Carolina Alvarado took first place at the Pro Tour: New Jersey cosplay contest with her Exude Confidence cosplay. Ahead of the World Championship in San Jose, she joins us as a guest writer to discuss how to embody your character for the latest edition of Cosplay Corner!
Hey y’all! Carolina here. A lot of you may know me from Pro Tour: New Jersey, where I cosplayed as Exude Confidence (some may also know me from the depths of FAB Twitter, where I am a menace to society). With the World Championship right around the corner, I thought this would be a great opportunity to share some of the best advice I can give to any cosplay fledgling. I call them…
Carolina's Top Five Tips for Cosplay WORLD(s) DOMINATION
1: Choosing Something That You Can Embody (of Lightning)
Choose something you love. It does not matter how popular, big, small, or important it is to the game, the lore, or otherwise. All that matters is that it is something that speaks to you, and gives you a vision that you can embody in the physical world through personality, fashion, or performance. Speaking from experience, if there is no love in your process then there is no passion. If there is no passion then there is no drive to finish your work. Choosing a character or art that you resonate with will always keep you motivated. Cosplay can be a fantastic way to explore personalities, and styles of presentation we may usually consider outside of ourselves. Remember that all cosplay is valid, so go ahead and put together that Go Bananas cosplay that has been haunting your dreams, or the life-sized Kyloria that's been haunting mine!
2: Balancing Commitment With Your Mental Health
Committing to the bit is definitely my forte. It is my number one tip to give to help you find yourself in your character. Committing to the bit starts with committing to your craft, and understanding the physical and mental strain that comes with cosplay construction if you don’t prioritize your health.
The cosplay crunch is very much real, and can get intense very fast. I know how easy it is to get caught up in your craft, but please remember that your mental health should always come first. Feeling kind of burnt out? Take a step back, go on a lil walk, feed your cat (he is starving), make yourself some tea. Haven't slept in a few days? Same. Take a day off. It is okay, I promise you that these projects also require mental health days so you do not go completely crazy. Been going at it for 14 hours straight and have not eaten an actual meal? I feel you there. Go get some food, you deserve it. You should be proud of your progress. Once you are feeling recharged and rejuvenated, get back in there. It is a long and intricate process. Don’t over-exert yourself crafting a life-sized light-up Rosetta Thorn replica…or do, I am not your mommy.
3: On the Basis of Confidence
Fake it until you make it baby! Contrary to popular belief, I am not the most confident person in the world (shocking I know). But it is not always black and white.
I was chosen to write this on the basis that I “exuded confidence” with my cosplay (wink wink). I would like to come forward and confess that I in fact did not feel confident at all most of the time. I was absolutely terrified from the start of the process, to the finish. In all honesty I almost quit numerous times during my construction process. My biggest fear leading up to the event was that I would be the only cosplayer there and I would get weird stares (anxiety is a devil). But I wasn't! And I formed an amazing connection and friendship with all the other cosplayers there. I am so grateful that I did not let my fears get the best of me. The point is I made a plan, stuck to it, and followed through.
Every bit of confidence I felt was not gained from a misplaced arrogance, but from the love and appreciation that I had for a costume that I dedicated a huge chunk of my time to, and the deep respect that I had for every cosplayer in the room with me. Knowing that we had all gone through the same creative process. Preparing each step of the process carefully in advance, all while trying to balance our everyday lives, and taking care of ourselves. It is an intimidating process but it is comforting knowing that you are not the only one. Now with the Flesh and Blood cosplay community growing faster than I could have ever imagined it would, I'd like to put it out there: At the end of the day we’re all there to have fun and uplift each other. If you see a fellow cosplayer falling apart at the seams (literally) help a friend out. Because the only way to exude our true confidence is knowing that you're in good hands with good people.
4: The Art of Being Comfortable Playing in Your Cosplay
At the end of the day we’re all here to play a good ‘ole game of the ole FaB.
Why is it important to be able to play a game of Flesh and Blood while dressed up in your cosplay? Especially with people playing in several different events, all while participating in the cosplay contest, the reason is simple, if you can’t travel, move around, or just feel comfortable physically, and in your own skin while wearing your cosplay everything will fall apart (again, literally). Try-ons are a crucial part of the cosplay journey that not many people, including me, really think about. The physical toll of uncomfortable clothing, and costume pieces breaking or progressively looking worse throughout the day. These mishaps can easily be prevented with just a few minutes of crash testing.
Cosplay is still clothing, and at the end of the day no matter how fresh you look, you should not sacrifice your ability to function normally for the sake of an elaborate ornate costume. So take some time out of your day beforehand to really get to know yourself in your costume. Walk around the house in full garb for an hour or two. Feed your cat in it (he’s hungry). I think of it almost as a second skin for the weekend. And, I cannot stress this enough, make sure you are physically able to sit down and play without damaging your cosplay too much, because a damaged cosplay makes a sad Carolina :(
5: Be Confident in Setting Boundaries
Things can get hectic and out of control fast. It is important to always feel safe and not stray too far out of your comfort zone. Comfort and confidence go hand and hand, but remember that the two are not a one size fits all category. They can be displayed in many different ways. What you may be comfortable with may not be what another person is comfortable with, and that is completely valid. It is important to respect everyone’s boundaries no matter how big or small. For example I might be comfortable taking pictures in cosplay all day, but that’s not everyone’s cup of tea and that is okay! It’s always nice to ask for consent beforehand, and to respect the word “No”. You would not like it if someone came up to your table mid-game and picked up your backpack to “admire the fabric” right? Right. So don’t touch us :)
In Conclusion:
The secret to embodying your character and being confident really does come from within but it's a little more complex than that. It comes from a love of your craft, and being proud of something that you dedicated a great amount of time to. It’s about being excited to join all the other cosplayers for the weekend, and sharing all our relatable crafting stories. It’s about being kind and courteous to your fellow cosplayers. Whether you’re a living legend status crafter, or a cosplay newbie, we all have a special place in the community to truly exude confidence. (Oh, and feed your cat he’s very hungry)
Carolina Alvarado is a Flesh and Blood player, cosplayer, and an author of content relating to cosplay. The opinions expressed in the above article are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Legend Story Studios.