Guilty Pleasures: Divas of YouTube

I’ve actually lived half a life that if I wanted to learn about the latest music, I go to YouTube, Vevo, or Vimeo.  ‘The other half before, I would go to MTV, VH-1, or BET.  This isn’t one of those “yesteryears articles,” so don’t worry.  You’ll be spared of any stories.  I thought I’d talk about some of the ladies of YouTube that I’ve been occupying my time with, lately.. .If you haven’t heard of them, you might be glad you just did.  Each one of them are very unique, even amongst themselves, so I think you’ll be entertained by my choices  These are my Guilty Pleasures:  Divas of YouTube.

Yeah…I know. You try to find a better word for “woman who musically vocalises or stylises well.”

 

Lion Babe

“We wanted there to be a certain duality, like there is with Blondie, with me as the frontwoman, you might think I’m Lion Babe, but it’s like, no, we’re Lion Babe. We liked that. It’s about embracing your uniqueness and rocking it.” – Jillian Hervey  to Billbard magaine

Well, it worked!  Lion Babe is actually the duo of Jillian Hervey and Lucas Goodman, and I thought it was a diva that liked to show off her handsome boyfriend in her videos. Jillian Hervey is the singer/dancer combo we have all come to know and love in entertainment, and Lucas Goodman is a producer. I think that he plays guitar and some other instruments, as well as handling sound quality, but there is not very much written about him.

As a style, I would describe them 2 parts Erykah Bahu, 1 part Beyoncé at her funkiest, and a big pat of Doja Cat for thickening and smoothness.

Atmosphere-wise, Goodman does not stick out like “The Other Guy from Wham!” and have you wondering “WTF is he doing here!?” He’s more like “The Other Guy from PM Dawn.” You think, “Okay, I don’t mind. Just be good and don’t get in the way of the real talent.  (I’m kidding.  Hervey is very vocal that Goodman is the full other half of Lion Babe.)

Lion Babe has some visually appealing videos that compliment the music, well. Lion Babe has worked with Moe Moks, Disclosure, and Childish Gambino.

For trivia sake, you may want to know that Jillian Hervey is the daughter of Ramn Hervey II and former Miss America, Vanessa Williams. She is also the niece of actor Chris Williams and great-great-great-granddaughter of William A. Fields, a former USAmerican slave that was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives during Reconstruction.

 

Brooke Candy

“I have been kicked out of my home for being gay.  I felt that.”  –Brooke Candy

Brooke Candy is a straight up succubus that found YouTube and said, “Bet! I’ll never go hungry for souls and sex again!” Background-wise, Brooke Candy is a rapper/singer, songwriter, fashion stylist, and director from LA.

Her father is Tom Candy, a former CFO for Huslter. In fact, Larry Flynt was even in one of her videos. (Then WTF did she get thrown out the house for being gay!!? I guess you can be as sleazy as you want in the Candy Household.  Just don’t be gay…)

I think that musically speaking, she is probably still trying to fine tune her exact sound. She screams, “Brooke Candy is in The House looking to fuck!” That’s about it, for the most part.

She is one of those entertainers whom’s music is sometimes hard to separate from her videos because she puts so much into the imagery and story of the video, itself.

Some of her music is like that of many of the nasty girls of rap’s, but with a good helping of Lady Gaga and Lords of Acid. However, she is not above pop tunes like “Volcano” or “Paper or Plastic.” Brooke Candy even performs jazzy and happy songs like “Nasty,” and flat out sings ballads in songs like “Living Out Loud” and “Freak Like Me.”

If I could sit down with Brooke Candy, I’d love to get her drunk and have her tell me the real stories behind each and every one of her tattoos.

 

Zheani

“You said you fucking picked me, cos I looked like your daughter, sixteen.  You’re ‘disgusting paedophile cunt!  ‘Hope you’re glad that I’m finally gushing!” – Zheani, The Question

Zheani, also known as Zheani Sparkes, is an Australian rapper that received a lot of press and social media attention and from her controversy with Die Antwoord.

According to Zheani, she was a fan that was contacted, groomed, and then lured to South Africa to meet Ninja (Watkin Tudor Jones), where he gave her drugs, alcohol, and performed strange sexual and mental acts both with and against her will at times. This was a part of his conditioning to make her a convenient human sex object.

According to Die Antwoord, Zheani has been called everything from a former girlfriend, a fan, an employee, and even a satanic prostitute looking to come up. Ninja said he had her flown to see him, but felt “catfished” when she arrived. Even though he was displeased with her, he had sex with her, became friends, and even hired her.

I’m not going to get into the controversy anymore. I felt that I had to touch on it for her background. As for the rest of it, much of the money she got for her career she got as investments from crowdfunding and what she might call “creative marketing.”

I think this is a shirt is actually merch from her site.

What can I say about Zheani’s style? Zheani sort of reminds me of an anime pixie with an angel’s voice, and a sailor’s vocabulary. She likes to sing and rap about having a good time and screams about the bad ones…but it ALL sounds great! Of course when she vocalises about lighter and happier things, the melodies of the music fit; it’s almost two different great styles.  However, I think she really shines when she’s angry or excitable, like in “Powder Tuff” and “The Question.”

Zheani was good enough to put her whole EP, “The Line,” on YouTube with filtered background images of her.  In fact she has many playlists on her YouTube channel.

