Introduce yourself.
My real name is Dominique. I´m a cosplayer from Germany and 27 years old.
I work fulltime in an office and I use cosplay as my colorful hobby next to this grey work.
How and when did you start cosplaying?
I started my education in Frankfurt am Main and so I met a really good friend. Her name is Nadine and she was since a long time in the Cosplayscene and so we wanted to visit the Frankfurt Bookfair together. I wore a selfdesigned Gothic Lolita and a normal school uniform. But at this weekend I saw so many different and colorful costumes – I wanted to do this, too!
After this we wanted to see the Leipzig Bookfair in 2010. There are so many more cosplayers. And here I wore my first selfmade cosplay: “Cait Sith” from “Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus”. It was difficult to put it on, because Nadine had to sew me into it.
What's the best part of cosplay for you?
The best part is to find a new character you wanted to cosplay. Every time I´m so excited to start a new cosplay, but this euphoria is followed by the search for material and after that I'm always short on time for the con.
Normaly I need much time till I start a cosplay, because of this „oh it´s enough time till the date“, but when I finally started, I really love the progress and bringing all parts together. Painting is the best part for me.
After a whole day of work you see what you have done and that´s so cool!
Wearing the costume for the first time is so amazing – everytime I feel so cool XD
Do you think it's important to be "in character"?
Yes, but for me only if I do pictures or photoshootings. I don´t have to be in character while walking at a convention or talking to people.
Is cosplay a hobby you could see yourself doing in 10 years?
Yes, but maybe not so much like now. I have no idea – what the next ten years will be.
My real name is Dominique. I´m a cosplayer from Germany and 27 years old.
I work fulltime in an office and I use cosplay as my colorful hobby next to this grey work.
How and when did you start cosplaying?
I started my education in Frankfurt am Main and so I met a really good friend. Her name is Nadine and she was since a long time in the Cosplayscene and so we wanted to visit the Frankfurt Bookfair together. I wore a selfdesigned Gothic Lolita and a normal school uniform. But at this weekend I saw so many different and colorful costumes – I wanted to do this, too!
After this we wanted to see the Leipzig Bookfair in 2010. There are so many more cosplayers. And here I wore my first selfmade cosplay: “Cait Sith” from “Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus”. It was difficult to put it on, because Nadine had to sew me into it.
What's the best part of cosplay for you?
The best part is to find a new character you wanted to cosplay. Every time I´m so excited to start a new cosplay, but this euphoria is followed by the search for material and after that I'm always short on time for the con.
Normaly I need much time till I start a cosplay, because of this „oh it´s enough time till the date“, but when I finally started, I really love the progress and bringing all parts together. Painting is the best part for me.
After a whole day of work you see what you have done and that´s so cool!
Wearing the costume for the first time is so amazing – everytime I feel so cool XD
Do you think it's important to be "in character"?
Yes, but for me only if I do pictures or photoshootings. I don´t have to be in character while walking at a convention or talking to people.
Is cosplay a hobby you could see yourself doing in 10 years?
Yes, but maybe not so much like now. I have no idea – what the next ten years will be.
How do you view yourself as a cosplayer?
I´m this typical „I have enough time for a cosplay – let us start later – oh it´s only 3 days before the con – I have to hurry“-cosplayer. I know I have to change it, but I can´t.
Do you find things about the characters you cosplay that are similar to yourself?
Normaly not – I think. I cosplay the most time strong women with amazing strengths and so on. But I can say – they are mostly women – this is similar to me XD
Where do you find inspiration?
I really love Instagram-Storys which shows progress! I´m totally in love with progress pictures – they are so motivating and always an inspiration for the next costumes.
If I design a full new costume for me I search through my material and try to put things together. If I will redesign a character, which is already alive (from a book, movie, manga) I look at the pictures and try to find a way that other people will recognize the normal character in my creation.
Which costume is your favourite?
My favorite cosplay is „Selene“ from „Underworld“. But I also like my cosplays from „Alice Abernathy“ from „Resident Evil“ and „Magdalena“ from the comics. They are three really badass characters. And of course my Qforce-armor from „Ratchet and Clank“.
I think there is not really THIS favorite costume, because I always love my armors and all other costumes I put together.
Of course „Moxxi“ from „Borderlands“ is such a cool costume or my „Bowser“.
