Greetings my fellow NERDs, how the hell have you been? I realize it has been a while since I have posted one of my cosplay interviews and I truly apologize for that. I have been working double shifts lately, so my time has been limited. Due to this delay, I have chosen a special interview that I think you will love. Her name is Briana Darling and she is as talented as she is beautiful. So sit back, relax, and enjoy my interview with the one and only, Briana Darling.
1. Who are you and where are you from?
My cosplay alias is Briana Darling and I am from San Diego, California. Well, technically Oceanside. I was Miss Oceanside 2008!
2. How did you discover cosplay?
In 2000, I attended my first convention- San Diego Comic Con. My friend and I thought it would be fun to wear our Halloween costumes, so we did! We volunteered backstage at the masquerade (this was back when you could volunteer on-site), and had SO MUCH FUN looking at all of the costumes. We were dressed as Sailor Venus and Sailor Saturn, so naturally Sailor JAMboree caught our eye. It wasn’t until maybe a year or two later that we auditioned and jonied the group!
3. I really love your Batgirl cosplay. What made you want to cosplay her?
Well, I love batman, have for years! I’ve always considered myself more of a Harley Quinn, but she’s been cosplayed a million and 4 times, so I wanted to do something Batman, but not something that I’ve seen done a whole lot. As a Harley at heart, I could not bring myself to cosplay Babs, and the more I learned about Stephanie, the more I realized how much we have in common and how much of a perfect fit she was for me! WAFFLES!
4. What other genres do you cosplay?
I currently cosplay lots of Disney, although that may change. My love for Sailor Moon has been re-kindled, so you can expect to see more of that in the future. I’m not necessarily a big fan of anime, so I don’t know that I’d include myself in that genre, per say, but Sailor Moon is an anime, so…yeah.
5. Do you have a favorite genre?
I love the Disney fandom and the Comic Book fandom. Both are so supportive and welcoming! They are quick to tell you if they like something and, in my experience, slow to spread hate.
6. What is your favorite way to show off a new cosplay?
I like photo shoots! It’s fun to debut a costume at a convention, but then you spend the rest of the month looking for photos of it and all you find are convention photos. I like to do a photo shoot and then post the shots before the convention so people know what to look for. Then, you can just focus on having fun and posing and meeting people, rather than trying to get the perfect shot.
7. Do you have any advice for newbies in the field of cosplay?
Try everything! Don’t know how to sew? Try! Don’t know how to make props? Try! If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! I come from a group of cosplayers that 100% support people TRYING! It’s the only way to get better at something and find out what you’re good at. Even if your first project comes out less than perfect, YOU DID IT! And that, in and of itself is half the fun of cosplay- learning something new and completing a goal. It’s an amazing feeling. I connect WAY more with the costumes that I make myself, because I know what went into making it. Make friends with people who can help! I am still learning, and I wouldn’t be where I am now, sewing-wise, if I hadn’t had the help of some amazingly talented friends. Believe in yourself and you, too, can sew a costume! Thumbs up, everybody! Thumbs up for rock and roll!
8. What are your plans for the future?
Well, I just got a fun new job, so I will be focusing on that for a while. I am fortunate enough to have some wonderful job opportunities, and for me, cosplay is a hobby, so my career comes first. But cosplay speaking; you can probably see more Sailor Moon, and OK, maybe a little more Disney and DC.
9. Where can my readers see more examples of your work?
My Facebook page is where I like to keep most of my photos, new and old. It can be found at facebook.com/brianadarlingcosplay, but I just want it to be known that it is not a fan page. I don’t really believe in the idea of fans for cosplayers. My page is a place, separate from personal page, where I can store photos and connect with other cosplayers and people who appreciate the hobby or have questions. I just like making friends more than anything.
10. If you had to pick one cosplay, which one is your favorite?
Well, Alice is my tried and true, she’s something I put my heart into and have re-made the most. I just keep revisiting her. She’s also sort of a visual representation to me that dreams can come true.
