COSPLAY Welcome to Live Magazine! Firstly... your video “Draw My Life” is amazing tell us about making that - it really gives fans and viewers a great background of who you are and where you’re at as a person. Doing a “Draw My Life” prompt was one of my most requested videos 2014, and I put it off until the end of December, as it just felt fitting to end the year that way. It was both very physically and emotionally taxing; I wrote out the script first, then illustrated it. All in all, the drawing process took 6 solid hours without a break, and the editing took even longer. It was exhausting, but the finished product is something of which I’m very proud. I try to be a role model in everything I do, and I knew this video was a good opportunity to help others. I wanted to tell my story, yes, but I also wanted to end on an uplifting note in hopes of inspiring other people who are struggling with something personal, whether it’s bullying, isolation, their future, or cancer, all of which I’ve faced during my life. Ok you’ve done a great job as a Vlogger, tell us what got you started on Youtube? It sounds silly looking back at it, but I pretty much just sat in my college dorm room and talked into my webcam about totally mundane things. I think I did a whole video about why I loved Harry Potter, and another one about what I ate for breakfast. I was doing it solely as something to keep me occupied while I was at school, since I didn’t really feel like making new friends other than my roommates. YouTube was just another hobby to add to the list -- but once I started doing cartoon reviews, it really kicked off, and it became a much bigger part of my life than I ever would’ve expected!
MANGO SIRENE www.FACEBOOK.COM/mangosirene
What about your cosplays, what’s been your favourite so far? My favorite costume... That’s probably the most difficult question you could ask a cosplayer! In terms of construction, Chell from Portal 2 was really fun to make, especially the Long Fall Boots. I’m also really proud of how my Batgirl of Burnside costume turned out, as it was my first time constructing a leather jacket entirely from scratch, including drafting the pattern myself. But when it comes to what I’ve had most fun wearing, that would have to be Nanase Haruka, from the anime Free!. It’s a series that means the world to me, and through cosplaying Haru, I’ve met my best friends and together we’ve created some unforgettable memories. You also visit a lot of cons, what’s been some stand outs? Katsucon and ColossalCon are two of the most fun conventions I’ve at-
tended when it comes to photoshoot opportunities. Katsucon is located in a gorgeous resort hotel with stunning interiors and architecture, it’s a very regal, elegant setting. Whereas ColossalCon takes place at a waterpark that also has interactive animal experiences, and the park itself is surrounded by really dense woods and a beautiful field, so it provides some super unique backdrops. On the flip side, DragonCon is just absolutely wild. It’s one of the biggest comic cons here in the United States, and it’s pretty much a 4-day, 24/7 nerd party. The entire city of Atlanta basically shuts down to celebrate all things geeky; there’s even a huge costume parade! Also you’ve done quite a few photo shoots. Can you tell us how a typical shoot goes from planning to the final photos being finished? As soon as my friends and I decide on a cosplay, we spend months assembling photo references, whether