so. If you are doubtful, Find inspiration and ask for help. If you don’t know where to start, Ask questions. If someone judges you for doing what you love, ignore them and focus on enhancing your skills. You don’t have money? Start simple and learn basic crafting skills. You are not fulfilled with your cosplay end-results? Always think that development is gradual and it will always ALWAYS end up into something great. Cosplaying will boost your confidence and eventually your hidden potentials and abilities will arise.You’ll be surprised in how much you can improve in one thing that you thought you were bad at. Just be determined in what you are doing and always have fun! That’s how cosplaying will change your life.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your passion for cosplay?

MIyu Cerise is my cosplay name, Miyu isn’t far off from my real name but Cerise is a name I derived from a character named Cerise Hood ( daughter of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf) from the series “Ever After High”. She is also known as the “cat who cried wolf” which is a title I associated with way back before I was even a cosplayer. It’s like a foreshadowing on what I would become in the future. I’m a cat who cried wolf. It’s a predicament that in the future I will be a stronger person by my own means. That is what cosplaying made me into. This passion of mine made me stronger, boosted my self esteem, erased my self- doubt, reliving my inner child dreams and pursuing what I love. Eventually I gained from it, not only money but also confidence, growth in artistry , new skills, camaraderie, and a sense of how this kind of world works. It has gained me so much confidence that I know one day I would be successful in it and use my success to help other people. I want to be an inspiration for other cosplayers in terms of self love and dedication in doing what you admire the most. As much as you believe in yourself, as much as you believe that you ALWAYS matter , the passion you will adhere to is the passion that will make you stronger and of course, happy in life. And to me that is being a cosplayer.

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Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of a Cosplayer

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How much time and effort do you typically dedicate to a cosplay project?

The day before the shooting

• Visually imagining a “blueprint” on what to do in a cosplay project – 30 minutes
• Research – 30 minutes – 1 hour
• Wig styling (if needed) – 2-4 hours, Because I’m not that good at it yet.
• Costume making (If I wasn’t able to buy one) -1 day – 1 week , Depends if it’s difficult or not
• Crafting (If I wasn’t able to inquire an MTO or buy) – 1 day – 3 days

During the shoot:

• Setting up (Lighting, Camera Position, Led) – 5 minutes
• Putting on makeup, accessories, wig and costume- 1- 2 hours
• Shooting of Videos and Taking Photos- 1-2 hours
• Editing – 1-2 hours

As you can see, I don`t do water breaks or food breaks , Because I want consistency in my work , I only eat or drink after my shoot HUHUHUH.

Effort- A LOT!

Is there a specific part of the creative process you find most rewarding?

The satisfaction of the end results of every process. The end results of the editing, crafting, wig styling, and the videos.