Cosplay Confessions is a series we do to spotlight and get to understand the wonderful members of our cosplay community (and beyond!). This month we are talking to Level Up regular Emily’s Makeup Madness!

How did you get into cosplay?

I love acting and becoming a character so it was right up my alley. I don’t think I knew about it until the show Heroes of Cosplay was on and I thought it was amazing what people did. I then got into Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker because it’s amazing and decided I wanted to do that for Free Comic Book Day at Level Up.

Why do you like cosplaying?

I love to really become a character. To me cosplay isn’t just dressing up and putting on a costume, it’s like becoming a different person. I love really trying to become the character I’m dressed as.

What have been your favorite character(s) to cosplay?

Heath Ledger’s Joker is always fun. It freaks people out and it’s the first one I ever did. There’s also Suicide Squad Harley Quinn who’s equally fun; people love her. I enjoy turning around as the Tenth Doctor, I absolutely love Doctor Who and that specific character. Becoming Frank N Furter is always very fun and interesting. I love all of the characters I get to sort of “put on”.

How do you put together your costumes?

I either get the whole cosplay from a shop or look for things that I can change to look like what I need. For the first run of the Joker that whole costume was entirely thrifted, I just dyed the blazer, pants, and vest. My Tenth Doctor cosplay was bought online. It’s a mix of getting things that look close to what I need and making them better. I also improve my cosplays as I do them. For instance, the first time I did the Joker looks way different to the second.

Was has been some of your favorite conventions/events to cosplay at?

Free Comic Book Day and Halloween Comicfest is always fun. Wizard World in Philly is super great. Everyone there does such a great job with their cosplays.

Emily after winning our FCBD Costume Contest in 2013!

What is one of your favorite cosplay stories?

My absolute favorite cosplay story has to be after I helped Level Up with a commercial. It was pretty late by the time we finished and I was on my way home with my mom, who was driving. It had stormed earlier and we came across a large branch in the middle of the road. We saw a car pulled over on the shoulder and we were a little concerned so we pulled up next to him. I was closest to him so I motioned for him to roll the window down. He looked absolutely terrified and didn’t roll his window down at first. When he finally did we asked if he was okay and he said yes so we just continued on our way, thinking it was strange how he was so scared of rolling his window down for two women. Five minutes later I practically scream, “I’M STILL THE JOKER” and we burst out laughing.

What are some of the challenges you've had to overcome being a cosplayer?

Not knowing how to sew is one of them; I still have to learn. Time constraints and definitely the cost of cosplays too.

What advice would you give someone if they were interested in getting into cosplay?

As Shia LeBouf once said, “DO IT! MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE! JUST. DO. IT! Yesterday you said tomorrow, so just DO IT!”

What character would you LOVE to tackle someday?

There are SO MANY I would love to do. I would really love to do a Castiel from Supernatural or Crowley from Good Omens with wings that move. I’ve also really been wanting to do Ultraviolet Tracer from the game Overwatch.