 

Snow Tha Product

“Yo soy primero, no nunca creo en el last.  I don’t need a record label, I already got my fans.” –Snow Tha Product on Snow Tha Product Quotes Facebook, December 23, 2018

I get the feeling that her name is more telling than people realise, in the fact that the personality is somewhat of a product. When I look at the total package of Snow Tha Product, I get the feeling that she and several individuals sat down to think of the best YouTube personality that she could become…and that is the brilliance of who she really is.

While I do not believe that Claudia Alexandra Feliciano, the person, and Snow Tha Product, the entertainment personality are 100% the same, I do believe that Claudia Feliciano is a scrappy spirit with some street in her, and one of the laws of the street is that if you are a hustler, then have your hustle game on point; be the best you can be and to see all the angles.

I think that Snow Tha Product is the epitome of certain facets in Claudia Feliciano, so where there may be some exaggeration, there are still no true lies. Snow Tha Product is a product based on a true story: A Mexican-American bilingual, bisexual rapper that still loves to party and mix it up.

Snow Tha Product is just as entertaining and addicting to listen to when she spits English or Spanish. She’s sexy. She’s bold. She’s even cute when she wants to be. (not nearly as often as I wish she was, BUT…that could be a part of her charm that just isn’t meant for me)

Trivia: I believe that she is a mother of one son (about 11 years old), and said she wanted to be a social worker when she was growing up.

 

Ashnikko

“pooping is honestly the best part of my day I swear to god” – Ashnikko on Twitter, September 29, 2019

I think Ashnikko, Ashton Nicole Casey, is how a lot of non-Millenials see Millenials.

We are all products of our times, in some aspects. They try to mold us by their rules. ‘What’s acceptable for race, sexual, sex, professional, as well as so many other relations. As we grow up, we push, ignore, and create our own norms. The distance we travel and the morals that we establish, much to the dismay to the ones that came before us, become the new times that contribute to, and judge the new future.

I’m sorry, I tend to wax didactic. ‘Back to Ashnikko. None of the artists that I’ve mentioned in this article can really fit in a box. No style of anything should really be absolutely uniform or predictable. Ashnikko practices this concept very well. She raps. She sings, but what is her style? That’s hard to explain, because not only would Ashnikko not be able to exist 20 years ago, (Such fusions of styles and images would be far too unfamiliar and incompatible.) but her style is understood without words, as her image is almost cliché…for the times.  (Am I the only one that could see her dating Oliver Tree for a second, only to have him stalking her for the rest of her life?)

Ashnikko is a sign of the times. She is an avatar. She is Hip Hop with a Punk aesthetic, an weeaboo frame, a digital coating, and creamy inside that has a slightly more refined and aged taste than you would expect. Oh, and she smells female. She smells extremely female, which of course attracts other females. This seems to give her some amount of pride as well, despite not really trying for any male attention, except as a target for her rage for being mentally inferior. (“Stupid”)

Ashnikko: She’s NOW! Try some! You just might like her!

 

Jessi

“I don’t have to fake it. Real recognise real. They already know.” –Jessi, “Who Dat B“

Ho, ho, ho! I had to write about this lady! She is the antithesis of many of the other ladies on this list! She is from the East, heavily dipped in music and culture from the West, and her love is serious! ‘Don’t understand? Just how Zheani surrounds herself in otaku kawaii in “LULU,” Ashnikko is portrayed in “Tantrum,” and Snow Tha Product gets down in her kigurumis in “NoWhere To Go,” Jessi immerses herself in the Hip Hop culture…However, Jessi can argue that Hip Hop IS her culture, and her claim to it is legitimate in almost every way. Let me explain…

Jessi was bourne Jessica Hyun-ju Ho, and as you might have guessed, is a Korean-American rapper/singer and songwriter. In fact, Jessi was bourne in New York, raised in New Jersey, and moved to South Korea when she was 15…Yeah, she was pretty much USAmerican when she moved.

I don’t know how attitudes are in South Korea, but I heard that North Koreans have a serious problem with Korean-Americans, and that would-be idols have suffered for it in the past.

Just like her Western counterparts that adopted music and culture from their opposite hemispheres, Jessi is attracted to the more flashy and attractive attributes of that music and culture.

Jessi is Gucci. Jessi is Cristal. Jessi is Ciroc. Jessi is Hennessy. I’m surprised there isn’t a project with Jessi and Lil’ Wayne somewhere. (Somebody get Weezy on the phone!)

 

Whitney Tai

“It’s been difficult releasing music, but I remind myself that everything made in love must permeate and keep us bonded together in strength.”  –Whitney Tai, April 13, 2020

I have been enjoying this woman’s music for some time, now.  I have listened to her music break through the mold of time and trend, and become something truly timeless.  Even songs like “To Be Loved” seem to have matured and evolved, when listen to, in recent performances.  Whitney Tai sings with heart, soul, feeling,  and true talent, separating her from a sea of synth and autotune in her own atoll of sonic beauty.

If this was 4,000 years ago, Whitney Tai would be sunning herself in shallow waters luring mariners into the foamy depths with her beauty and song.

Whitney Tai is a true balladier.  Her style poetically and organically swims in pop, jazz, rock, tech/synth, and even country when the desire arises.  Whitney Tai’s music has no boundaries of stone; only of sensibility.

