Hai! We are Sophii and Cissa or the Ultra Girls! – we are a best friend cosplay duo out of Kansas. We each come from different “cosplay” backgrounds and combined our superpowers in December 2014 to create bigger, better cosplays. Since beginning our journey as UGC they’ve been so incredibly lucky and have had the opportunity to travel the US as cosplay guests, expo models for various vendors, judges, panelists and more. Advocates of the belief that cosplay should be fun for everyone, we take pride in being strong, active members of our cosplay communities.
1. How long have you been Cosplaying?
A. I've been cosplaying for about... 7 or 8 years now, I lose track haha! Cissa has been cosplaying for well over 10 years, since middle school!
2. How/When did you first get into Cosplay?
A. Cissa started at a local anime con, Anime Festival Wichita! I actually started because of Cissa years later. We met in 2008/2009 and she took me to A-Kon in Dallas and introduced me to this fabulous world!
3. What does Cosplay mean to you?
A. A lot of things - it's an our art, our stress release, our fun!
4. What do you think Cosplay could mean for someone who has had a hard life?
A. An escape and a safe place - you get to be ANYONE for a day and meet people who similar interests. It's fantastic for people who haven't always fit in or felt included.
5. What is your favorite Cosplay you have done?
A. Bellona for me! I love huge armor builds. Cissa's is her Morrigan - it was a labor of love and those wings are insane!
6. What would you like to do with Cosplay in the future?
A. For ourselves, continue to evolve and hone our skills. Constantly get better! Overall - we hope we can always continue to travel for cosplay and meet a million different people with a million different interests. The people make cosplay what it is.
7. What are your thoughts on Cosplay Isn’t Consent?
A. We did a whole YouTube video on this! People have to talk about this and continue talking about it every time it's brought up. It's the only way those who disrespect cosplayers will stop.
8. What can cosplayer’s do to make a difference in their community?
A. Be open and honest and welcoming. Stop gatekeeping and letting jealousy keep you from experiencing all that the worldwide community has to offer. We get all jealous sometimes, it's human nature. But you cannot project that onto others. Be the very best you you can be, build badass cosplays and don't judge anyone else!
9. What do you want to see in the future of cosplay?
A. Just to see the community continue to grow. Watching more and more people find this awesome world and become apart of the community is wonderful. Cosplay IS for everyone.
10. What goes into a planning a costume/how much time could it take?
A. It really depends on the cosplay! Sometimes it's a project we can complete in a couple days - if it's a bigger build, weeks.
11. What is the most difficult thing about being a cosplayer?
A. Criticizing ourselves too much. Cosplay is art and art is subjective. As log as you're in love with what you're doing, don't be too hard on yourself.
12. If you had an unlimited budget what would you cosplay?
A. For me, MGS Raiden - full animatronics. For Cissa, Queen Amidala!
13. Do you only Cosplay at conventions? If not where else do you Cosplay?
A. If not where else do you Cosplay? We do a lot of conventions so typically just conventions and related events. Sometimes we try on new costumes we've finished and run around in them a bit, haha!
14. How Far do you go to get into “character”?
A. It depends on the character - sometimes it's fun to immerse yourself entirely
Come back Friday for part two of the Interview. And if you would like to be considered for Cosplay Imagings Cosplayer of the Week email cotw@cosplayimaging.com with a Introduction and a sample of your cosplay.
