We’ll be featuring and interviewing cosplayers from all over the world here on the Cosplay Page of mutiPOPtural. This time we have the lovely Cosplay Magnolia! Special thanks to Lauren for joining us.

Introduction:

Hi! I am Lauren- born and raised in South Carolina, USA.

How did you discover cosplay and why did you decide to be a cosplayer after that?

I discovered cosplay through meeting some of my now best friends by chance at a brewery about an hour away from where I live. This couple (@ladykitzcosplay and @nospaceship on Instagram) happened to live in our city and as we began to hang out more and more.  We found out that they had been cosplayers for a few years after friends introduced them to it. They, and the rest of our local cosplay crew, are incredibly talented makers and can create BEAUTIFUL cosplays out of nothing. We attended a small, local Comic Con (not dressed up) and watched them as they walked around in cosplay and interacted with people in-and-out of costume – it looked SO FUN! My boyfriend and I had only dressed up for Halloween together and we did what came naturally for us because of our everyday looks – Wonder Woman and Superman. So, choosing my first cosplay was super easy!! Wonder Woman embodies the characteristics of a someone I strive to be in my day-to-day life and it has been a total dream transforming into a Wonder Woman cosplayer officially.

How was your first convention as a cosplayer?

DragonCon 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia was my first convention and OH MY GOODNESS – it was a total blur. I felt like a celebrity walking around the hotels as people took photos of me and with me. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I cannot describe how it felt to jump right into the cosplay scene in DragonCon as Wonder Woman – I HIGHLY recommend it!

Do you make your props/gear/armor or your own costume ? If not how do you get it ?

I am learning how to make cosplay outfits as I go along and I am building accessories for Mockingbird (a Marvel character), but for my first cosplay- I commissioned my Wonder Woman suit from the fantastic VivaWW on Etsy.

What does Cosplayer mean for you and how is it related to your acting background?

I’m not actor, but when in costume I try my best to embody Wonder Woman more and more. I have learned more about who she is and what she stands for and when little girls and boys come up to me, I hope they leave our interaction feeling as though they met the real Wonder Woman.

Tell us about your best experience while cosplaying

Kids Encounter Panel at Dragon Con 2017 is HANDS DOWN my favorite experience so far! Another chance meeting (with the lovely @lillianfaithcosplay on Instagram), led to me being the Wonder Woman of this panel with some amazing princess, superhero, villain, and Star Wars cosplayers to allow for children and their families to walk through to say hi and take photos. Being new to cosplay, I met the most welcoming people and the kids lighting up when they saw their favorite characters – those moments were priceless! I am looking forward to this year’s Kids Encounter on Sunday morning of Dragon Con!

Who do you look up to and who inspires you in cosplay?

My biggest cosplay inspirations are my local cosplay crew – Lady Kitz Cosplay (@ladykitzcosplay), Jenumi Cosplay (@jenumicosplay), Kat of All Trades (@kat.ofalltrades), LuLu Bee Cosplay (@lulubeecosplay), and 2 Player Game (@2playergame) (to name a few of my cosplay ladies – I have soooo many more that I feature on my Instagram as much as I can!). Without their support and encouragement to get into costume, I would not have found such a wonderful hobby and way to spread positivity! You HAVE to go check them out and follow them – they are super kind, talented, and knowledgeable.

What advice would you give to amateur aspiring cosplayers?

Just jump in and try it! Find a character with whom you truly relate and admire – the feeling is incredible!

Social media accounts:

Email:cosplay.magnolia3@gmail.com

Facebook: Cosplay Magnolia (www.facebook.com/cosplaymagnolia)

Instagram: cosplaymagnolia (www.instagram.com/cosplaymagnolia)

Twitter: cosplaymagnolia (www.twitter.com/cosplaymagnolia)

Open Message, What would you like to add?

Cosplay became a part of my life when I needed it most. I oftentimes say it has given me a new found joy in the midst of total darkness. I attended my first DragonCon when my mother’s health was declining. She had been battling breast cancer for 4 years. I lost my mother to cancer in November 2017. She used to call me her Wonder Woman and she was mine. She is the woman who shaped me into the woman I am today. Cosplay Magnolia is my handle in her honor. She loved magnolias and they represent her well. *fun fact* I have a magnolia tattoo on my right forearm dedicated to her life. I strive to live my life with determination and passion and I apply that to my healthy lifestyle (a method my mother helped me to find before she passed – she led me to something that FINALLY worked for me – FINALLY!). So, you can find workouts and health/wellness tips on my cosplay page since cosplaying strong, female characters helps me to stay motivated and reaching my body goals and learning to love my body along the way. Cosplay has totally saved me.