The 1905

While Whitney Tai definitely deserves the lion’s share of credit for her growth, she has worked with many people along the way, including an inner circle of similarly talented musicians and professionals in the biz.  Men like Tim Janssens, aka Sunfreakz, and Andrew Kingsley have worked with her for years on many occasions, forming a perfect synergy both on stage and in the recording studio.

In fact, Whitney Tai and Andrew Kingsley also have their own group, that like Lion Babe, is a full partnership in music, completely different from Whitney Tai in feel and style:  The 1905

Whitney Tai dropped her latest LP, “Apogee,” a couple of weeks ago.  Her single, “Surrender” is enjoying rotation on some impressive playlists at the moment, and is receiving great reviews from critics and fans of music everywhere. Her single, “Righteous,” comes out May 12, 2020.

 

Conclusion

These are some of my ladies of YouTube. There were quite a few others that I enjoyed to some degree, yet didn’t quite find them entertaining enough to feature in this article. I even contemplated making this a two or three part article, but in the end, I just wan’t feeling them enough. If you want to check them out, feel free:  Alice Chater, Nitty Scott, Bebe Rexha, AleXa, SoRi, Ängie, Qveen Herby, and Kerli.

Some of them like Alice Chater and Bebe Rexha sound somewhat dated and ordinary, while acts like AleXa, Ängie, and Qveen Herby should probably work well on paper, but also seem ordinary. I guess at one time, they would have been a little edgy, but you can’t just say “pussy” and expect be shocking anymore. You also can’t depend on trendy directing in a cool music videos to carry a song, either.

The one honourable mention that I wanted to be on this list was SoRi, but there just wasn’t enough recent stuff from her released. From what I understand, she had some small amount of success about 5 years ago, and she is in the middle of her comeback, but two songs are not enough to get a good idea of her.

I should say that I was impressed by what was out there, and both songs and videos were very different from each other. This speaks to me of hopes that her style is very versatile and that there will be different sides to her as an entertainer.

So what do you think? After you get a chance to check out some hyperlinks and listen to some songs for yourself, please come back and and share your opinions. Share and start some discussions. We would love to hear what you think.

Up and Coming Cosplayers with Gingersnap Pixie: Pictorial

(Originally Published October 30, 2019)

Trick or Treat!  Well, how about just treats?  Say no more!  Please enjoy this very erotic Halloween Up and Coming Cosplayer Pictorial with Gingersnap Pixie!

I hope you enjoyed not only this pictorial, but all of the articles that I have prepared for you this month.

If you are reading this around Halloween, ‘chances are that I am at Anime Weekend Atlanta right now, enjoying their first year during Halloween, ever!

As a reminder, if you enjoyed any of these articles, please share them. I work very hard writing them and the cosplayers work very hard supplying us with pictures, answers, and their time from their crafts and daily lives. Don’t forget to Like, Follow, and Share our pages. If you really want to help even more, support our Patreons, Ko-fis, and Etsys, when possible.

I’d really like to thank Gingersnap Pixie, again for all of the help and work she put in to make this feature one of my best ever.

We hoped you liked our last month of Up and Coming Cosplayers for this year. Stay tuned for more of the coolest goodness!

-HERETICPRIME

Up and Coming Cosplayers with Gingersnap Pixie: Interview

(Originally Published October 30, 2019)

Of all of the cosplayers in world, I could think of no one better to be featured for this final week of October as an Up and Coming Cosplayer.  She is not as well-known as the big cosplayers, but I have a feeling that this may change, soon.  She is not only sexy and sensual, but she is artistic and an exhibitionist by nature.  She is well-read, and knows exactly what effects she has on people, making the world her playground, and it’s inhabitants her playthings.

Last week, we gave you a very risque pictorial with Smilecosplay Jamie, but that will pale in comparison to this week’s, but I’m getting ahead of myself…This is our lady’s interview, and before we adore her craft and body, we’ll get to know and love her mind.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it pleases me to present to you the Halloween Up and Coming Cosplayer:  Gingersnap Pixie!

I have always been a child of myth and lore of all regions.  I think one of your pictures was shared in one of my cosplay groups on Facebook.  I was immediately drawn because of that love of olde things.  How deeply do you feel a connection to the fae?

I find that living in the city can be disconnecting at times.  That’s when I channel my not-so-inner fae into either being a mischievous exhibitionist, or trying something that I’ve never done before, like roller derby, or salsa dancing, or zip-lining.  The people in my life refer to these times as ‘Sarah Explosions’.  Getting back to nature definitely charges up my pixie batteries.  I have a tendency to leave the beaten path, exploring the hidden nooks and crannies of a forest, much to the chagrin of my friends (as I’ve gotten us lost on multiple occasions).

Did you grow up with the stories?

Yes!  I still have a well-preserved hardcover of old fairy tales that I read (‘A Child’s Book of Stories‘ by Children’s Classics).  I have always been drawn to supernatural fables.

 Did you learn about them on your own like I did?

 

Yes, I was attracted to faerie tales without being prompted, but in any medium of entertainment.  Mostly books, but the films of Hayao Miyazaki as well.

Who wrote your character bio for your Facebook page?  (I’m pretty sure you did!)  It was VERY well written.  Even the choice of words gave the right subtle nuances of a creature that wasn’t born a girl, but a “salacious” force of nature putting sensual thoughts of hedonism into the minds and hearts of boys and men.