Do you have any other hobbies, besides cosplay?
I really like gaming. But the problem is – If I play a new game I always find a cosplay for me. So it´s not much time for gaming. Sometimes I go for a walk with my cat or meet friends.
I love to visit the cinema sometimes.
I´m this typical „I have enough time for a cosplay – let us start later – oh it´s only 3 days before the con – I have to hurry“-cosplayer. I know I have to change it, but I can´t.
Do you find things about the characters you cosplay that are similar to yourself?
Normaly not – I think. I cosplay the most time strong women with amazing strengths and so on. But I can say – they are mostly women – this is similar to me XD
Where do you find inspiration?
I really love Instagram-Storys which shows progress! I´m totally in love with progress pictures – they are so motivating and always an inspiration for the next costumes.
If I design a full new costume for me I search through my material and try to put things together. If I will redesign a character, which is already alive (from a book, movie, manga) I look at the pictures and try to find a way that other people will recognize the normal character in my creation.
Which costume is your favourite?
My favorite cosplay is „Selene“ from „Underworld“. But I also like my cosplays from „Alice Abernathy“ from „Resident Evil“ and „Magdalena“ from the comics. They are three really badass characters. And of course my Qforce-armor from „Ratchet and Clank“.
I think there is not really THIS favorite costume, because I always love my armors and all other costumes I put together.
Of course „Moxxi“ from „Borderlands“ is such a cool costume or my „Bowser“.
Do you have any other hobbies, besides cosplay?
I really like gaming. But the problem is – If I play a new game I always find a cosplay for me. So it´s not much time for gaming. Sometimes I go for a walk with my cat or meet friends.
I love to visit the cinema sometimes.
How do you find balance between your everyday routine (work, school, family etc.) and your life as a cosplayer?
There is not really a balance. I don´t work everyday at a cosplay for 2 or 3 hours (I know this would be much better than my way). It´s more like If I´m not working on a cosplay (there is no convention or photoshooting) I have the time for family, friends and housework but If I´m in the cosplay-stress-mode I don´t have time for sleep, eat, family or something other. I only go to work and work on the cosplay till it´s finished.
How much time a month do you spend on cosplay? (average)
I´m not sure, there are months with much conventions/photoshootings and some with normally no convention I visit. If there is a convention I work around two weeks on a cosplay (maximum), but normaly I put the whole armor in 9 or 10 days or do other cosplay within 4 days. So I think it´s okay to say 10 days.
Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.
I hate packing my suitcase so much – really I hate it.
My favorite food is roulade and dumplings.
I cut the ass-hair of my Norwegian Forestcat „Camillo“.
If I was younger I had a crush on Vegeta and Kaiba.
I´m a really bad looser in a game. If I loose I hate my opposide or my team member.
Send a short message to our readers.
Thank you for reading the interview!
If you wanted to start with cosplay – just do it! It´s learning by doing.
Or just – be your hero!
If you have questions – ask me – I will try to answer all of them.
If you are interested in the scene – check out the conventions in your area and talk with the cosplayers – we are a really friendly community.
There is not really a balance. I don´t work everyday at a cosplay for 2 or 3 hours (I know this would be much better than my way). It´s more like If I´m not working on a cosplay (there is no convention or photoshooting) I have the time for family, friends and housework but If I´m in the cosplay-stress-mode I don´t have time for sleep, eat, family or something other. I only go to work and work on the cosplay till it´s finished.
How much time a month do you spend on cosplay? (average)
I´m not sure, there are months with much conventions/photoshootings and some with normally no convention I visit. If there is a convention I work around two weeks on a cosplay (maximum), but normaly I put the whole armor in 9 or 10 days or do other cosplay within 4 days. So I think it´s okay to say 10 days.
Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.
I hate packing my suitcase so much – really I hate it.
My favorite food is roulade and dumplings.
I cut the ass-hair of my Norwegian Forestcat „Camillo“.
If I was younger I had a crush on Vegeta and Kaiba.
I´m a really bad looser in a game. If I loose I hate my opposide or my team member.
Send a short message to our readers.
Thank you for reading the interview!
If you wanted to start with cosplay – just do it! It´s learning by doing.
Or just – be your hero!
If you have questions – ask me – I will try to answer all of them.
If you are interested in the scene – check out the conventions in your area and talk with the cosplayers – we are a really friendly community.
