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Do you love to cosplay, or are you just now trying to get into it? We talk with Nina from Anime Cafe, who is also the popular YouTuber MangoSirene. She gives her insights and opinions into the cosplay world as well as her process for making costumes.

Questions covered:

The Cosplay Universe

• Over the past five to ten years Comic Con has had a sort of renaissance in mainstream media in how it is covered, accepted, and the attendees it draws. How would you say this increased acceptance has changed the cosplay landscape?
• You’ve gained a lot of popularity on your YouTube channel – MangoSirene – How do you think YouTube is helping Cosplay and Cosplayers evolve?
• How do you feel about discrepancies in women’s versus men’s costumes (and therefore cosplay)? Does a problem exist? Or is the “sexualization of cosplayers” blown out of proportion?
• It seems there are two schools of thoughts in cosplay, one is that it should be a labor of love and you should cosplay characters you’re passionate about. The other is that you should strive for accuracy and buy your costumes if you can’t make them well enough yourself. Of course, I think we can all agree that people can do whatever they want, but have you seen these two “schools?” If so, which one do you fall into?
• Your “Can YOU Cosplay?” video is worth a watch. I think body issues or insecurities is something that holds a lot of people back. And, for those who put themselves out there they often times face trolls or other attacks. Where do you think this comes from in the geek communities that engage in cosplay? How do you handle it and do you think it can be prevented?
• While we’re on the body subject, anyone who watches your videos can see that you’re quite trim yourself, I saw a picture that involved some serious abs. (Kudos, and jealousy!) Do you do anything in particular to lose/maintain your weight? Do you feel you consider your own appearance more because of your cosplay?

Making Cosplay

• Do you primarily buy, or make, when it comes to clothes, accessories, and props?
• What is your “secret weapon” when it comes to cosplay? That thing that somehow gets used on seemingly every costume.
• What is something that you think most people “Get wrong” when it comes to cosplay?
• Have you ever designed your own interpretation of a costume? Such as a crossplay, or a ____ version?
• What are your favorite cosplay resources?