Thanks!  Yes indeed, I write my own biographies, along with all of my posts to fans.  I have been known to take a perverse pride in it.  I call it ‘flirting with the air.’

Do you do a lot of reading?  What are your favourite subjects for reading?  Do you have favourite authors?

I was an introverted reader growing up who devoured all of the adult books that were available to me, and anything I could get my grubby little hands on, that wasn’t out of reach.  I still greedily grab every book I see that ‘might’ be interesting.  My home is filled (littered) with stacks of novels that I have every intention of reading.  The Japanese have a word for this:  Tsundoku.  You can never have enough books!  I enjoy fantasy, science fiction, and spy fiction/thrillers most of all.  I have always been a fan of Anne McCaffrey and the early works of Jean M. Auel.  I happily lose myself to ANY Guy Gavriel Kay novel (‘The Lions of al-Rassan‘ in particular).  I have more recently enjoyed the works of Kristen Britain and Patrick Rothfuss.

Were you the wild child depicted by your character bio, or were you more of a quiet wallflower?

‘Both.  I was a wild child who needed to explode out of herself periodically BECAUSE she was a quiet wallflower.

 

You did a lot of things that typical USAmerican girls do not do.  You chased dragonflies and frogs.  You spent a lot of time unafraid in nature.  Did you do all of these things by yourself?  Did you have any companions…or was nature more your companion…?

 

I spent an inordinate amount of time in the wilderness without supervision as a child.  There is no fear of the forest in me.  To be honest, I had Annie and Shandra at the time, my two dogs (rest their patient souls).  Annie was a border collie blue heeler and Shandra was a chow shepherd.  I still miss my girls!

You definitely look the part of one of the fair folk.  Do you mind if I ask your pedigree?

‘Irish through-and-through, which certainly follows.

 

Sometimes Gingersnap Pixie is a nymph or dryad.  Sometimes she is a demoness or succubus.  I’ve noticed that with different authors, faeries and demons are often exchanged in roles and in name.  According to lore and myth, Merlin was half-faerie and half-mortal, yet some authors say he was half-demon and half-human.   Why do you think that some see the fae as evil or so interchangeable with demons?  Do you see them as different?  How do you relate to them, both?

I think those distinctions are completely arbitrary and based more on individual (moral) interpretations.  If you are liberal in your thinking, you might see Merlin as half-faerie.  If you are conservative in your thinking, you might see Merlin as a half-demon.  Yet people can also see faeries as a force of wanton destruction and demons as a source of beneficial change.  For me, as Gingersnap Pixie, it’s all about playing a role, to which I also apply my arbitrary opinions.  The important part is that ALL roles (costumes) remain available to my whims, which necessitates an open mind.

You might just be the first self-proclaimed lass of the fair folk that models and cosplays!  You might also be the first fae to start her own brand!  Would you agree that you are starting your own brand?  If you were, what would that brand stand for?

‘Living without shame and not giving a fuck (to be crass) about what other people think of you.

You strike me as the type of person that is just as comfortable clothed as she is nude.  If you could, would you be nude or semi-nude all of the time?

If you are always clothed or always nude, then the opposite holds more appeal.  You have to straddle both!

This question sort of relates to the last one.  I think that most Eurocentric societies do not allow nudity because The Three Faiths have a problem with understanding the differences between being nude, naked, and sexual.  I think this inability has caused the opposite of the intended effect: oversexualisation of the human form.  It causes people to see a person naked or sexual when they are just nude.  What are your thoughts on this?  What do you consider the differences between being nude, naked, and sexual?

I think that ‘intent’ is the difference.  For me, being nude is comfortable and liberating.  The intent is to be at ease with myself.  Being naked is commanding and empowering.  The intent is to get attention and make a statement.  Being sexual is arousing and exciting.  The intent is to entice and be ravished, to inspire lust that I want done to me, or that I want to visit on somebody else.  I perform all of these intents at different times as a model, and of course, they frequently overlap.

You are a fan of Steampunk and Medieval Gaming.  I think a lot of our readers are familiar with Steampunk. ‘Perhaps even Medieval Gaming.  Would you mind explaining what they mean to you and what aspects and games you enjoy?

Steampunk is beautiful to me.  I am drawn to the Victorian era, combining formal wear with clockwork technology.  As for medieval gaming, I am a weekly Dungeons & Dragons gamer, repeatedly playing a barbarian, three times in a row, now, with slight variations on that savage theme.  I love the catharsis of being a primal fighter who solves problems with a boot or a fist or a greataxe.  I am currently dungeon mastering a game in which everyone is playing a monster, rather than any of the traditional heroic races.  The party consists of a beholder, a dragon (wyrmling), a night hag, an oni, and a succubus.

Do you remember which interests you discovered first?  Out of Modelling, Cosplay, Steampunk, and Medieval Gaming, what did you start first?  Did any lead into the others?

Cosplay –> Steampunk –> Medieval Gaming –> Modelling.

Do you ever cosplay conventional characters?  If so, which are some of your favourites?

I was given the opportunity to be armoured and equipped as ‘Red Sonja,’ and lunged at the chance, but that costume was largely created for me.  No other iconically recognisable characters come to mind.  After two seamstresses catastrophically failed to finish a ‘Poison Ivy‘ costume for me, I started creating my own archetypes.  I would, however, like to dress up as ‘Yuki Mori‘ from “Space Battleship Yamato” one day.  She is simultaneously demure and sexy, which are two qualities that I think pair well together if done right.

