If you’ve been following our featured cosplayer posts, you’ve seen some pretty great cosplayers so far. Today, we bring you Kristen Hughey who, we think, does one of the best Jade’s (Mortal Kombat 9) we’ve ever seen.
On with the interview!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hey there! I’m Kristen, but I accept all appropriate and supremely awesome nicknames. I hail from upstate NY and currently live in SC. I have many personas and interests: I’m a cosplayer, gamer, student, photographer, optimist, crafter, Reiki practitioner (okay.. only level I), belly dancer, professional laugher and lover of life, travel and cheese. I’m the kind of person that just wakes up and says, “I think I will teach myself Ruby on Rails/learn to play an instrument/learn to crochet/learn to (enter anything random) today,” and I do it. Did I mention I love to learn?
My favorite thing in the world is my family and what I dislike more than anything is pessimism. Or maybe cockiness. That’s pretty bad too.
What inspired you to put on your first cosplay outfit and dress up?
My brothers attended Blizzcon in 2009 and came back with pictures of these magnificent creatures, otherwise referred to as “cosplayers.” I had never heard of such a thing, but I knew I had to be a part of it. My mom taught me how to sew when I was young, I had been obsessed with crafting my entire life, and my life already included round-the-clock nerdery. It was just meant to be.
I wasn’t able to get tickets to SDCC or Blizzcon for a couple years and finally decided to give Dragon*Con a shot. The first character that I ever stepped onto a convention floor as was Black Cat. It was an amazing and welcoming experience that I will never forget.
What characters have you cosplayed as so far?
I have cosplayed as Black Cat, Jade, Poison Ivy, Jessica Rabbit, Black Canary, Mary Jane Watson-Parker, Phantom Lady, and Misty.
What are your favorite cosplays you’ve done?
This is always a tough question for me because I love them all for different reasons! I choose to portray characters that I love or can relate to, so they all hold a special place in my heart.
Are there any characters that elude you?
Not at the moment because I now have the time and resources (thank you, fellow cosplayers and YouTube) to figure out how to do different things. When I first started playing Diablo 3, I wanted so badly to cosplay my demon hunter. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time or skill set to make armor and it never happened.
Do you make your own costumes / props? If so, which ones are you most proud of?
I have made everything thus far, with exception to my Jade costume and anything I can re-purpose around the house. Jade was a commission by Dawn Herrera (Hikari Kat Cosplay). There was no point in me making it when I had a perfect rendition of it right in front of me! I do plan on making everything myself in the future, mostly because I’m stubborn and enjoy a challenge. =)
If you could magically just have everything you needed for one cosplay, who would it be and why?
Oh gosh. I would love all of the knowledge/skill needed to create an extremely complex cosplay. That’s easily the most valuable material.
What has cosplaying done for you personally?
This may sound a little backwards, but cosplaying allows me to be myself and share that with likeminded people. I have met some of the most amazing and talented people through the cosplay community and I wouldn’t trade that for the world.
What advice do you have for other cosplayers looking to get started?
Choose a character who you love, be your alter-ego, super hero/villain self, and just have a good time! Conventions are incredible because of the positive atmosphere and immense support. Come be a part of that!
Where can we learn more about your cosplays?
I am working on getting my home page up and running at www.kristenhughey.com. There, I will be posting updates, works in progress, tutorials, photo shoot sets, videos, giveaways and anything else I deem nerd worthy.
My other pages are:
www.facebook.com/kristenhugheycosplay
www.twitter.com/kristenhughey
Thanks Kristen! Are you interested in being featured on our site? Drop us a line and let us know who you are!
