Hi Wiktoria, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions on SimplySxy. Please share with our readers a little about yourself and where you’re from?
My name is Wiktoria Soliwoda. I’m 15 years old and I live in Poland.
When did you start to cosplay and how did you choose the name Kawaii Louise?
I did my first cosplay in 2014. My nickname consists of the name of my favourite character Louise and Kawaii, which means cute in Japanese.
What’s the story behind your League of Legends obsession?
My love towards League of Legends started in 2013, when the new character, Jinx, was shown. At the beginning, Jinx was my point of interest, which turned out to be my obsession. Jinx gained my deep love because of her character, her view of the world and the way she dresses herself.
What hobbies do you have?
My hobby is helping people with different ways and theatre.
Is there anything that annoys you?
Surely, the most annoying mistakes are those connected with language.
If you could learn anything in this world, what will it be?
I would like to experience the culture of different countries, study psychology and foreign languages.
What characters are you looking to cosplay next?
Now, I’m making the cosplay of Margery Daw, Rias Germany, Mafia Jinx and Mafia Miss Fortune.
How will you describe an ideal romantic date?
The ideal date for me is going to the cinema, supper with candles and after maybe a duo games?
It’s a pleasure to feature you Wiktoria. One question before we end, how do you define “sexy”?
I think it’s something attractive, catchy, exciting and turning on.
Hello everyone! My name is Megz Lee and I’m currently based in Florida, the home of the constant sauna. Cosplay is my one of my favorite creative outlets to partake in, especially when it allows you to meet such great new friends! I love fashion, music, and food!
When did you start to cosplay and how the interest come about?
I want to say about 2 years ago? The end of 2013 is when I started going to conventions and constructing costumes. I’ve always played a lot of video games and watched a lot of different TV shows while growing up; I would see my favorite character and just love them so much that I just had to do everything I could to be them! It’s definitely helped shape up my craftsmanship!
What’s your process like when you decide to cosplay a character until its completion?
Usually when I decide to cosplay a character, it hits me like a train. The first moment I would see them on screen or hear them talk I instantly think, “That’s it, that’s the one.” Then, I surround myself with (too many) pictures of whatever character until it motivates me to go out and buy a wig/fabric for the costume. A lot of times, I just sweatshop and continuously work on sewing and details for it for an average of 10 hours straight in one day until it’s done!
Has there been any wardrobe malfunction that happened to you or you have witness before?
Plenty of times! In fact, it’s not a rare occasion at all. Sometimes as I would put garments on, I would realize something is not taken in enough and is way too big or even too small. There can be times when seams would rip as well as me being so tired that I would sew the garment inside out–which means me having to rip it apart and sew it all over again. There are even times when my costume can be held together with safety pins!
What misconceptions do people have about cosplayers?
I can’t think of anything really negative in my perspective, but from experience I think that people [who don’t cosplay] may find cosplay[ers] weird. I mean, people walk by and suddenly see a girl in a big white wedding dress with angel wings the size of a car and a long pink wig?! That’s not something you see everyday! But of course to regular cosplayers, the hobby is essentially a norm. Now that I think about it, you never truly know whether a boy or a girl is in a certain cosplay, so I guess that can be a misconception when people assume! It’s funny how something can be viewed so differently by two ends of the spectrum! In the end, we’re all just nerds who like to dress up!
Do you have other hobbies?
Yes I do! Besides cosplay, I am artist. I draw commissions and sketch quite a bit. I also play various instruments – violin, guitar, bass, piano – and compose music as well. I think it’s good to have multiple stress relieving hobbies, especially when they can create something beautiful.
What characters are you looking to cosplay next?
A lot of times, characters I look to cosplay are shown in the newest series. Although now, I am thinking of making some cosplays from the classics such as Lust from Fullmetal Alchemist and Aerith Gainsborough to celebrate the remake of Final Fantasy 7! One of my firsts cosplays was Lightning Farron from Final Fantasy 13, so I’m always working on multiple outfits for her as well. Funny thing is, I’m progressively cosplaying more and more boys!
One thing you wish you could change about the cosplay industry?
I would definitely add more local and free cosplay events in many cities! I’ve had one too many friends tell me that although they really want to go to an event, they can’t because the admission fee costs too much. Conventions can be ridiculously expensive and I would like everybody to meet with other cosplayers and make new friends with similar interests! Cosplay is about having fun and I think it’d be great if we can uphold that moral!
It’s a pleasure to feature you Megz. One question before we end, how do you define “sexy”?
Thank you! To me, sexy is being kind, strong-willed and confident. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a male or female since this applies both ways. You don’t need incredibly jaw-dropping looks or out of this world curves/abs; you just have to be the best that you can be and that’s enough!