Along with all of those talents and hobbies, you are also an illustrator and create your own designs for your merch.  In fact, you had to deal with some plagiarism pretty recently.  Do you enjoy designing?  ‘Ever consider doing more? (I’ve actually considered doing the same.)

I prefer designing my own ideas, but those aren’t always what sell.  The challenge is finding a compromise between what people want and what I enjoy drawing as a traditional illustrator.  My work can be found here: www.instagram.com/sarahnaomityrrell/

You are not a regular con-goer.  Are there any conventions that you do enjoy going to?  Do any stick out as particularly enjoyable?

I watch a lot of fansubbed anime.  I am VERY current with the latest seasons.  If I am ever afforded enough free time, I’d probably attend the local anime conventions in Vancouver (Canada) first.

Do you enjoy cosplaying or doing other hobbies with friends, or are you pretty much a lone wolf?

Here’s the best answer I can provide:  I am a shut-in until I am not, at which point I need to be surrounded by people.  If it’s possible to be an extrovert and an introvert, but in lunar and/or seasonal cycles, that’s me.

Do you have any parting words of wisdom for our readers?  Or perhaps something to haunt them with?

Beware of self-centered people who seem interesting.  These people are easy to spot by how much they talk about themselves, wait to talk about themselves, or turn everything that you tell them into something that relates back to themselves.  Value the people who show up for collaborative group activities instead, and the people who show up when you’re in a pinch most of all.  They might be moody, or quirky, or socially inept, but your bond to those people will be stronger than most blood-relations.

Gingersnap Pixie was one of the most interesting interview guests I’ve had, so I hope you enjoyed her interview, too.

I’ll tell you a secret: Since I’ll be leaving for Anime Weekend Atlanta on the Thursday right after this is published, I’ll be publishing Gingersnap Pixie’s Pictorial late Wenesday night/Early Thursday morning, so you won’t have to wait for Friday!

See you then!

-HERETICPRIME

Up and Coming Cosplayers with Gingersnap Pixie: Cosplayer Score Card

(Originally Published October 27, 2019)

Cosplay Name:  Gingersnap Pixie

Base of Operations:  Vancouver, Canada

Years Cosplaying:  Ten years

First Cosplay:  Pirates then Zombies.  ‘Also pirate zombies.

First Con:  Not a single one, but every zombie walk organised by my city.

Cons per Year:  Zero!  I am failing at this questionnaire so hard!

Make Your Own Costume:  Yes, but with advice from seamstresses and tailors.

Make Your Own Props:  Yes!  Also bought and borrowed.  It helps to know a network of erotic models with countless props from which to choose!

Do Your Own Hair:  Yes, painstakingly.

Do Your Own Makeup:  Yes, self-taught (applying traditional illustrative skills to my face).

Do Your Own Wig Styling:  Yes, the few times that I have used a wig, but my long red hair is otherwise attached.

Makes Your Own Wigs:  I do not!

Bodypaints:  Yes, I paint myself and have been painted (full body as a leopard by ‘Little Monster Studio’).

Favourite Cosplay:  Succubus (my most recent single-themed photoset).

Number of times you have been to Dragon Con:  Not once!  Who is this woman calling herself a cosplayer?!

Patreon, Ko-fi, Etsy, and/or Support Link:  Patreon

Lewds:  Certainly.*

Nudes:  Definitely.*

More than Nudes:  Shamelessly.*

*See Patreon, Twitter, Facebook, and purchaseable photosets

Social Media:  Facebook, Twitter

Domain of Your Own:  The Mortal Domain (also the Feywild)

Secret Super Power: Irreverence.

Up and Coming Cosplayers with Zazie Cosplay: Pictorial

(Originally Published May 10, 2019)

It’s Spring Time, and the weather isn’t the only thing that’s steamy!  Here’s Zazie Cosplay’s HOT pictorial!

How about some modeling pics?  We got you!
 

You know what?  Zazie Cosplay was so good to us sharing, we’re going to share some more love with these candid pics!

Well, did you like what you saw?  Of course you did, and all for free!  Well…almost; we only ask that if you liked what you saw, you Like and Share.  Hell, if you would like to help us keep bringing you this content, you can go to “Home” and click on the Donation button.  We’d really appreciate it!
 
 
But the most important thing is to Share and Like these articles so that our featured cosplayers get all of the exposure they deserve.  Buy something for Zazie Cosplay on her Ko-fi!  Join her Patreon!  They work so hard, and we work hard sharing their talents.
 
 
Well, that’s all for now, until next time.
 
-HERETICPRIME

Up and Coming Cosplayers with Zazie Cosplay: Interview

(Originally Published May 8, 2019)

This month’s starting Up and Coming Cosplayer’s career reminds me of certain aspects of Jessica Nigri’s cosplay career.  Both started as very young ladies that were undeniably beautiful, but matured into their sexuality as their costuming skills blossomed as well.  And just like Jessica Nigri, she is not afraid to capitalise on her intense beauty and sexuality…but still brings the cosplay A game.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Zazie Cosplay.

Like all Black folk in this country, we are all racially mixed because of our unfortunate history, but you have a relatively exotic look to you.   Would you mind if I asked about your ancestry?

Yes, I’m Brazilian and Italian on my dad’s side, and Ghanaian from my mom. I usually just tell people I’m Afro-Brazilian.

