We recently connected with Little MS Cosplay and have shared our conversation below.

Little MS, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

When people ask me how to get started with cosplay, I always tell them to try to learn one new skill with each cosplay they make. By pushing themselves out of their comfort zone, they will be able to expand their skills to where they are able to make almost all of their costumes by hand!

When I first started cosplaying, I was piecing together store bought clothing items and making simple props. I decided to push myself even further by making a Junkrat cosplay. I was obsessed with the character and I told myself, “If I can figure out how to make this tire he’s got on his back, I’ll make the cosplay.” Well, after watching videos on YouTube and multiple attempts, I had successfully made my first foam prop! My husband came home one day and I had three foam tires in our bedroom and he said “Are we opening a tire shop now?” LOL! After I made the tire, I told myself “Okay, If I can figure out how to make this peg leg, I’ll make the cosplay.” Well, once again, that went easier than I expected! So, I dove in and decided to make the whole cosplay! That cosplay really pushed my skills and opened a lot of doors for me.

I avoided sewing for the longest time… It was this huge monster to me and I had no idea how I was going to conquer it. Well, I was in Hobby Lobby one day and they had this sign advertising sewing classes. My mom had gotten me a sewing machine for Christmas the prior year and I had no idea how to use it. I signed up for the classes and was taught how to use my sewing machine! After that, I discovered Cut Sew patterns and I haven’t stopped sewing since! It’s my favorite part of making a cosplay now!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m an award winning cosplayer from Mississippi!

I’ve been involved in some form of art for as long as I can remember. Whether it was drawing, painting, acting or singing, I’ve always immersed myself in art.

In 2016, I went to my very first Comic Con with some of my friends! They were all going to be cosplaying characters from Star Wars and invited me to go with them. That morning, I put on a costume that we threw together last minute and I almost talked myself out of going. Was I going to be the only person dressed up?? When we walked into the convention, it was literally like stepping into a whole new world. I had so much fun that day I literally went home that night and started planning my first costume!

In 2017, I went to my second convention as San from Princess Mononoke. I was so proud of my costume! I had modified a store bought dress and converted a tank top to look like an apron. I took a fur vest and cut it up to look like a cape and then added a paper mache mask to it! I also made a spear!

I had no intentions of competing in the cosplay contest but the staff member convinced me to sign up. I went on stage and was a nervous wreck! I was in theater so I’ve been on stages before but this was different. It was more ME if that makes sense! I knew I wasn’t going to win anything because it was my first time ever doing this and only my second costume! When they announced the winners, to my surprise I had won second place!

This really cultivated a love for cosplay competitions for me. I left so encouraged that day. These amazing cosplay judges saw ME and the hard work I put into my costume and they LIKED IT!

I try to encourage other cosplayers I come into contact with like those judges encouraged me. When I’m judging a cosplay contest and speaking with a cosplayer during prejudging, I try to make them feel at ease and just geek out over their costume and how they made it!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist to me is the freedom to create anything that I want!

I always tell people that I’m not like a normal person. I can’t watch a TV show or movie and just go “Oh, that was great! I really like xyz character’s outfit/story!” For me, I want to make the outfit and become the character, even if it’s just for a moment.

Going to the craft store, touching the fabrics, picking out all of the notions, and then coming home and turning the materials into an entire cosplay is like magic to me. It’s literally the freedom to be able to be whoever you want to be!

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I would have known how supportive the cosplay community is when I first started my cosplay journey! There were tons of tutorials and resources available online to be able to learn how to make costumes and props. What I didn’t know is how vital the friendships I developed because of a common love for cosplay would be to me today. I’ve made so many friends because of cosplay and it’s so fun to be able to learn from each other and just talk nonstop about cosplay!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlemscosplay
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleMScosplay
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@littlemscosplay

Image Credits
All photos taken by Creations in Development