Hello everyone, and thank you so much to SimplySxy for having me. My name is Emily but I also go by an array of other names online, typically either Elderberry or Purple(-chan). I’m a model, cosplayer, singer and occasionally a derpy Internet talent with a fabulous red octopus sidekick. I was born and raised on the East Coast in New Jersey (Central Jersey wooooo) but I’m now residing in the Bay Area in California.
Photo Credit: Jeff Davis
How did you get into modeling?
The funny thing is I actually got into modeling through cosplay. I had been cosplaying for a few years and really wanted to start creating better cosplay photos, so I sat down and joined a modeling networking site hoping to meet good photographers. Then I started realizing that non-cosplay modeling can be lots of fun too! Before getting into modeling I was actually very self-conscious about being taller than the average girl, especially for an Asian.
Photo Credit: Ed Tran Photography
You are a Cosplayer yourself too. What do you enjoy most about Cosplay?
I think cosplay for me is just another extension of being an otaku. It’s really exciting to try to bring a character and/or series you love to life, and it’s also awesome to see how far you can transform your normal look and temporarily become someone else. It also wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that practically everything I know about makeup I learned through cosplay.
Photo Credit: Hoang Le
Do you have any favorite Cosplay characters?
I think my most well-known cosplay is probably Gasai Yuno from Mirai Nikki, I’ve cosplayed four versions of her so far and am thinking of possibly doing more LOL—Yuno is such an extreme character so it’s very interesting to try portraying her.
Another recent cosplay I’ve really enjoyed doing recently is Toosaka Rin (Fate/staynight series). She actually was one of my earliest cosplay years ago, so when Unlimited Blade Works came out I had to go back and tackle the character all over again, this time with (hopefully) more attention to accuracy. I hunted down some aqua-colored contacts (not blue), specifically styled the amount of wave in a lovely grey-blend wig (dark grey wigs were nonexistent back in the late 2000s), and included details like the v-shaped hem of her top.
Rin is a character that I really like—not just for her aesthetic design but also her skillfulness and well-balanced tsundere personality—so even though the cosplay itself is relatively simple compared to others it’s always so much fun to wear.
Photo Credit: Peow Yeong
Which is the sexiest item in your wardrobe?
That’s kind of a complicated question. I definitely own a ton of stereotypically “sexy” clothes and accessories—PVC stiletto boots, garter belts, even some lace thongs, etc.— but I only ever use them for shoots and the rest of the time they just sit in a box somewhere.
But out of my actual regular wardrobe I would probably say stockings—my legs are my favorite physical feature and I feel like wearing black stockings magically makes them look skinnier. I think being an anime nerd has definitely given me a biased opinion on opaque black thigh highs being like the greatest thing ever, hahaha.
Photo Credit: Spooky Electric
What is your beauty secret to looking so gorgeous?
To be honest, I think a lot of it is actually just cleanly applied makeup, haha! But I do also try to take care of my skin—I always try to take off my makeup as soon as I can, usually right when I get home. I use a makeup remover wipe, then wash with a face brush from Japan, and always put on moisturizer afterwards.
Photo Credit: Alex Lim
On a scale of 1-10, how much of a foodie are you?
Aaah, maybe around a 7? I love eating things and snapping photos of/with said food. When I first joined Instagram I would just post up pictures of whatever food I was eating all the time until I had multiple friends tell me I needed to stop haha.
I tend to operate on a sliding-scale ratio of how tasty something is versus the cost. I’m more likely to favor a dish that’s satisfying and moderately priced over one that’s more expensive, has fancier presentation and tastes good but maybe not that good for the price… I think that probably disqualifies me from being a hardcore foodie haha, but I do love eating things. XD A lot of the foods I love also tend to be fattening (whipped cream with a side of pumpkin pie anyone?), so I have to cut back on them most of the time.
On a related note, my favorite types of cooking are Thai, Indian and Japanese food, along with an honorary category for pasta.
Photo Credit: Roger Lee Photography
If you have the opportunity to learn anything in this world, what will it be and why?
Haha, if I were to just pick something off the top of my head right now, maybe some programming/coding? It seems like a useful skill to have.
But for something that’s probably a little more relevant it would be super awesome to magically be good with kanji characters! I do Japanese interpreting for events multiple times a year but my reading/writing level for kanji isn’t great and I feel like it limits me sometimes.
Photo Credit: Jeff Davis
It’s been a great pleasure to feature you on SimplySxy, Emily. One question before we end, how do you define “sexy”?
