Since it is Thanksgiving week, I decided to give our readers something to be thankful for.  So, I decided to post a new cosplay interview everyday this week.  Today’s interview is with a very talented cosplayer as well as costume designer.  So, here is my interview with Courtney Leigh.  Enjoy!

1.  Who are you and where are you from?

 My name is Courtney Leigh Fishell and I was born on Saipan, Northern Marianas. I came to the states when I was young and grew up on an ostrich ranch in Buckeye, Arizona.

 2.  How did you discover cosplay?

 I was a theatre major at a performing arts school and knew I always wanted to make costumes for a living, but didn’t really know which area of costumes I wanted to pursue. For my 21st birthday, my cousins and I decided to attend San Diego Comicon. I know. Our first convention was the perhaps the craziest scene in the US as far as cons go. It was nuts, but also one of the greatest experiences I’ve had. However, going without a costume was something I wanted to change. Later, I attended “The Last Airbender” midnight showing with some friends and we all wanted to dress up. I figured that the costumes were simple and it couldn’t hurt so I managed to make 4 costumes over a week and it was so much fun transforming into the characters that I decided I’d make more costumes based off of other favorite characters. It wasn’t until I posted my pics online that I realized how HUGE the cosplay world was and how much I was missing out.

 3.  I really love your Black Canary cosplay.  What made you choose her?

 I am a huge fan of Batman and after attending more conventions my interest expanded to more DC stories and characters. I cosplayed Catwoman at Phoenix Comicon 2012 and wanted to do other DC females, but someone that was less known. After my recent addiction to “Young Justice,” I fell in love with Black Canary and had to watch and read more about her. I really wanted to try her out so I kind of designed my own thing a couple days before a cosplay event that I wanted to attend. I find that sometimes the smaller characters are more fun to dress as because then when someone recognizes you, it feels a bit more rewarding.

4.  Have you cosplayed other comic characters?

 Yes! I cosplayed as Catwoman recently, which was soooo much fun. She’s my favorite DC female. I am revamping her costume soon so I can cosplay her again! I also just did a femme version of Joker and teamed up with my cousin, who dressed in a Harley Quinn costume I made her (classic version.) Last year, I also cosplayed Harley Quinn from the video game, Batman: Arkham City. I would love to do more!!!

 5.  What other genres do you cosplay?

 I have become SUCH a geek in the past year, so my cosplay genres have a pretty large range. I have done movie characters and will be debuting in my female Predator costume very soon. I have also done cartoons, anime, comics, and video games. As soon as I love a character enough and I think I can pull it off, I try it! I also do original costumes. My most recurring one being my own rendition of the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland, which was inspired by Frank Beddor’s “The Looking Glass Wars.”

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

 I am a regular vendor at Phoenix Comicon now and sometimes attend events and conventions here in Phoenix whenever I have time or a costume I want to wear J I try my best to do photo shoots when I put something together that I really like so that I have a good collection. Because I have a small business making cosplay costumes for others, I like to post pictures of my new creations for others to see.

 7.  Do you do other modeling besides cosplay?

 No.

 8.  What are your plans for the future?

 I would like to become more established as a cosplayer and a business. It’s my passion and I am so lucky to have been able to make my passion my job. As for future cosplays, there are soooo many I would like to do. Perhaps the one I have wanted to do longer than any is Xena from “Xena: Warrior Princess.” She was my hero growing up! Aside from her, I would like to do the Cassandra Cain version of Batgirl, Sleeping Beauty (Disney), Alice (Resident Evil: Retribution), Ada (Resident Evil 6), and Scar (Lion King). I’m also redesigning my Red Queen costume for 2013, making it bigger and more evil! There are a lot more, but I’ll end with that. Hehe.

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

I post all of my pictures on my facebook page at www.facebook.com/courtneyleighcreations.

I also have a website at www.CoutneyLeighCreations.com.

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

 My favorite cosplay so far has been the Red Queen. Does that count? I just love being her. I get to tromp around like an evil royal in 5” thigh high boots, a red and black gown, crazy makeup, an evil glare, and 4” tall hair. Because I am already 5’10” without shoes, I tower in that ensemble. It’s sooo much fun transforming into something so different from myself. That’s why I’ve made it a regular cosplay that’s always evolving. I can’t part with it.

 

Derf

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Derf

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