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DENNIS: Before we talk about cosplaying, let's get to know a little bit about you. Where were you born and raised?
MARY: I was born in Orange, California. As a child, my family moved around different parts of Southern California and eventually we settled down in Orange County.

DENNIS: So, what is your idea for having fun?
MARY: Watching anime, listening to Ayumi Hamasaki, playing video games, sharing jokes, reading manga or novels, clothes shopping, going to anime conventions, enjoying good food, going to the movies and sewing.

DENNIS:  If a friend traveled to your area to spend several hours with you, where would you take them or what would you do for fun?   MARY: Well, I would take them to Little Tokyo, the Mitsuwa in Torrance or Costa Mesa and South Coast Plaza and go window-shopping at the various shops, have a yummy lunch at any of the local restaurants and eateries and go see a movie. DENNIS:  If I came to visit you, what kind of shows would I expect to see Mary watching on TV? MARY: I would most likely be watching "The Simpsons". I just love them! Other times, its either a movie on cable, a Hamasaki Ayumi concert video or some anime. Recently, I've been watching a lot of "Chobits". I just love Chii-chan! DENNIS:  If someone were in the passenger seat of your car, what kind of music would they expect to be listening to?   MARY: Ayumi Hamasaki, Malice Mizer, X-Japan, Speed, and various anime and video game soundtracks. DENNIS:  Does it aggravate you when someone is in your car and touches your car radio?

PHOTO: Mary as "Rabi-en-Rose" from "Digi Charat". Photos by Thomas Byrne.

MARY: It really depends. I mean, if we're stuck on the freeway during rush hour traffic, I honestly don't mind if we have to turn the radio on and check the traffic report. I don't mind listening to stuff on the radio as long as it isn't country music or rap. Blah!

DENNIS:  What kind of student were you back in high school? The cheerleader, jock, computer person, library person, band person, stoner?
MARY: I was the good-girl artist in high school. I was kinda geeky with my glasses and braces. I mostly kept to myself and focused on grades and my artwork. My ambition was to be a comic book artist and sign on with Image Comics someday. Even though I never made it in the biz, I made a lot of great friends along the way.

DENNIS:  If there was one word to describe you as a person now, what word would that be and why?
MARY: Happy! I try to smile and laugh every day despite my ups or downs. I try to always be optimistic and always look at the bright side of things. I feel happy and content with life right now.

DENNIS:  So, tell me how you got involved with cosplaying?
MARY: A few years ago, I was already into anime, manga, video games and going to the various anime cons. I was studying Japanese at the local community college. But a really good friend of mine from Japanese class got me into it. And it ended up being another hobby I added to my list of fun. And since then, I haven't stopped. It's become a big part of my life.

PHOTO: Mary as "Felicia" from "Darkstalkers/Vampire Hunter". Photo by Lionel Lum (Linus Lam Network News).

DENNIS:  What was the first costume that you cosplayed and how was that experience? MARY: It was Sailor Saturn from the Sailor Moon Musical also known as Sera Myu. It was a great experience. I met a lot of enthusiastic Sera Myu fans, received a lot of nice compliments, and was very surprised at the amount of people who took my picture. It wasn't the greatest costume but I had a lot of fun being Sailor Saturn especially in front of little children. DENNIS:  Do you spend a lot on your costumes? MARY: I think the most I've ever spent was about $350.00 and that doesn't even include shipping and handling charges. At one point, I even took on a second job to help pay for my costuming expenses. DENNIS:  Do you feel stressed out when a con nears, that you have to finish a costume or a numerous amount of costumes quickly? MARY: Yes, I've learned that I can be a stress case. Usually, when a con is near, my costumes are close to completion. I tend to stress out on the little details like how accessories look, last minute alterations, if the wigs are right, checking the costume(s) to make sure its lint free and pressed, etc. It's all exciting and yet stressful too. It's the constant worry about how I look in the public eye. DENNIS:  Are you one of those cosplayers that travel around the country going to different cons?

MARY: Not yet. Right now, my only means of traveling is within California. I wish I could afford to travel to the different anime cons out of state as well as different countries. I would love to go cosplaying at Japan's Comiket someday. That would be so awesome!

DENNIS:  How does your family feel about you cosplaying?
MARY: All in honesty, they don't know or much less care. It would be too complicated for them to comprehend. Their only concern would be: "How much money did you spend on that?" It seems like money is always an issue with my folks despite the fact that we are not poor.