I think a lot of it is can be about perspective. What people find “sexy” about others usually seems to relate to characteristics that they find appealing. I think for me, I associate “sexy” with a sense of confidence and feeling put together.
Find out more about cosplayer SAMazon on how she chooses which characters to cosplay, the common misconceptions people have about cosplay and disasters that happen during an event!
Hi SAMazon, thank you very much for your time taken to answer our questions on SimplySxy. Can you share with our readers a little about yourself and where you’re from?
I’m 22 and still really new to Cosplay. I officially started in January 2014 then had to take a year off because I deployed to the Middle East. I’m an Oregonian since birth and a member of the Oregon Army National Guard. Cosplay has become my passion and I have made so many amazing friends. It’s really addicting when you can nerd out with a bunch of people and everyone is so amazing and nice.
Photo Credit: Stephen Eide
Where did your interest in Cosplay come from?
I’ve always loved dressing up. My mom was always buying random costume pieces for me, Halloween is my families favorite holiday. During school I always went all out for spirit week and even did a little bit of theater. Cosplay was just the next step in my love of costuming. Also being 5ft 11inches makes buying costumes a challenge so I taught myself to sew which opens up so many possibilities. Now I’m addicted to it and I’ve even gotten my family into cosplaying.
How do you decide which characters to Cosplay?
Choosing characters is the hardest part for me. I have a few questions I have to ask myself before starting a new cosplay. What characters do I love right now? Who can I relate to and would have fun being at a convention? The most important question is can I make this costume with my skills right now? My skills are always improving, but I want to be able to do my characters justice and execute the costume well. I chose costumes that will make me learn new things and challenge me, but I try not to bite off more then I can handle.
What goes into the preparation for each character you Cosplay
So much research. I find as many pictures as I can. Then I sketch out each piece of the costume and imagine how I would make it real. What materials will I use? What is in my budget? How difficult will it be? Then I plan my order of attack, so I can keep myself on track for the con I want to wear the costume too.
If you had the chance to have a superpower, what will you choose and how will your costume look like?
I’d want superhuman agility and reflexes. Why? Because I want to be a super ninja. So my costume would look kinda like a ninja outfit, but more super hero themed and would definitely have the color purple. Maybe I’ll make it into an original character cosplay someday.
What common misconceptions about Cosplay do you often hear?
The biggest misconception I hear about cosplay is everyone wanting to be cos famous and always winning contests. Cosplay isn’t about either of those things. It’s about the love of dressing up and needing out with people who like the things you do. I just entered on contest, not to win but to show off all the work I put into my newest cosplay. My roller derby Harley Quinn. I had a blast getting on stage, but I of course didn’t win. A lot of people who are “cos famous” don’t make a lot of money. They do it because they love it. Most of the time they will tell you they got lucky and happened to get to know the right people.
I just want people to know cosplay is for fun and if you aren’t having fun you aren’t doing it right.
Have you seen any Cosplay disasters which did not turn out as expected?
I haven’t seen any major disasters, but I have seen and had many minor ones. Things always find away to fall apart at the worst times. I had a belt buckle that fell off right before prejudging for a contest. Thank goodness I have an emergency repair kit in my bag. Fashion tape saved me. After prejudging I was able to go to a booth ran by some of the greatest people ever. They were running a cosplay repair booth. They had hot glue guns and a sewing machine, safety pins and other little odds and ends to help out cosplayers.
Halloween is coming shortly. Do you have any character in mind which you will be going as?
Well I’ve just finished watching all 9 seasons of Dragon Ball Z and I’ll be going to a Halloween party as Videl. I really love her character. I usually go for easy and comfortable costumes for Halloween.
Photo Credit: Ryan Rogers
It’s been a great pleasure to feature you on SimplySxy, SAMazon. One question before we end, how do you define “sexy”?
Sexy to me is people who love themselves and rock what they got. I’m inspired by confidence and find it very sexy.
Annasthesia Awful is probably the biggest Pokemon fan we have interviewed on SimplySxy and will ever be. Cosplaying characters such as Misty and Magikarp, this beauty is comfortable in her own skin as she shows off her amazing tattoos. Get to know Annasthesia better in this fun interview as we ask her some quirky questions!
Hi Annasthesia thank you very much for your time taken to answer our questions on SimplySxy. Can you share with our readers a little about yourself and where you’re from?
Thank you guys for having me! Oh boy! I am one of the few born and raised Floridians I know who hasn’t moved away yet. I can’t do snow and the cold. This is home to me, but I’m lucky enough to have traveled the world and never know where I’ll be month to month. As far as “me” and who I am, I’m probably the opposite of what a lot of people assume about models, especially nude models. I’m just an incredibly shy, introverted, insecure little homebody who spends all of their spare time hiding from the sun, watching Nip/Tuck & Game of Thrones reruns, and playing video games! Also, I love and have raised cats my entire life. That part is important, lol.
