WE’RE BACK! Thank you for waiting through that hiatus in cosplayer of the month articles. This month we have an amazing cosplayer you won’t want to miss. Not only does she make her amazing cosplays, but she sings in them. On top of that, she does makeup tutorials, creates cosplays to sell, and still finds time to work on new projects. All the way from St. Petersburg Russia, August’s Cosplayer of the Month is, GrangeAir!
Among your many talents, you can also sing! When did you start and how did you decide to incorporate it into cosplay performances?
Oh, I started singing at the moment I started talking. I graduated from music school, played the piano, sang and stuff. I’m still getting singing lessons. Music is a really big field for art for me as much as cosplay. I think it’s so natural to put them together. Also, I like to write scenarios for videos and then all three hobbies become one as a music cosplay video and I love that! Unfortunately, it takes too much time and money and I can’t do it as often as I wish.
In your experience, is cosplaying in Russia any different than cosplaying in the USA?
Actually, it’s very different. I feel like in the USA a lot of people cosplay just for fun and no one judges them. In Russia, we have a very strict cosplay community where you can be judged for the wrong button color on your costume. But I do cosplays for 10 years now and I can say that our community is getting kinder and I believe that someday no one will be abused because of cosplay.
What inspired you to start doing makeup tutorials?
One of my sources of inspiration is youtube and makeup bloggers, I watch them a lot and I feel like I want to share some experience with others too. And of course, I’m inspired by my followers. It’s so nice to hear someone liked my makeup and to get messages with makeup tutorial requests. If somebody is interested, of course, I will want to do a tutorial.
You cosplay a lot of redheads -Amy Pond, Ginny Weasley, Ariel- What’s the reason behind that?
There are different reasons for each. But I guess the main reason is that ginger girls have something in common in their character. Something fierce and I love that! Also, I have ginger hair myself and I like how I look with it.
If you could only cosplay one Harry Potter character for the rest of your life who would it be and why?
It will be Hermione. She is my favorite character and it’s the first reason. The second is I look nothing like Emma Watson and finding a way to look like her using makeup and different angles is very interesting. The third is in real life I don’t behave like Hermione but sometimes I want to, she is my idol in some way.
What are some other cosplay concepts you are working on now or would like to work on in the future?
I’m working on Hermione ball gown and Ron ball costume for my friend, new Eowyn dress, La La Land costumes and one secret Disney project.
If you had all the time and money in the world- what would your ultimate cosplay be?
Eowyn armor costume. Also, I would want to do Eomer armor for my brother, he cosplays too, but these costumes are too difficult for us now. And if I had all the time and money in the world maybe I could convince my boyfriend to do Faramir.
What is the next event we can expect to see you cosplay at?
Unfortunately, I have no opportunity to go to other countries for cosplay events yet. That’s why I’m only going on Russian conventions and the next will be Big Festival in Saint-Petersburg.
What is your advice for those just getting into cosplay?
If you want to cosplay then COSPLAY, do not delay, don’t be afraid, just do it. =)
Where can we find you online?
https://www.instagram.com/grange_airv/
