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 have the Australian cosplayer PrincessJazz!!

HOW DID YOU GET INTO COSPLAY?

I kind of fell into cosplaying. I’ve studied textiles and dressmaking previously. When I went to uni for my nursing/paramedics degree they had a Heroes and Villains night and for the hell of it, I made Jill Valentine (STARS) from Resident Evil for it. Made everything, (even the gun). A couple of weeks later was a major Convention in Australia so I decided to go with a girlfriend wearing the same costumes we had made for the party.

WHY DO YOU LIKE COSPLAYING?

It’s a form of mental escape for me I’m a bit shyer and reserved but when I put on Harley Quinn’s costume, I’m bubbly, bright, and change my voice. You open yourself up and you meet people when you cosplay, and it allows me to put the professional side of me away and have fun with myself

WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS TO COSPLAY SO FAR?

My DC Arkham Knight Harley Quinn. It was probably the most popular costume I’ve done so far, and it’s most definitely the one I’ve had the most photos of. It gets a lot of attention and I love being silly for a few hours. But my flagship cosplay is Lieutenant Commander Jacinta Tryne, a Trill Science officer from the USS Animus.

HOW DO YOU PUT TOGETHER YOUR COSTUMES?

I have a bad habit of making my costumes days (and in some cases hours) before an event. My workload doesn’t give me a lot of free time, and when it does, I tend to play video games instead of sewing.

You could say that I love working to a deadline by panicking hours before it’s due.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE CONVENTIONS/EVENTS TO COSPLAY AT?

I loved Supanova Sydney 2010 as it was the one where I met my husband at. but I also love GammaCon Canberra and Oz Comic-Con Sydney.

My personal love is Goulburn Comic-Con, it’s a small con, but it’s my hometown event.

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE COSPLAY STORIES?

I was dropping off some content at Oz-Comic-Con Sydney the same day as my Bridal Shower/Hens Night, and I wasn't really in cosplay, more a Star Trek-bound outfit, and as I was meeting my fiance to hand over some flyers for our costume guild I hear a voice behind me go "Oh My God your Princess Jazz!"

It was the first time I was ever recognized at a Con and I was so taken aback I mumbled something to the amazing woman who recognized me and then ran off. I had my fiance track her down later and properly thank her.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME BEING A COSPLAYER?

Body-shaming and people being negative for no reason other than to make themselves feel better.
I’m a curvy-cosplayer, while it doesn’t happen to me, I’ve seen trolls go after girls like me for not being thin enough to cosplay. I’ve seen great women give up this hobby simply because there is a section of the internet that can’t accept that a woman can have curves.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO COSPLAY?

Just do it, you aren’t alone, we are all one big community, and you will find people who have the same interests as you. Likes don’t mean anything, it all depends on how much fun YOU have.