Is it true that you had yet another alter-ego, Maid Kyo?   What is it like working in a Maid Cafe?  How many have you worked in?  ‘Still do it?

“Hello! Super Moe Maid Kyo here at your service!  I really enjoy working at a Maid Cafe.  I’ve worked in maid cafes for about 6 years now, and still going strong.  I definitely wouldn’t be doing it for so long if I didn’t enjoy what I’m doing.  I’m currently working at Blerdcon’s Maid Cafe, Luna Cafe!”

You seem more like an anime freak than a gamer to me.  What are your top three anime right now?

 That’s tough.  I would have to say Clannad, Naruto, and Sailor Moon.

I like to think I have great intuition.   I use it to ask questions that seem weird at first, but they usually pay off.   Do you like strange food combinations?

Well this is something I used to order at my old job:  Loaded tots topped with cheese wiz and bacon.  With the Loaded tots I would add gravy and caramel to it, caramel being the strange part.

Back to cosplay, would you say that you are not only a lover of gijinkas, but of Pokémon gijinkas?

Yes, ‘guilty.  That being because I’m a huge fan of Pokémon games and shows growing up.  I just got a Nintendo Switch, just so I can play Pokémon:  Let’s Go, Eevee!  I do my best to do Pokémon gijinka cosplays in my annual cosplans.

Looking back at older pictures of you, at first I thought that you might have started modeling, but got bitten by the cosplay bug.  Now I’m beginning to think you were a cosplayer that started to like modeling.   Can you set the record straight?

‘Cosplayer first and foremost, but I do do some fashion shoots from time to time.

Looking back at your 2015 pictures and earlier, you did a lot of ambitious cosplays.   Lately your cosplays are not quite as complicated, and sexier.  Why the change?

I don’t know if I would say not say “complicated.” I feel like throughout my time of cosplaying over the years, I’ve evolved and learned new things.  ‘Not just about cosplay, but about myself as well.  When I just started out, I pretty much had to hot glue everything together.  I didn’t have a sewing machine, which meant hours of hand sewing.  A lot of my older stuff back then was a mess, and barely lasted a day of wear.  I am doing a lot more of sewing projects than armor builds, yes, but I do find sewing a lot more difficult.   Even with a sewing machine it’s hard when you’re a noob.  A simple project used to take me weeks, which is why I want to expand and improve my sewing skills.

So what happened in late 2014?   You went from this pretty sort of baby-faced cosplayer into a minx of a young modeling lady.

I don’t think anything big or crazy happened in 2014.  I feel like as I grow as a person, so do my cosplay skills.

Do you have any favourite photographers you like to work with?

Yes, a few of my favorites that I enjoy working with is SF Design, Nikkis Cosplay Photo, Peppercat Photography, and Mika Bridges Photography.

It seems that most of the sexier cosplayer models are not really homegrown convention girls.  I get the feeling that that could not be further than the truth for you.  What are some of your favourite cons to hit up?

My favorite cons that I love to go to are Otakon, Katsucon, Colossalcon OH, and Blerdcon.

Have you ever been star struck at a convention?  If so, who was it?

Yes at Otakon 2017 I got to meet Kohshi from the band Flow after seeing them in concert. Their show was a amazing and he’s really cool.

Have you ever met anyone at a convention and was disappointed?

No, not really.’

Which cons have you gone to have the best after hours parties?

I would have say it’s between Pax East and Dragon Con.

‘Any parting words for your fans and ours?

Hi everyone!  I would just like to say thank you so much for your support of my work, so far.  I hope to continue on creating more cosplays for the future.  Thank you again!  ~Love Zazie

Up and Coming Cosplayers with Zazie Cosplay: Cosplayer Score Card

(Originally Published May 6, 2019)

Cosplay Name:  Zazie Cosplay

Base of Operations:  DMV area

Years Cosplaying:  5yrs

First Cosplay:  Michiko Malandro

First Con:  AnimeUSA

Cons per Year:  4

Make Your Own Costume:  90%. I have purchased some cosplays but I always have to fix them up to fit me.

Make Your Own Props:  90% of the time I make my own props, but I have had some commissioned

Do Your Own Hair:  Yes

Do Your Own Makeup:  Yes

Do Your Own Wig Styling:  Yes

Makes Your Own Wigs:  Never done that.

Bodypaints:  No cosplays that requires bodypaint at the moment.

Favourite Cosplay:  Sailor Cosmos

Number of times you have been to Dragon Con:  Only one time

Patreon, Ko-fi, Etsy, and/or Support Link:  Yes my Ko-fi  and my Patreon,

Lewds:  Yes

Nudes:  No

More than Nudes:  No

Social Media:  FB, IG

Domain of Your Own:

Secret Super Power:  I never know what’s going on!

Up and Coming Cosplayers with Leontha: Pictorial

(Originally Published August 9, 2019)

Leontha is extremely ambitious in her photoshoots, and we get to reap the rewards.  Leontha really surprised me!  I expected beautiful shots, but some of them are also quite erotic.

Don’t just take my word for it.  Scroll and see for yourself!

We told you that Leontha could get pretty spicy!

Thanks for reading, and please support us and our cosplayers featured by Liking, Following, and Sharing!  Also, don’t be afraid to comment.  We love input.

Seeya next time!