DENNIS:  Do your co-workers or non-cosplaying friends know about your hobby? Are they supportive?
MARY: Yes, almost everyone, even my own boss, is aware of my hobbies. A lot of them have been very cool and supportive about it. Heck, some of my co-workers are fellow cosplayers too.

DENNIS:  When you make your costumes, do you make your own costumes or do you have them created by a professional?
MARY: For the last two years, almost all of my costumes were commissioned by both either professional or amateur seamstresses. After a while it gets very costly, doing commissions and its stressful because you don't know what the turn out may be or if it'll be completed in time or not. But this past semester, I had just completed my first sewing class, so I anticipate on making my own costumes from now on.

DENNIS:  If you do create the costumes on your own, do you use an expensive sewing machine or a basic? MARY: At home, I use a basic home sewing machine and on campus, at the fashion lab, I use their computerized and industrial sewing machines. I really like the computerized sewing machines because it's a lot simpler and has more functions and capabilities than the average home sewing machine. It's also important to have a machine that can work with leather, suede, vinyl, fur, pleather, and denim. Someday I would like to invest my money and buy a serger and a computerized sewing machine. DENNIS:  Giving one example of your favorite costume, can you tell us a history on the making of the costume. How much? The challenges? Where to buy? Material? And all that cool stuff. MARY: Right now, it would have to be my Rabi-en-Rose from the video game "Digi Charat". I'll tell you right now, that I myself did not make it. It was originally owned by someone else who wore it once to a cosplay event. After she wore it once, I made an offer to buy it and she was very cool about it. I do love it because it is probably the closest to being accurate and the nicest looking Rabi costume ever constructed.

PHOTO: Mary as "Rabi-en-Rose" from "Digi Charat". Photos by Thomas Byrne.

DENNIS:  When you create a costume, do you try to make it look as authentic as possible? Do you add your own creativity to it?
MARY: I do believe in accuracy especially when it comes to competing in the masquerade. For the few times I've competed, I've learned that the judges have very high expectations when it comes to choosing their cosplay winner(s). On the otherhand, I could be wrong and it could be based on subjective opinion. As far as creativity goes, the closest thing to creativity that I add to a costume project is I always draw preliminary sketches with lots of notes showing every detail and aspect of the costume.

DENNIS:  Are you a perfectionist when it comes to your costume?
MARY: Of course I am. Isn't everyone?

DENNIS:  When you cosplay as a character, do you try act like the character?
MARY: Sometimes. When I cosplay as Sakura-chan, from "Card Captor Sakura", instead of acting like Sakura-chan I tend to act like Kero-chan more. I do enjoy acting like Hamasaki Ayumi more though! I find her easy to relate to her and therefore its easier for me to incorporate myself into Ayu.

PHOTO: Mary as As "Sakura Kinomoto" from "Card Captor Sakura"

DENNIS:  How thorough do you research the character for the costume and the costume itself before creating it? MARY: It all depends. Sometimes I have to watch an anime several times to get a good idea what the outfit looks like. Other times, I'll use manga, art books, posters, or trading cards as my references. DENNIS: Do you feel competitive when it comes to cosplaying? MARY: Yes. I think its natural to feel competive during the time of competition. I mean, everyone wants to win and gain the exposure and fame that goes along with it. DENNIS: Do you compete? MARY: Yes, I do.

DENNIS: Do you think there is a lot of pressure on cosplayers that they have to make their own costumes?
MARY: I would imagine so. It would seem like a lot of stress is added to make a costume accurate and perfect in time for competition.

DENNIS: Does it really matter if you made your costume or if you have it commissioned? Do the expressions of people change if you didn't create your own costume? What has been your experience so far?
MARY: Back then when I started cosplaying, I didn't know anything about sewing. So, I had friends and people I knew online help me make some costumes. If I paid for anything it was usually for the materials. I guess to answer your question, it all depends on what the judge's are looking for and at the same time thinking about how the competition rules apply. Competing wise, I have yet to win an award despite the fact that I was always honest and upfront with the judges. Although they do appreciate the honesty. The only award I've ever won was a "Hall Cosplaying Award" by the Cosplay Closet. They even gave credit to the person who made the costume. Which was very cool!

DENNIS: When you go out and cosplay, is it important for you to have a costume that sticks out and looks good in front of a crowd or do you just cosplay for the fun of it and don't care what people think?
MARY: Its a little of both. I want my costume to stand out and look good in front of a crowd and at the same time, I do have a lot of fun with it!

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