Tabootie shares her evolution in cosplay, from initially feeling restricted to characters she resembled to embracing those she loves for their stories and traits. She credits her growth in sewing to the support of friends, highlighting a challenging yet rewarding Azula cosplay that pushed her skills with foam. Emphasizing personal expression, she enjoys adding unique touches to her costumes, finding the community and convention excitement the most rewarding aspects of cosplay. Supporting new cosplayers through social media, Tabootie struggles with managing large projects but finds motivation in upcoming conventions. Cosplay has boosted her confidence, leading her to explore various photoshoots. She notes the culture has become more inclusive, foreseeing a trend towards costume swapping. Dream cosplays include Sailor Moon and Padme Amidala, attracted by their iconic styles and personal nostalgia.
OG Nerd: How has your perspective on cosplay evolved as you’ve gained more experience?
Tabootie: When I first started cosplaying I thought I could only cosplay as characters that I physically resembled. I’m not sure where this silly notion came from haha! But I’ve since realised that cosplay is much more fun when you are dressing as a character you love.
OG Nerd: What’s a complex skill or technique you’ve mastered in cosplay, and how did you learn it?
Tabootie: I wouldn’t say that I have mastered any skill in cosplay! There is always so much more to learn and I am constantly learning ways to refine my crafts. I have struggled the most with sewing, but through the help of my amazing friends, I’ve grown heaps in that area. My two best friends, Nichameleon and Nichol, have both taught me everything I know about sewing and crafting. We would get together before every con and crunch out a new costume. It was stressful and exhilarating at the same time and some of my favourite cosplay memories are cranking out a last-minute costume.
OG Nerd: Can you describe a cosplay project that pushed you out of your comfort zone, and what you gained from that experience?
Tabootie: My Azula cosplay! I had never worked with foam before and was so overwhelmed I almost gave up several times. Making the costume from scratch with no pattern was so tricky, but it turned out to be my favourite cosplay ever. I didn’t quite get the leg armour finished before the con, and my neck was so sore after wearing the cosplay all day, but the photos look amazing and I had so much fun dressing up as my favourite evil heroine.
OG Nerd: How do you balance staying true to source material with adding personal creative touches in your cosplays?
Tabootie: I love adding my own personal touch to costumes. While some people strive to be 100% accurate I prefer to take creative liberties to express myself and make myself more comfortable. This can range from wearing shoes that are easier to walk, all the way to bedazzling an outfit with rhinestones to make it more shiny. Because who doesn’t love shiny?
OG Nerd: What’s the most rewarding aspect of being involved in the cosplay community for you?
Tabootie: Meeting everyone at cons! There is nothing that quite compares to the hype of a convention. PAX in Melbourne is the absolute best and I have met so many amazing people there. The excitement in the lead-up, the chaos of the actual convention, and running into a new friend around every corner are the best. Everyone who cosplays is so chill and it’s just nice to dress up and be crazy together.
OG Nerd: How do you approach mentoring or supporting newer cosplayers in the community?
Tabootie: I try to support everyone as much as I can. I get a lot of DMs so I can be a bit unreachable in that regard, but I try to like and comment on social media posts when I see them. I love to hype up my fellow cosplay ladies! I love seeing their posts and new cosplays!
OG Nerd: Can you share insights on how you manage large or long-term cosplay projects?
Tabootie: If I’m working on something I try to get it all done before moving on to a new project. I tend to lose focus and attention REALLY easily so managing large projects is something I struggle with. It helps to have the pressure of a convention looming but this often results in late nights and lower-quality work haha! If anyone has any tips PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
OG Nerd: What impact do you think cosplay has on personal identity and self-expression?
Tabootie: Prior to cosplaying I was a shy human with hardly any self-esteem or confidence. While it was hard at first, cosplay has helped me to open up by putting myself out there and just talking to other people. When you spend days making a costume you NEED to get some juicy HD pics of it, so I’ve had to do a lot of photoshoots. I have gained so much confidence and self-love through doing these. I look back at my original cosplay photoshoots and wow, I have come a long way. I’ve branched out from cosplay into doing fantasy and lewd photoshoots and I have learned to love myself in ways I never thought possible.
OG Nerd: In your view, how has cosplay culture changed in recent years, and where do you see it heading?
Tabootie: Cosplay has become so much more accessible and accepting in recent years. When I first started cosplaying it was looked down upon to buy your cosplays and people would often point out “inaccuracies” such as not wearing the right colour contacts. This made cosplay really daunting to newcomers and I would often have friends tell me they wanted to start cosplaying but they didn’t know how to sew. Now, cosplaying is less about homemade, accurate costumes and more about having fun. While this isn’t super sustainable, I see cosplay moving more towards swapping or thrifting costumes.
OG Nerd: What are some dream cosplays you’re yet to tackle, and what makes them appealing to you?
Tabootie: So many! My list of dream cosplays is huge but I am slowly working my way through the list. I would love to cosplay as Sailor Moon or Sailor Saturn. Their outfits are so cute, and I grew up wanting to be Sailor Moon. Who doesn’t want to fight evil by moonlight and win love by daylight? Others on the list include Padme Amidala from Star Wars, Verona from Van Helsing, Charizard from Pokemon and a mermaid!
