We are super excited to introduce the March Cosplayer of the month…JuliexKitten! Julie is a cosplayer, a gamer, and a huge nerdy girl…which we love! She is also a member of the Chicago Bombshells Cosplay group. We have been so glad to get to know more about her awesomeness and now it is your turn. Meet JuliexKitten!
When did you star cosplaying?
I started cosplaying in 2011 when I made an Avatar costume for Halloween. I received such an amazing response from my friends and even from complete strangers, so I started making more costumes not just for Halloween. However, it wasn’t until 2014 that I started wearing these costumes to conventions.
What is the reason you cosplay?
I cosplay for fun! I love being a chameleon and becoming all of these different characters that I’ve admired for so long. I also love the response from people when they recognize my character. I love bonding with people over our mutual love for all of these different fandoms.
What is the most challenging cosplay or prop that you’ve worked on?
I’d have to say the most difficult cosplays are the ones I haven’t finished yet. I’m not even remotely crafty or thrifty, so when it comes to sewing or creating things from scratch, I’m seriously lacking. I’m currently working on Angewomon from Digimon and Thorin Oakenshield from The Hobbit. Both require quite a bit of intense detail and craftsmanship that are taking me a long time to finish.
What is your favorite fandom to cosplay?
Anything Marvel! I grew up watching the old school cartoons and reading the comics with my brother. It’s the most incredible feeling to see myself in the mirror wearing the costumes of the characters that I’ve looked up to since I was a child.
What’s one of your most memorable moments while cosplaying?
The most memorable would be when I was cosplaying as Raven from Teen Titans. A little girl came running up to me and gave me the biggest hug and told me that I was her favorite character. Her mother took a bunch of pictures of us together, and she didn’t want to let me go. I couldn’t get over how happy my costume made that little girl, and I still get teary eyed thinking about it!
If you had to choose one cosplay to do for the rest of your life, which would you choose?
Out of my current costumes, I’d have to say my Pyramid Head cosplay from Silent Hill. It was one of my first costumes ever, and it was the first costume that I created everything from scratch. I loved the reactions that I got from people, and let’s be honest, it’s exhilarating scaring the crap out of people!
What are some of the best things you’ve learned about yourself since you started cosplaying?
One of the best things I’ve learned is how to be more creative! I look at material items completely differently than I used to. For example, I go shopping for clothes and I wonder to myself, “How could I incorporate this into a costume?” I never used to be so thrifty like this!
What advice would you give to new cosplayers just getting started?
To quote the highly regarded Shia LeBeouf, “Just do it.” In all seriousness, cosplay is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life, and I couldn’t imagine my life without it! I have met some of the most amazing people, and I’ve gained so much more confidence in myself. Don’t let anything hold you back. Just Do It!!
Tell us something that no one knows about you?
I have crippling social anxiety. It’s so bad that I hyperventilate and get light headed. if I get too overwhelmed in social situations. Being in costume helps to some extent, but there are times where I have to hide in my car, hotel room, bathroom, or sometimes leave conventions early just to recuperate.
Where can we find you online?
https://www.youtube.com/juliexkitten
https://twitter.com/JuliexKitten
https://www.facebook.com/juliexkitten
Also the Chicago Bombshells have social media pages, too!