Photo Credit: Benjamin Chavez
What kind of genre do you love to model?
I love just having the opportunity to be in front of the camera, no matter what I’m doing. I have noticed, though, that despite all of my personal insecurities, I feel like I’m most confident once my clothes come off. I have no idea why that is, but I’ve learned to embrace it. That aside, I love doing cosplay modeling. It gives you the chance to really have fun with that you’re shooting, and to turn into someone else in front of the camera!
Photo Credit: Benjamin Chavez
Your tattoos are amazing and very eye catching. Do you have a personal favorite for one of them?
I’m most fond of the aquatic sleeve on my right arm that I’ve been working on for the past few years with Adam France in Columbus, Ohio. I only get to fly out for a sitting about once a year, and he’s my favorite artist by far that I’ve worked with. Everything in my sleeve was designed by him. It’s fun being able to tell people, when they ask about my tattoos, “Oh that? Yeah, it’s a rabbit and a squid battling for a carrot sandwich.”
Photo Credit: Sunnie Rizzolo
How did your love for Pokemon begin?
Innocently, and full of adventure, haha! I remember when they released the TV show in the US when I was younger and another girl in my class and I were so pumped. We had magazine ads for the upcoming games in our school lockers. You know, like cool kids do. I’ve played every Pokemon game since their Red/Blue releases.
Photo Credit: Sunnie Rizzolo
Do you have any pet peeves or things that particularly annoy you?
Oh boy. Not using your blinker when you make a turn, not saying ‘Please’ and ‘Thank You,’ pretty much all willful ignorance and close mindedness. One big one is when people come up to me and grab my arms and start twisting them around to look at my tattoos without even asking me. I’ll happily show you my skin art, but it’s never okay to grab a total stranger and inspect them without so much as a “Hello.”
Photo Credit: Short Fuse Pinups
If you could have a superpower, what will it be?
Oh, I’ve been thinking about this since I was a kid! It’s still so hard to choose! It’s a cross tie between: being able to morph into any creature on demand, being able to read minds at will, or telekinesis. It’s a tough choice!
Which were the sexiest characters you have Cosplayed before?
I don’t know if I would call many of my cosplays “sexy,” lol. I play Misty, a 12 year old girl in Pokemon, and a Magikarp. I also have cosplayed Quinn from Daria, another young teenage girl, there’s Alex from A Clockwork Orange. I’d say Lilith, from Borderlands, is defintely sexy to me. Oddly, though, I’d say that my CL4P-TP cosplay (based on an anthropomorphized artistic design by artist NoFlutter) is probably my raciest cosplay.
Photo Credit: D.C. Marsh
Do you already have in mind your Halloween costume for this year?
Nope, lol. I usaed to always plan so far ahead for Halloween, but I’ve been so busy this year! It’ll be a surpise, to me and to everyone else.
Photo Credit: Kristen Kellard
It’s been a great pleasure to feature you on SimplySxy, Annasthesia. One question before we end, how do you define “sexy”?
Confidence. You can be Kate Upton or Mila Kunis and if you’re not confident enough to put yourself out there, to take the criticism from others for being and looking like yourself, then nothing will ever bud from that. Being brave enough to say “This is me, flaws and all. Take it or leave it” is incredibly sexy, in my eyes. Confidence is key.
I can be found on CosplayDeviants.com and SuicideGirls.com, currently. I also travel and do promotion work with GotVape.com and promote various glass blowers, clothing companies, and other ventures. Currently the only immediate projects I’m working on are new cosplays for convention season with CosplayDeviants.com, and hoping to re-open my Etsy store to save enough money to (hopefully) travel to the west coast to shoot all new material with all new photographers. Wish me luck!
Stunning costumes, with an eye for detail into every intricate design, cosplayer Alpheana Omega does a fantastic job looking like every character she cosplays. Find out how she got into the world of cosplay and the superpower she has always dreamed of having as we catch up with her below.
Hi Alpheana, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions on SimplySxy. Please share with us a little about yourself and where you’re from?
Hello and thank you for having me! I’m Alpheana and I’m a 21 year old cosplayer from the North East United States. But when I’m not cosplaying, I’m a stay at home mother and wife. My fiancee and I have been together for coming up on 6 years in April and my daughter is 6 months old. I also like watching the Cooking Channel and playing with reptiles and cats.
When did you develop an interest in cosplay and did you expect it to turn into a hobby?
