nt2099 Cosplay Underground Interviews: File 02 - Jaymie DelaCruz

Dennis A. Amith interviews Jaymie DelaCruz - Page 3

DENNIS: Let's talk about your "USA Musume" cosplay performance at Fanime 2002. How challenging was it to do a cosplay and dance routine as Morning Musume? Are you a natural when it comes to dancing or singing?

JAYMIE: It was scary as hell! I was so ready to bail out, I actually called Tiffany to let her know how chicken I was. It was the night before Fanime and I hadn't memorized the lyrics, which is in Japanese by the way, didn't know the dance moves and just started making my costume. And I did not relish the thought of being in the masquerade. Again, my dislike of competition. But once again, I was swayed and bit the grit, so to speak.

I hand sewed my costume since my sewing machine was no help. I didn't know how it worked! My boyfriend helped me a great deal by gluing the rhinestones to my shorts and top. I spent the first night and morning at Fanime rehearsing with the other girls and finishing up my costume. It was the dancing that hooked me in. I love to dance! I have no shame whatsoever in boogying in public. Give me a good beat and rhythm and I'll dance to it. The choreography along with the catchy music lifted my spirits a lot! Since the dancing part came easy, I was able to concentrate more on the singing and finally got it down by morning. I thought we all did a wonderful job with our performance and had a blast. Definitely something I'd love to do again.

Photo: Jaymie cosplaying as Tsuji Nozomi of the Japanese idol group Morning Musume.

DENNIS: For the newbie cosplayer, can you give us your top three advice for them if they want to get involved in cosplaying.
JAYMIE:
     1. Get into cosplay, not because you think it's "in". But because you have a love for anime and video games and manga.
     2. Sometimes it's good to be open to criticism, and other time it's good to say to the critics "FUCK YOU!"
     3. Don't forget, you can never be an anime character. You can only represent the characters. You don't have to be skinny, big boobed and perfect to be a successful cosplayer. HAVE FUN!

Photo of Jaymie cosplaying as a Moogle from the "Final Fantasy" series.

DENNIS: I saw you dressed up as Garnet of Final Fantasy IX. And saw on your Website that you also cos' as a moogle from FF. I'm curious though, do you actually play the Final Fantasy videogames?
JAYMIE: Final Fantasy IX! Yeah, baby, Yeah! That is one of my all-time favorite FF games. I played the others but they weren't as easy to play or as fun. I'm really looking forward to FFXI though. It looks very promising. I also belong to the Final Fantasy Mailing List group. We have a get-together every year at Anime Expo. Watch out for us, we're the ones with the FFML.ORG badges on.

DENNIS: What is the most satisfying and most frustrating aspect of being a cosplayer?
JAYMIE: Most satisfying is accomplishing the task of making a costume that people recognize. It's great making it, but it makes me feel even better knowing I made a person go "Cool! You're so and so from that anime or video game!" That's the same reaction I get when seeing other people's costume, and that's the reaction I'd like to create when they see mine.

As for the frustrating part. It would be my limitations. Both monetary and experience. It's the worst when something looks so easy to make but turns out to be horribly complicated. Makes me feel depressed and dejected.

DENNIS: Have you experienced any freaky or embarrassing situations from cosplaying? May it be the costume or even experiences from fans?
JAYMIE: I wore my "Ayashi no Ceres" last year on Halloween at the Metreon in San Francisco. Now that is my most risky costume since it shows a lot of upper flesh! Little boys going down the escalator gawked and hooted. It was embarrassing!

DENNIS: How much longer do you want to cosplay? Or is this something you see yourself doing for a very long time? In the future, would you want your own children to cosplay?

Photo: Jaymie cosplaying as Ceres from the anime "Ayashi no Ceres".

JAYMIE: I'd love to learn to sew and be able to create costumes quicker. Heck, I'd love to win the lottery or get a raised so I can afford to make costumes! But as I see it, I'll be cosplaying on and off for a long time. I love dressing up. As for children, my nephew will be born this fall. For his first Halloween, I'm making him a blue M&M costume. From then on, it'll be anime!

DENNIS: For the people who don't know much about anime, video game or Japanese music celeb cosplaying, one would think of these cosplayers to be no different from the cosplayers from Xena, Star Wars or Star Trek conventions, War enactments or perhaps even Ren Fair cosplayers. Is there a difference?
JAYMIE: I don't think so. In each case, a person dresses up to show their liking and support of a character and/or show. There is nothing wrong in dressing up. I hate it when people make fun of cosplayers and anyone in particular who goes out in costume. They don't understand that it's the same as dressing up for a special occasion. You go to a ball and get docked up in tuxes and ballgowns. Well, you go to conventions and dress up in clothes that characters wear. In each case, be it Trekkers, Ren Fairs or Anime Conventions, fans spend their money to create their outfits and to buy merchandise relating to their hobby. It's pretty fun and adicting and expensive! If it's one thing that I've learned from going to Fairs and Cons, it's that there are a vast variety of people from school kids to even doctors! They are all just expressing their appreciation of the different cultures around there.

DENNIS: Your final words to the people who support your work.
JAYMIE: You know who you are! YES YOU! You guys are the best for being supportive, encouraging and understanding. Thanks bunches!

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Check out Jaymie DelaCruz's Website here.
Check out the "USA Musume" Website here.

Note: All photos on nt2099 Cosplay Underground has been taken by a staff member of nt2099 media and entertainment or has been supplied to us by the individuals being interviewed.

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Dennis A. Amith is an entertainment writer and celebrity interviewer and the Principal of nt2099 Media and Entertainment. Dennis A. Amith has appeared in many publications worldwide for his knowledge of Asian pop culture. He is also known for his conversation-style celebrity interviews in which he was inspired by popular entertainment writer, Lawrence Grobel. He continues to stick with his formula of promoting artists and professionals who are well-known to the up-and-coming, his goal of helping to smash the barriers that exist for Asians in the entertainment industry and to ask questions that will definitely grab your attention.