Kristell Lim: She loves cosplay

MANILA, Philippines - Costume play or cosplay is defined by Urban Dictionary as "dressing up and pretending to be a fictional character (usually a sci-fi, comic book, or anime character)."

For kids, cosplaying is always cute; for adults, it may at first seem out of the ordinary — especially if it's not Halloween.

Don't judge. If you're into fashion, style and art, cosplay is something that you could actually end up loving.

Kristell Lim is one of the more memorable faces in cosplay conventions. Without her costume, she may just be "pretty." But when she's in character, she might just make your jaw drop.

Kristell started cosplaying in 2010. She recounts, “I was just a convention-goer way back. I would see a lot of cosplayers but I never thought I'd get into the hobby.

"The time came when my brother asked if I wanted to try cosplay, thinking it would suit me. I knew a lot of games and anime, so I was also familiar with the characters."

When Kristell's friends started prodding her to go into it, she fnally did. "I didn’t expect that cosplaying would be so much fun! After my first event in Tagcom 2010 (Toys and Hobbies Convention), I really got to love it and excitedly listed the characters I wanted to cosplay.”

Cosplay for cosplayers

Most people think that cosplay is just about putting on costumes.

Kristell says it's more than that.

“Cosplay is an art where people dress up and act as their favorite characters that usually come from an anime series, movie or manga," she says thoughtfully. "Occasionally, people also cosplay characters from fairy tale cartoons."

Jehan Peñalosa, a fellow cosplayer, says that cosplay “enables a person to feel like the character, become the character.”

'I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT cosplaying would be so much fun!'

Why cosplay?

Aside from the chance to be your favorite anime character for a while, you also get to have fun meeting new people and making friends.

Kristell says of her fellow cosplayers: “They’re really great. I usually go to events with a certain set of friends, but I always end up seeing a lot of other familiar faces once we’re there. I get to meet new people, new cosplayers and make new friends.

Kristell says that cosplay can also help improve one's character "by boosting self-esteem and confidence.” Like acting and modeling, cosplay forces you to carry yourself in a dignified manner. Kristell says that the confidence she got from cosplaying helps her in facing different people.

It also helps hone arts and crafts appreciation. “You get this sudden interest in sewing clothes, making props, using make up, going into hair or wig styling, acting, drawing and photography," Kristel says thoughtfully.

"In fact, I only got to know how to put on makeup properly when I got into cosplaying.”

Is cosplay weird?

Perhaps before, when people were not as open to it.

Today is a different matter.

"When I was just a convention goer, there was only a small number of people who would cosplay in events," Kristell recalls. "Majority saw them as mascots or just people in costume.”

In handling whatever disdain people still have about cosplaying, she says, “Cosplay becomes weird for some people because they don’t know what it is. Not everyone watches anime which is a major source of cosplay ideas.

"We just have to accept that we cannot please everyone.”

'MOST OF THOSE WHO criticize don’t even cosplay, yet they’re the ones who talk like they know everything.'

Cosplaying tips

For people who want to give cosplaying a try, Kristell has these tips:

“It is important that you know the character you’re cosplaying. At the minimum, you should watch the series where the character comes from and study the character’s movements. You should know him or her by heart.

"It’s not right to cosplay a character just because your favorite cosplayer played it, or if the character is cute or sexy."

Kristell gives a very apt way of responding to the possible criticisms of others.

“Most people are scared of being criticized. You should think about what you can do first before worrying about the opinion of others.

"Most of those who criticize don’t even cosplay, yet they’re the ones who talk like they know everything.

"The best thing to do is ignore them, continue what you’re doing and prove them wrong.”

She also advises against cosplaying for the fame game, “Do it for fun and for the hobby itself.

"You don't have to force your way into becoming recognized. It will eventually happen." - Rappler.com

Gideon Isidro is a Chemistry graduate of De La Salle University. He is into music and multimedia arts. This is his first contribution to Rappler.