Actually, my father was a cosplayer when I was born. Well technically he was a Live Action Role Player which is very closely related. I grew up with nerd things as well as costumes and props so I guess cosplay is just in my blood. I have a very eclectic range of talents and hobbies that I do in bursts, but cosplay is the only thing I’ve done consistently. I suppose it is because it involves so much of what I love like prop making, acting, modeling, meeting new people, watching anime, playing video games, etc.
What are some of the challenges cosplayers usually face?
I’m not a representative of the cosplay community so I can only really speak for myself. My main challenge is not biting off more than I can chew. My list of potential cosplays is through the roof and I have three closets full of cosplays that still need to see the light of day. Furthermore, I feel the need to cosplay multiple characters a day at a convention which involves awkward changes in the car at random parking lots and layers of makeup over layers of makeup. Then I’ll see a costume at a convention, ask the cosplayer about it, binge watch the show or binge play the game, and then decide I HAVE TO COSPLAY EVERYONE FROM THIS EVER OR I’LL DIE.
Which characters have you enjoyed cosplaying so far?
I enjoy every one of my characters otherwise I wouldn’t be cosplaying them, however the ones I most enjoy are Harley Quinn and Jinx from League of Legends. You can do so much with their crazy and silly attitude. As my acting teacher once said “there are no small roles, only small actors” and I believe this translates well to cosplay. There are no small costumes, only small cosplayers. To get the full impact of a character, you have to become over exaggerated – especially when taking photos. If I don’t hurt after a shoot, I’m not doing it right. It’s extremely easy to exaggerate Harley and Jinx. They’re just plain old fun!
Does it take a lot of work to create the costume and props, as well as the makeup to get into character?
Of course it takes a lot! I don’t know about others, but I dedicate hours into sketching and researching each of my characters to get every detail. I pose in the mirror to get their aura correct and I make the costume while researching as well. Hours and hours of videos on the character as well as tutorial videos to increase my knowledge of the craft.
If you could have superpowers for real, which will you want to have and why?
I would 100% want to be able to shape shift! I’ve decided on this power since I was a wee little girl. Think about it – you want to fly? Turn into a bird. You want to breathe under water? Turn into a shark or even a mermaid. Are you captured? Turn into a mouse or another person. It’s hard not to abuse this power, but I do believe it is the most useful.
What are some of the common misconceptions about cosplay?
I feel a lot of common misconceptions are that cosplayers do nothing but cosplay. For example, a lot of the times when I get a message and I don’t respond to it within a few hours, the person will assault me either with insults or spam. I feel like cosplayers are looked at more of living dress up dolls and not as humans just like everyone else. It’s very often that someone will comment something gross on a photo and refer to me as “she” instead of “you” which implies that they don’t acknowledge that I am running the page. I guess my word of advice for people commenting would be “Remember we can see EVERYTHING you say about us” and “We are human. We have lives. We have feelings. We poop just like you.”
Are there any events you will be attending in the coming months ahead?
Actually, I’ve got a pile of cosplay pieces thrown about for this weekend’s convention as I do this interview My for-sure events coming up are Hartford Comicon and PAX East. I will definitely be going to other conventions, but none of them are set in stone. A lot of things aren’t set in stone once you have a child. I guess they’re more set in baby food….
It’s a great pleasure to feature you on on SimplySxy, Alpheana. One question before we end, how do you define “sexy”?
The word “sexy” is all relative and is all matter of preferences. For example, I’m not very into the standard “sexy” that society has defined. So everyone can be sexy as long as they find themselves sexy or someone else finds them sexy. My definition of “sexy” is someone or something that is or has sex appeal. This could be to one person or multiple people.
With her attention to detail and passion for gaming, Raychul Moore does an awesome job on every character she cosplays and the outcome is always mindblowing. SimplySxy catches up with Raychul on how her interest in cosplay all began, the work that goes into creating all the costumes and props, and her favourite games of 2015.
Hi Raychul, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions on SimplySxy. Please share with us a little about yourself and where you’re from?
Well, let’s see, I was born in Florida but mostly grew up in North Carolina and am now in Los Angeles, CA. I started my career in all things nerdy as a video game journalist and now make videos on YouTube and create lots of cosplays!!
When did you develop an interest in gaming and cosplay?
I was raised in a gaming household, so I guess you can say I’ve been into it since…forever! 😀 My love for cosplay was just kind of a natural progression from my love for gaming, but my first time cosplaying was at San Diego Comic Con in 2006. I went with a group of friends and it was all of our first time at a comic con…so we decided to do a group cosplay. I fell in love with it instantly and have been creating several new cosplays a year ever since!!