-HERETICPRIME

Up and Coming Cosplayers with Leontha: Interview

(Originally Published August 7, 2019)

Man, if I could travel to all of the places of the cosplayers that I interview, I would be one passport stamping brotha!  This Up and Coming Cosplayer comes from Germany, was raised in Poland, but considers both home.  She also tries to capture beauty from every place she goes and in everything she does.  She calls herself Leontha.

Leontha has been very busy with health and family issues, not to mention business of just living life and cosplay, but she was able to put aside some time and answer our many quesitions.  When you also consider that the entire interview is in English, and she answers in English, you can appreciate it even more.

Please meet the very beautiful and talented Leontha.

You told me that your first cosplay was one that whipped up in a hurry just to cosplay for a con.  How did you go from that to choosing this as your artform?  When did you know that you were a cosplayer?

It all happens in 2012.  After my first ”try” in cosplay I was so overwhelmed with joy I had with my friends, and I noted that it helped me to open to other people.  I wasn’t that open for stranger(s) earlier.  I was mostly shy, and I just had my close friends I’ve stick with, and after I move out from home to another city right after high school, I was a bit at lost.  After that convention I wanna try it once again, and my friends helped me with it a lot.  Without their help I will propably quit it really quick.  XD They taught me many things, beacuse I can’t sew at that time, so it was hard on the beginng, but when I sew my first costume and go on convention in it, I was so proud of myself,  especially when totally strangers complimented that costume.  It was that moment when I let myself suck into that community.

I still admire many cosplayers, and still I learn something new everyday, and I hope to grow as cosplayer more in future.

You have a tattoo of what looks like a seal right above your left breast.   Will you tell us the meaning beind it, please?

That seal is originally from series Pandora Hearts, and it was first anime series that I was really hyped for (and I still am).  For me, personally it means that everybody have someting in their live that they wanna change or protect.  It’s like a symbol of my cosplayer site of life.

The first thing I noticed about your cosplay is the wide variety of wigs you use.   ‘So many styles and colours.  I know that other cosplayers use wigs a lot, too, but for some reason it seems you might just be a contender for most wigs.  Why and how so many wigs?

Well, wigs are important part of cosplay- they can change a lot, and that’s why I always try to make them as perfect as I can.  Often I sewing few different shade of 1-2 colors to mix them and get the most similar color to the originall one.  Sometimes I’m using one wig for more than one character.  Now I have so many wigs that I almost don’t know where to put them!  XD

 

You take a lot of great outdoors pictures.  Are those local or do you have to travel to get those beautiful pics?

One of the best thing in cosplay for me is that I travel to so many different beautiful places!  I often travel to close, and sometimes to far away locations for events and photo shoots.  Every time when I know that I will attend some event I try to look for close nice locations, and than I carefully plan what costumes I will take.  ‘Same goes when I going to visit my friends or family-I’m looking for places that could be used for photoshoot, and than plan with photographers to use that time in the best way we can.

But not all of those locations are far for my place where I live-some of them are pretty close.

Personally I prefer outdoors photoshoot beacuse I love nature, so why not to combine cosplay with it?  Thanks to cosplay, I’ve visited many wonderful places and hope to travel to new ones in future too!

Do you get to travel much?  Do you get to cosplay when you travel?  Do you ever travel for the sake of cosplay?

Yes, I’m often travel for the sake of cosplay.  Events like PixelMania or Volta in Cosplay are full of many amazing locations in so many different types, so they are perfect opportunity for cosplayers to make beautifull photo shoots in variety style.  Everytime when I’m creating new costume I plan everything carefully-from type of shoot I wanna do, to locations I wanna use.  For me is very important to portray character I’m cosplaying in the best way I can, so that’s why I wanna put my very best in it.  As I told already in previous question-when I know that I will travel somewhere, even not for event, I try to check locations around and see if I can use them as background for shoot.  If I can’t find anything that will suit to my idea I have in my mind, sometimes I’m creating my own backgrounds for shooting.  I have many stuff for that sake in my home that I store in boxes at the attic.

What else do you do when you’re not cosplaying?   Have you ever had any life obstacles that you had to overcome?  Did cosplay help?

If I’m not cosplaying, I like to making my own photos of places that I visited already.  Sometimes I just stop in the middle of travel just to take picture of coloufull forest, breathtaking sunset, or dreamlike sky full of clouds.

Before I’ve started cosplay I was a real bookworm, and sitll I am one.  I like to bury myself with cup of tea on my coach with intresting book, and just relax reading fascinating story.  From time to time I like to play piano-it was my first big passion, but unfortunately after I had accident when I was young.  I need to give up my pianist career plan, so now I only playing for fun and for not forgetting how to do it.

One of biggest obstacles that I overcome in my life was my health problems.  Short after I finished my high school, my health become really bad-I’ve striglled with them really long before I was diagnosed with cancer.  It took me 2 years of fighting before I won with it, but even today I need to be under constant care of my doctors, by it’s a lot better now.

You are of German and Polish descent.  Where do you call home?   Does home have many cosplayers?  Who are your big cosplayers in Germany or Poland?  What are some of your big conventions?

I was born and raised in Poland, but 3 years ago I moved out to Germany because here, I have better medical care.  I call both-my family hometown in Poland and my current place in Germany, home.  I still have many precious friends and family in both countries that I care of.

