Cosplayer of the Week: Anna Lynn Cosplay
Hey friends!
I hope you are all doing well! Today I have a wonderful interview with a fantastic human being, Anna Lynn Cosplay! Anna Lynn has been recommended by a number of our staff and fans alike! I got to meet her while our staff photographer, Chocozumo, was in the middle of a photo shoot with her. He asked me to hold some of his lights, and I am still so humbled to have helped out in such awesome photos! Check it out in the gallery featured in this article!
The Geek Lyfe: Although I am a huge fan of your work, there may be readers out there that have never heard of you! Could you introduce yourself?
Anna Lynn Cosplay: Totally! I’m Anna Lynn, and you can find me on all my socials under Anna Lynn Cos or Cosplay! I’m 24 and have been cosplaying since 2013! Wow, I can’t believe it’s already been that long. I work in the scientific field as a biochemist and do cosplay as a hobby in my spare time. It’s a great way for me to unwind and its the best creative/artistic outlet I’ve ever had. I love getting to live out all my waifu dreams and meet so many wonderful people with the same interests! My main nerdy interests are anime/manga, comics, and video games! I’d say my biggest fandoms are the Fate series, the Tales series, Love Live and Vocaloids, LoL and DOTA 2, Overwatch, and My Hero Academia.
TGL: What inspired you to start your cosplay career?
ALC: “Career,” haha, but I’ve always been into anime, comics, and video games but grew up in a rather small and conservative town where most people who were open with their nerdy interests tended to get ridiculed. So I had always been shy and nervous about sharing my interests and hobbies. I used to (secretly haha) get that old magazine Shojo Beat where they would showcase cosplay and lolita styles and I was ENRAPTURED. I had no idea you could do that! And that was my first time seeing cosplay. But being where I was, I didn’t really have anyone to talk to about it or share ideas. But then I went to college! And found out that everyone is a nerd! It was amazing!! I made friends with similar interests and hobbies who weren’t shy at all about sharing what they love and it encouraged me to be more honest with myself, which was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. One of these friends invited me to join her at Anime Expo and I was THRILLED!! I was so excited. I worked with my mom to make CC’s black uniform (she’s one of my favorite characters ever) and I went off to my first con. I saw the most incredible cosplays there and met some amazing people. It opened up a whole new world for me and I haven’t been able to turn away from it yet. After I went home I signed up for sewing classes immediately. I was so inspired by those I saw at AX. I was determined to be my favorite characters, in the best way that I could. And then suddenly, I was a cosplayer, haha.
TGL: Since you began cosplay, what has been your most cherished memory, and why?
ALC: Oh this one is so tough. I have so many wonderful memories from cosplaying. But if I had to choose it would probably be a couple years ago when I was able to convince two of my best friends to cosplay with me. Leah and Brooke (violet.cosplay on IG) were super nerdy but kind of shied away from going to a convention. I finally convinced them to come to a local con (SacAnime) with me and we decided to do a group cosplay: the Powerpuff Girls! I thought “oh man this is perfect, nice easy dresses. Perfect for first time cosplayers.” Then Brooke comes up to us and says: “LETS MAKE FULL ARMOR BUILD VERSIONS.” I died a little. But they took off like wildfire. They learned so fast and ended up making amazing cosplays. And it was the long nights of crafting together, solving problems together, fabric shopping together, being frustrated together, encouraging each other, and then eventually going to the con together and getting to wear these dope cosplays together that serve as my favorite memory. It was a trial of struggling and suffering but it was so much fun with two of my best friends that I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
TGL: What was one aspect of your content creations that you loved but was not as well received by fans as you thought it’d be?
ALC: BIG BUILDS MAN. Honestly the most disappointing thing to me is when I spend months making something elaborate and intricate that is a labor of love and craftsmanship only to have it flop on social media. And then I’ll post a makeup test selfie or a picture of boudoir or a quick and easy cosplay and it will receive triple the attention of my big passion projects. It’s a weird thing. Because my favorite part of cosplay (aside from being a waifu and the friends) is the craftsmanship behind it, so it’s always disappointing and weird to me when its not well received.
TGL: If you could give one piece of advice to content creators who are just starting out, what would it be?
ALC: Just be yourself. A lot of social media right now pushes for very specific types of people and posters, the type of content that fits THEIR algorithms and number games, which is great for the people it works for, but if that isn’t really you, what’s the point? If you just do the things you love to do with the passion that you have, people will find that and stick around because they enjoy it. Don’t let social media define you or change the way you pursue your hobbies. Be yourself and remember to have fun.
TGL: What exciting projects do you have coming up or are already doing that you think folks would enjoy the most?
ALC: Well, I have Bombshell Black Canary coming for Wondercon! This will be my first comic character that I will have done and a lot of people have said they’re looking forward to that! After that is done I’m hoping to finish up my KDA Ahri finally!
TGL: What was one aspect of the content creating process that you never in a million years would have ever considered?
ALC: That having too many projects is a bad thing. I have so many characters that I love that I often over commit myself trying to do them all. You get burnt out and lose motivation if you’re stretched too thin. It’s hard to pass up on a group cosplay or a character you’d love to do when you’re trying to be realistic with yourself and what you can do, but sometimes it’s for the best.
TGL: How can folks best support you and your brand?
ALC: Uh, not sure if I have a brand, haha, but following on social media is dope! I’m most active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! And liking a picture and leaving a nice comment is the best thing ever. I love interacting with followers even if I suck at replying to messages.
Chicano | Fighting/Writing for Diversity | DM since 08 | Anime Lover | Site: https://www.thegeeklyfe.com | info@thegeeklyfe.com | http://twitch.tv/that_deangelo | https://linktr.ee/deangelomurillo
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