Interview with Carlye Starr

Hello Boys and Girls! Today is another glorious Monday because I have a great interview for you today. Not only is today’s cosplayer a talented cosplayer, she does some nice work behind the camera as well. So be sure to check out her FB page as well as Deviantart page when you are finished reading the interview. My 96th cosplay interview is about the lovely Carlye Starr. She is hands down one of the best Magik cosplayers around. Don’t take my word for it, let the pictures do the talking.

1. Who are you and where are you from?

Hi! My name is Carlye Starr and I am costumer at Busch Gardens in Tampa FL

2. How did you discover cosplay?

I’m not really sure when I discovered cosplay. I know that about ten years ago I started dressing up as my favorite comic characters and discovered that there were other crazy cool people who did the same thing. My first real cosplay was Poison Ivy at Mega Con and I remember it so well because the beautiful and talented Yaya Han came up to me and said I had made the best Posion Ivy she had ever seen. After that I was totally hooked on cosplay!

3. I absolutely love your Magik cosplay! What made you chose her for a cosplay?

Thank you so much! So many people don’t even know who Magik is and that’s a damn shame. When I was in fourth grade at recess I was sitting under a tree (we pale people need our shade) with a few lollipops my mom had packed. I was approached by a kid who really wanted one of my lollipops, so we traded. He gave me Uncanny X-Men 160, where Illyana was first taken to Limbo. I adored the story and instantly started hunting down the New Mutants comics and had to translate her into reality. My favorite part of the costume is the soul sword that my friend Ryan Bageard made. Its fiber glass, real aluminum, and lights up. I made the amulet out of an old compact and I think the horns were really just perfect for this version of Magik.

4. I also love your photography. What do you like most, modeling or taking the photos?

Thanks!!! I enjoy both but I love being behind the camera. I love dressing up people and getting them in the right head space for themed shoots. I adore displaying my creations on a beautiful model and having muses to design for. Every now and then I get that urge to jump back in front of a camera for a fun day in costume.

5. What other genres do you cosplay?

I’ve done a few anime cosplays but besides comics I love to do original costumes. The whole process of design to reality is just fantastic and addictive. I am also about to jump into doing more….pop culture cosplay I guess is the way to put it. I love this band from South Africa called Die Antwoord and I plan on cosplaying costumes of theirs. I am such a huge nerd that nothing is off limits. Fantasy, Sci-Fi, video games, I am up for costuming in any genre but I’ll be honest I think horror is calling my name.

6. Do you go to conventions to show off your cosplay or do you do photo shoots only?

I have really slacked on the photo shoots for my cosplay. Sometimes I make a costume and don’t get a single good shot. I promised myself this year Ill change that. I cosplay to show off at cons and to get feed back from my fellow cosplay artist.

7. Do you do other modeling besides cosplay?

I certainly have but its more for fun then anything serious. I love all pin-up culture and sometimes gussy myself up for a modeling gig. I think the strangest modeling gig I did was assist a performance piercer on stage. That was seriously intense but fun.

8. What are your plans for the future?

Well I have just started my own business with my partner Nya Tanaka. Our company is called StarrBird and we do a little bit of everything! We make custom costumes, armor, and launch peoples own fashion lines. We are planning our own line of nerdy garments for next year! I am also planning a Phoenix Force Magik (so cool cant wait) a Kirby costume, Game of Thrones (I read all the time) and a few original designs ^_~

9. Where can my readers see more examples of your work?

You can see a few things between my facebook www.facebook.com/StarrbirdProductions and my deviant art sickstarr.deviantart.com. Oh and of course dragon con ^_^

10. If you had to pick one cosplay, which one is your favorite?

Ohh that’s so hard! I love my Mrs. Freeze (she’s an original design and lights up!) and Bettie Page (My favorite replica costume ever) but at the end of the day I think I am most proud of my award winning Dawn costume. It had over 500 jewels on the top, special ombre fabric, an original pattern, custom wings, and the biggest hair I have ever done! I worked my butt off on that costume and was honored to win first place in the contest.