In my family I’m the only cosplayer, but my Mom is my biggest supporter, and even now she is the one who teach me and help me with sewing, because she is a professional tailor

One of my cosplay ‘idols’ are Kamui Cosplay-I love how detailed her costumes are, and how she like to share her knowledge in easy way with others. (https://www.instagram.com/kamuicosplay/)

Other one is DasGemini-I admire her sewing skills, and that all her costume are extremly detailed.  She using so many different techniques in her creations. (https://www.instagram.com/dasgeminii/) She is not only skillfull cosplayer, but very talented photographer as well.

In Poland I think we have many talented cosplayer, even if not all of them are that well knowed.

One of the most knowed is Shappi. (https://www.facebook.com/ShappiWorkshop/)

About conventions-I already mentioned PixelMania event.  That is event strictly focused on cosplay photography, but another ones that are worthy to be mentioned are Pyrkon, or PGA.

Are there any cosplayers from the USA that you like?  Are there any international cosplayers you like?  Have you ever made it over here to see how our conventions are?

Unfortunaley, I wasn’t on any events in USA yet, but I hope to come on Katsucon in future.  Every year I’ve seen many relations after that event, so now it’s one of my dream events to attend.

And about cosplayer form USA that I like-there are many.  One of them is Yaya Han.  She is just amazing for me.  How talented she is, and how persistent she was with her cosplay career.

Next one is AKrCos (https://www.facebook.com/AKrCos/)-I like that she creating many ‘original’ ideas for characters she is cosplaying.

There are still many cosplayers that I admire-Gesha (Russia), Aishizaya (USA), Alyson Tabbitha (USA), Maki Eraclea (Italy), Blue Snow (Italy), or Ely (Taiwan), Hikarin (Canada).

I haven’t really seen too much prop or armour crafting from you.  Do you not like those kinds of characters?   Do you plan on doing any in the future?

Actually I’ve created some armour already, but I didn’t go on photo shoot yet with those costumes.  For me, I’ve picking charaters that I like the most, and still I treat cosplay not as my job but as my hobby, so I mostly I choose my cosplay plans depends of what I like at the moment.  I prefer strong characters like Katalina (Granblue Fantasy), or sometimes I pick character because of design that I like.

For sure I will be doing more armour characters in the future.

I’ve noticed that everything you do is beautiful.  You make regular cosplays and they are beautiful.   You cosplay as men, and they still have a softness and beauty to them.  Even your sexy photoshoots have a beauty to them.   I’m not quite sure how to ask you what I have in mind, but could you comment on that observation?  Do you try to express beauty in your work?

I always try to portay character that I’m cosplay as best as I can.  Every time I have clear idea what I wanna create with my cosplays shoot.  Before each photo shoot that I’m planning, I carefully talk about what both me and photographer wanna create together.  We planning posing, how to use background in the best way, or if we wanna do some “dynamic” photos.

Sometimes I’m creating my own characters, or sometimes I have special ideas for shooting, too, and those are mostly creating some “story.” It’s a lot easier for me to work in that way.

Photography and cosplay could be a beautiful hobby; a piece of art too, and this is what I wanna show to others.

What kind of cosplayer do you consider yourself?   ‘Magical girl?  ‘Sexy vixen?  ‘Girl next door?  ‘Secret space alien?   ‘A little of each, or none of the above?

To be honest I’ve never was thinking about it.  I was just creating everything in my own way.  I think I’m all of them, and in the same time no one.  I don’t like pigeonhole people including myself.

Do you have any last things you’d like to say to the readers and your fans?

Often I hear that people are afraid to come to me on convention, so… don’t be.  I’m alway try to be nice, and I don’t bite (or at least not that often ;) )

If you enjoyed this interview, please help by Liking, Following, and Sharing it, and the social media pages of both Leontha and All Cool Things™.

Thanks again to Leontha for taking time out of her very busy life, and you all for reading.

-HERETICPRIME

Up and Coming Cosplayers with Leontha: Cosplayer Score Card

(Originally Published July 31, 2019)

Cosplay Name:  Leontha

Base of Operations:  Germany/Poland

Years Cosplaying:  7 years in cosplay, now

First Cosplay:  It was Heiwajima Shizuo from Durarara.

First Con:  It was Japanicon in Poland in 2011.

Cons per Year:  It’s around 5 per year, but sometimes I’m coming for small local one that close by.

Make Your Own Costume:  Mostly I’m doing my costumes, but not only.

Make Your Own Props:  Yes

Do Your Own Hair:  Yes

Do Your Own Makeup:  Yes

Do Your Own Wig Styling:  Yes

Makes Your Own Wigs:  Yes, I like sewing them myself when it’s possible to make colour of them prefect for character.

Bodypaints:  ‘Sometimes when it’s needed for character.

Favourite Cosplay:  Tifa Lockhart (FF VII), Kaga (Azur Lane) Haruka Tenoh (Sailor Moon)

Number of times you have been to Dragon Con:  0

Patreon, Ko-fi, Etsy, and/or Support Link: 

1) KoFi

Lewds:  Yes, sometimes I’m doing boudoir shoots.

Nudes:  No, I don’t do nudes.

More than Nudes:  No.

Social Media:  1) Facebook, 2) Instagram, 3) WorldCosplay, 4) DeviantArt

Domain of Your Own:  —–

Secret Super Power:  Hmmm…. I love animals and they easily get attached to me, too; especially cats and dogs.