Did you ever envisage that you would be so successful and popular when you started out?
/blushes Thank you! Ummm, that’s hard to answer. I mean, I never really realized there was such a huge community of fans and creators when I first started! It’s been one hell of an awesome time! But I really do it for my own pleasure. The feeling of finally seeing something you’ve worked so hard on finally come together (even if mostly held together by safety pins and luck) is so amazing! I do it for that moment. That sense of accomplishment and pride is what fuels me. 😀
What are your must play games of 2015?
Best game I’ve played so far this year was The Witcher 3. Oh man, I just adore that game!! Also, Hand of Fate if you’re into table-top card-styled games, and Tales From the Borderlands so far has been pretty awesome…but maybe that’s just because I’m a huge Borderlands fangirl!
Then, coming up I’m super excited for the Dishonored Definitive Edition, Fallout 4, Star Wars Battlefront, Kill Strain and Halo 5 this year!!!
Have you ever been frustrated while playing games and took it out on the console/controller?
Oh no, never on my console or controller. But have I ever beaten a couch cushion to near death?! Oh yes, many times.
Which characters have you enjoyed cosplaying so far?
All of them! 😀 I don’t cosplay as characters that I’m not a fan of myself. So each character I have cosplayed as has a super special place in my heart as a favorite.
Does it take a lot of work to create the costume and props, as well as the makeup to get into character?
One of the many rules of cosplay is: Each costume will take you longer than you expect. So yes, the creation phase takes quite a long time! But I’m a terrible procrastinator, so I never allow myself the amount of time I should for each costume. I’m usually still sewing together pieces or painting props in my hotel room the night before a con. 😀
As far as the time it takes to get ready that morning, yeah, that also takes a lot more time than you’d usually expect. Most costumes have pieces that have to be put on in a certain order, so things have to be planned out beforehand.
If you could have superpowers for real, which would you want to have and why?
I’d totally want mind-control. With the ability to control people’s minds, you could really do anything. You can have endless amounts of money, or why would you need money if you could walk into a store and take whatever you want then make the person working there forget you’d ever been there?! You could make the whole world love you and love each other. You could get rid of crime completely…or create complete chaos! Whatever you want to do, you could do it, and with very little physical effort! So yep…mind control is my kinda superpower. 😀
It’s a great pleasure to feature you on SimplySxy, Raychul. One question before we end, how do you define “sexy”?
What I find “sexy” is people who still let their inner child come out and play. One of the great things about being an adult is getting to do all the things you couldn’t do as a kid, like buy bags of candy and eat it all day, or play video games all night long! So many people lose that inner passion for fun and imagination as they get older because I think society as a whole makes us think that as we grow up we must also stop being a kid. So I love people who never stop being kids and who still laugh at fart jokes and who still know how to just be absolutely silly and don’t feel the need to “grow up”. I guess, to make all that short, I find people who feel free to be themselves and free to have fun being themselves totally sexy.
Hi, my name is Meng Ai and I’m based in Philadelphia, PA. I’m a freelance model, cosplayer, and entertainer. I use the word “entertainer” because I do a variety of thing such as singing, dancing, etc. I hope that I could expand my skills to officially call myself an actress one day.
What’s one fun fact about yourself?
I always have to finish my food in ratios. If there’s one spoon of rice left, there needs to be one spoon of meat and vegetables left.
What turns you on?
This is probably the most cliche, but confidence and decisiveness would probably be the number one thing that turns me on. There’s nothing worse than a person who doesn’t know what they want in life.
Craziest thing you’ve done?
Well, when I was little, I always wanted to be a ninja and I was convinced that ninjas were probably walking amongst us. So I wanted to be one, and I used to try to run up trees and climb steep rooftops despite almost dying.
Favorite drink?
Water. I’m pretty boring when it comes to food and drinks because I’m a huge health nut. Maybe I’ll drink bubble tea once in a while.
Do you spit or swallow?
Spitting is a waste of food.
Choice between sweet, salty or a little bit of both?
Sweet and salty!
Which movie character best represents you?
No one. I feel like movie characters are two-dimensional to represent me because there are way too many different sides of me depending on who is the audience.
Worst rejection you’ve faced?
Well, I mean I never get far when I join pageants.
Get to know Kitty Nguen as SimplySxy talks to this sexy cosplayer who is of Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean ethnicity.
SimplySxy: Hi Kitty, it’s great to feature you on SimplySxy! Please share with us a little about yourself to our readers.
Kitty:A lot of people don’t know this but I’m actually pretty shy and quiet, it takes me a little bit to get used to opening up to someone new. Most of my free time, I spend it with my son , yes I’m also a mother of one, LOL, my boyfriend and my anime.
