Amy lives a double life. For the most part, she is a young, working professional focused on furthering her career. However, unlike other 20-something millennials, there are times when she dons a pair of high heel boots and a hand-designed costume for the day.
Amy, aka Steamed Eggs, is a cosplayer. And a pretty badass one at that. Here she describes what it's like to dress up and play the role of a fictional character brought to life.
1. How and why did you get started in cosplay?
I wanted to attend my first New York Comic-Con as a female Ash Ketchum. When I'm at an event, I want to look like I'm part of the crowd sometimes.
Photo by Dan Seiter Photography
2. How has cosplay affected/changed your life? Is your cosplay identity separate from your out-of-cosplay identity?
My cosplay identity is separate from my out-of-cosplay identity because I don't feel the need to conform or to act "normal" compared to my professional life. Cosplay has allowed me to learn various skills such as sculpting, becoming familiar with fabric types and wig styling. It makes me feel like a jack-of-all-trades.
3. As a cosplayer, you bring to life a lot of different characters. Do you have a favorite character to play or a favorite cosplay experience in general?
I'll tell you two and they were at Dragon-Con. One was having met a black female cosplayer there while I was dressed as Wonder Woman. She came up to me dressed as Wonder Woman, too, and expressed how excited she was to see an Asian Wonder Woman. It made me happier to feel a sense of unity as minority or [person of color] cosplayers because we were cosplaying a recognizable figure known to have white, European features. Many cosplayers will tell you that it can be discouraging to cosplay at times because of the pressure to look as accurate as possible. As you can see in mainstream culture, minorities are underrepresented, are often supporting characters and are depicted in stereotypical roles. On that same day, a little boy wanted his mom to take a picture of him with me in my Wonder Woman cosplay, then kissed me on the cheek and hugged me good-bye. I adored him so much that I wanted to take him home with me!
Photo by: Just Cosplay Photography
Edited by: @karenmayc
4. Tell me about conventions. How do you prepare for such events?
That's a very good question. The process. I work a full-time job so I have to work on them right when I get home and on weekends. It's not much time at all. I come home exhausted and there are times I just don't feel motivated to work on them. So far, the characters I've cosplayed have been planned for no more than three months. Once the cosplay is complete, I have to think about makeup. I did not know anything about makeup until I cosplayed and realized it takes me at least an hour to apply my makeup and lashes and another hour or two to get dressed. Before the event, I must check that I have business cards prepared; which essential supplies I need to bring for cosplay mishaps; find a location to keep my phone, wallet and charger on me during the convention; figure out a schedule to meet artists or see a panel; and plan the shooting time and location with photographers. It definitely feels like a job the day of the event but a very fun job at least.
Photo by Jaycee Estrella Photography
Ears by Yaya Han
Wig from Arda Wigs
5. Related or unrelated to cosplay, what are your hopes and dreams for the future?
After cosplaying for a few years, I am thinking of developing an online business. I can't say what I want to sell yet or that it will happen. I just know for sure that I need to apply arts and crafts into my life whether as a hobby or a career.
Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
Follow Amy on:
Instagram: steamedeggs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steamedeggs/?fref=ts
