Photo by Photos and Designs by Piera. |
Photo by Dru Phillips. |
Victoria: My name is Victoria and I have been cosplaying since 2006. My day job is part time Nanny and part time Nursery School Teacher. I run my own birthday party business where I do princess parties. I also work for the non-profit volunteer group, the Heroes Alliance. I have been hired and paid throughout the years by photographers and agencies as a professional model.
G2A: When did you start cosplaying and what inspired you?
Victoria: I began cosplaying in 2006. I was inspired by a photo of a beautiful cosplayer that my boyfriend showed me. She was at a convention in Japan and was dressed as Rikku from Final Fantasy X-2, which is one of my favorite video games. I was inspired by that photo. The composition was beautiful. The quality of the costume was stunning. She truly breathed life into the character.
G2A: Tell us about the pros and cons of being a cosplayer.
Victoria: Being a cosplayer is creatively liberating. It gives you an avenue to express yourself and your love for a character however you want. The process of putting a costume together is artistic. Its a fun and healthy hobby. Being active in the community, you meet many like minded people and make friends. The friendships formed are the best part. On the negative side, because this hobby is about being seen and photographed, you can be subjected to online bullying which includes racism, sexual harassment and other forms of bullying. Dont tolerate it because you dont deserve it. Block, delete, ban. Do whatever you have to do to flush out the negativity.
G2A: What are the key factors in choosing the best cosplay costume?
Victoria: I can say that the most impressive are those who think outside the box. Also if you bear a strong resemblance to a character, it will make a lasting impression. But theres really no rule book on how to choose the best costume. Just go for what you love and express yourself.
G2A: What is your dream cosplay?
Victoria: I want to be Iron Man!
G2A: Do you have any cosplayer friends that share the same passion for cosplaying?
Victoria: Majority of my friends are cosplayers. The friendships I have made in this community are priceless to me.
G2A: Apart from cosplaying, what are your other hobbies?
Photo by Green House Photography. |
G2A: I know about your charity work for Heroes Alliance. Could you elaborate further on this topic?
Victoria: The Heroes Alliance is a nationwide non-profit volunteer group. We dress as superheroes and volunteer at local Childrens Hospitals and Childrens Charities that focus on the medically fragile or terminally ill. Our goal is to give them a "real life" super hero experience. The Heroes Alliance is celebrating its 10th year and we have branches all over the country. I am the coordinator for the Eastern Pennsylvania branch. I manage my team of fellow super hero volunteers and handle all of the scheduling for events. Heroes Alliance image Heroes Alliance About Heroes Alliance View on www.heroesalliance.org
G2A: What is your greatest achievement in Cosplaying?
Photo by Dan Gregory Photography. |
G2A: Apart from cosplaying.. is there anything else you do professionally?
Victoria: As I stated before, I have been hired and paid to do commercial modeling. I run my own birthday party business. My day jobs are working in Early Child Hood Education. I do not consider cosplay a profession. Its not a job. Its a hobby.
G2A: I read about your serious accident in 1999, how did you deal with recovery? What advice would you give to people who found themselves in similar situations?
Victoria: My advice would be not to give up hope. Keep working hard and surround yourself with a strong support group. Dont be afraid to ask for help. Remember that not only do you need healing psychically but mentally and emotionally.