SimplySxy: You have your personal website selling personalized t-shirts and other products. Tell us more about it!
Kitty: Well the site is still a working progress . I haven’t been able to update the gallery yet , but it’s coming along nicely. All the prints I pick out on the site, are usually my most favorites.
SimplySxy: You’re an avid Cosplayer yourself. How did the interest in cosplaying come about?
Kitty: Well I grew up watching Anime, and on drawing , art in general . To me Cosplaying is about creativity and escaping to a whole different world away from the everyday life stress. You get to meet others with the same interest and I actually made some pretty cool friends along the way . We enjoy each others company and we always try to plan group Cosplays , like a theme for each AX (Anime Expo) or for each Convention. It’s not about rivalry or who has best this / that. It’s bout expressing yourself and having fun and making new friends. And appreciating all the work everyone else puts in their Cosplays and feeling good at how much work you put in yours.
SimplySxy: Do you have any favorite characters you like to dress up as when you Cosplay?
Kitty:A lot of the Characters I go as usually are strong and maybe a bit crazy LOL . But other times , just characters that I can relate to here and there.
SimplySxy: How much work goes into the process of each cosplay event you attend?
Kitty:I haven’t started making any of my Cosplays yet due to lack of time. But even buying the outfit and props online is a lot of work in a way. Only because I have to research the quality of the things I’m gonna be purchasing. I think the stressful part of it is “is it gonna get here on time? Is it gonna fit? What if it’s bad quality?” etc etc .
SimplySxy: Are you more of a lingerie or bikini babe?
Kitty:Lingerie LOL
SimplySxy: What’s your favorite body part?
Kitty: Hmm..my eyes . They say the eyes are windows to the soul.
SimplySxy: Do you have any naughty bits about yourself which you like to share to your fans?
Kitty: That’s a secret you just gotta find out 😉 LOL
SimplySxy: Thank you for taking your time for us to interview you Kitty. Before we end, how do you define “sexy”?
Kitty: Confident being you and being happy in your own skin. Nothing is more sexy then knowing how to love yourself no matter what.
KathTea Katastrophy is a cosplay, fetish and corsetry model from Malaysia. With her expertise as her corsetiere, KathTea creates numerous amazing custom made corsets and designs which look out of this world. Read on to find out more about KathTea as she talks to SimplySxy on her interests and misconceptions about cosplay and fetish modelling.
SimplySxy:Hi KathTea it’s a great pleasure to interview you on SimplySxy. Please tell us a little about yourself and where you’re from.
KathTea:I go by KathTea Katastrophy but most people know me as KathTea. I am a full-time model as well as the corsetiere for Katastrophy Korsets. Born and bred in Melaka, Malaysia.
Photography: Lem Cheng Hai @ DStudiolabs Corset: Orchid Corsetry
SimplySxy:How did your interest in fetish, cosplay and corsetry modelling begin?
KathTea:I’m only 5’2” (157cm) with a natural 28” waist, by mainstream modelling standards, I’m considered too short and fat, absurd, isn’t it? Even in Asia, the minimum height is 5’5” (165cm)! I had posted in model forums online, the only “advice” I was given is “you’re too short, you cannot model” which was incredibly disheartening.
When I was 16, I discovered a popular alternative softcore site on a TV show and was determined to become an alternative model. Soon, I started reading up on alt modelling and learned of Roswell Ivory. She told me not all alt models are heavily pierced and tattooed. A few years later, I started modelling while I was still a journalism intern and soon heard of another model named Anita De Bauch. She’s been my mentor ever since!
Both Roswell and Anita were (and still are) well-known fetish and art nude models. They were my initial inspirations and introduction in fetish modelling.
However, I personally found that a large majority of Malaysian photographers don’t seem to have as much of an interest in latexwear and I found it quite impractical to invest in them as I had little use for them on the daily. Around the same time, I read about how genuine corsetry can shape your waistline semi-permanently. So instead of being a heavily modded latex-clad alt model, I chose corsetry as a focus and I feel that it has since quite paid off. Lastly, cosplay is still relatively new to me, I had always wanted to try it but I never had the funds. Cosplay Deviants really opened the opportunity for me with their reimbursement program. I’ve only been seriously cosplaying almost 2 years ago now.
Credit: CosplayDeviants.com
SimplySxy:There is a very strong interest in cosplay Asia with many events held in various cities around the region. How often do you participate and which are your favourite characters you like to go as?
KathTea:I admit, I am more of a cosplay model than a competitive or event cosplayer. Not that the latter is bad but early on I had some sour experiences with the clique behaviour among some in the community. Without naming names, I was in a Malaysian Lolita group online and WOW, they were extremely snobbish, snooty and brand-obsessed. As a result, I was never really close with the Malaysian cosplay community.
I’ve always gone to Comic Fiesta with my sister (DragonReine Art) just as a hobbyist. I cosplayed Deadpool in 2013 and Alice Lidell Late But Lucky in 2014 (Day 1), it’s a shame neither of these two were recognized and as a result were largely ignored. The only times I didn’t get ignored were in 2012 and 2014 (Day 2) as Bettie Page and Misa Amane respectively.
This year, things will be a bit different. From mutual friend to mutual friend, I got to know some much nicer cosplayers in the community and for the first time ever, I will be going to Nijikai! It’s a yaoi/yuri con so this will be quite a change compared to Comic Fiesta.
SimplySxy:You have your own corset line called Katastrophy Korsets. Where do you get your inspiration from to create such intricate and beautiful designs?
KathTea:Actually, a majority of the corsets you see displayed were custom made-to-order to my clients’ specifications. I guess I am lucky that a my clients and I have equally kooky and quirky tastes as myself. This year I am launching my ready-to-wear line and would finally be able to show off some samples I have been planning to make in a while. If there’s anything I’d like to claim as a trademark or specialty, it’s my use of fabric dyes and bent flat steels.
Photography: DreamPhotographie Corset: Sparklewren Pasties and neck corset: Black Filigree Couture
SimplySxy:What are some corsets you can recommend for those interested to tight lace?
KathTea:My ready-to-wear waspies and waist cinchers are the most affordable corsets in my collection. They’re cut pretty low under the bust and higher at the hip, thus, would suit beginners who want a little more room for movement. Those who require a bit of lower tummy control with flexibility of the previous two, they can opt for the longline cincher instead. Intermediate corset wearers can go for either the high hip, basic or longline underbusts, all 3 styles come right under the bust. The high hip allows for less restriction in the lower body while the longline has a fuller coverage, tummy and all. The basic underbust is the midpoint between these two styles.
The materials I use in my corsetry include steel boning and a cotton drill or coutil strength layer.
People interested in tight lacing should be very wary of unscrupulous brands claiming to be corsets. Most of the time those that cost under $45 are bustiers, basques or fajas, all of which are made of weak materials and plastic bones. There are also some “budget brands” that may use steel bones and cotton drill but have little to no shape whatsover. There are many more others that use either stolen designs or patterning (shaping) belonging to other brands or independent businesses.
Tightlacing is something I find that it’s very crucial to do as much research as you can on the subject as possible. You wouldn’t stretch your lobes with acrylic nor get a tattoo from a scratcher, so why should you waste your money on corset without knowing their background beforehand?
SimplySxy:How will you describe your fashion style?
KathTea: I’d like to say it’s “No Hair, Don’t Care” because I am actually incredibly low maintenance. I am also androgynous, which is funny because people think I “identify” as andro but that’s not it, I AM androgynous and I can’t really change that. I like to wear camouflage, leopard print, yellow and gold. But most of the time I wear whatever is comfortable and available. I have a small collection of genuine vintage dresses from VintageBiriBiri as well as some comfy leggings from various brands. Sometimes I go out in a tee and cargo pants, then get mistaken as a guy! Oh and I almost always wear this beret that I’ve owned since I was 13. That way, I stop freaking people out with my fabulously bald head.
Photography: Nezire MUA: T-Dimensions
SimplySxy:What are some of the common misconceptions people have about fetish and cosplay modelling?
KathTea:Let’s see where to start! As a fetish model, people either think I am promiscuous, slutty or willing to pander to others. The former is quite amusing because I’ve only been in 3 relationships in my lifetime and most of the time I stay at home, so I hardly meet anyone. Elaborating the latter, they expect me to do head shaving videos for free. Or shave my armpits because it’s “gross”. Or shave my eyebrows!
As for Cosplay modelling, I guess some people think I am rich when in reality the site I work for reimburses me. Another issue is the snooty bunch who believes “you’re only cosplaying if you make your own cosplay”. I believe ANYONE can cosplay, you don’t need to craft your own things to have fun with dress-up! Some people take it way too seriously.
SimplySxy:Share with us 3 fun facts about yourself!
KathTea: I collect troll messages to post on my wall. I have a 5.5mm (3 gauge) septum. And I am an aspiring faux drag queen.
SimplySxy:Thank you for the interview KathTea. One last question, how do you define “sexy”?
KathTea: Sexy is whatever you want it to be. 😉 You can have implants or a small chest, you can be tall or short, tattooed or not, you’re sexy if you say you are.
