The Trouble that Cosplayers have to go Through

People ask, "You're a cosplayer?"

You say, "Yeah". 

It's a fun hobby. It's what I love doing the most when I'm not studying. It's a showcase of your art and love for the series or anime.

But here comes a problem. People know that you have numerous wigs, costumes, and stuff. They abuse you and they just BORROW it. If you say it's for rent, they get mad or disheartened. 

Well, if you're one of my BEST friends, you could just borrow it from me. Besides, they're cosplayers too and they understand the pain of taking care of wigs and costumes. 

Hello? Each costume is not for free or just obtained from somewhere. Lots of money was spent for those! I've had enough of these borrowing schemes. When some of schoolmates borrowed my wigs, by the time they were returned to me, they were very tangled and very smelly.

EWW.

Just so you know, each wig of mine costs 750-1800 pesos. They don't come cheap. I felt as though my stuffs are demoralized when they are returned at that condition. 

Do you even have shame, people? Libre na nga, ganun pa ang lagay pagsauli. Kung magcha-charge ako ng rent fee, kayo pa magagalit?

Just so you know, cosplay is not a hobby for the thrift. Even simple costumes can amount to 800-1000 (ex. seifukus). The most expensive costume I have so far amounts to almost 6-7 thousand pesos.

When all of my spending in my costumes are accumulated, I don't even wanna add them up anymore. It's a price that we, cosplayers have to pay.

My point here is, we are not your borrowing shop or "you're-just-important-when-we-need-you" people. You all make me sick.

HAVE SOME SHAME BECAUSE YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF. :|

Mikasa Ackerman Cosplay

Last three weeks, my friends and I had a photoshoot. Here are some pics :D

Mikasa Ackerman -Shingeki no Kyojin Cosplay
Cosplayer and HMUA: Dianne Morales
Photographer: Argenn Besinga
Post-processing: Dianne Morales

20 Random Facts About Me

Hi there~

Here I am again, the no-social-life college student, blogging.
I am currently studying Accounting (which I hate so much) and decided to take a break and blog.

So, here are 20 Random Facts About Me~ 

1. My course is very rare. Only three universities around the world is offering it. Viva BS Agribusiness Economics~! :D

2. I love anime, jpop, manga, and cosplay. (obviously). 

3. I look so different without makeup. So please, do not be dissapointed. hahahaha! 

4. 70% of my practical skills are all thanks to cosplay (hair trimming, makeup, basic sewing... you name it. XD)

5. My best friend in grade school is still my bestfriend now. Same as my Syndrome girls, we're still best friends till now.

6. I am a NBSB (No BF Since Birth). 

7. I had my first love during grade school. 

8. I was overweight in my childhood and early-teen years. 

9. I never had a suitor. NEVER. 

10. I absolutely love Studio Ghibli. 

11. The cosplayers I admire so much are Jin Joson, Miguel Mercado and the Tux Team, Kaname, Yuegene, Kipi, Dat, Zhel Guiral, and Ikumi Ces. (And maaaany others.)

12. I always feel underestimated. -_-

13. I hate cockroaches and mice. 

14. I have this unhealthy obsession with Nakajima Yuto. XD 

15.  I love Milk Tea so much~ 

16. I am obsessed with cute things :3

17. I like discovering non-mainstream amazing places (like Cute Tea Shops, Restaurants, or Cafes).

18. I do not drink or smoke (or have any vices). In fact, I hate the smell of cigarettes. 

19. I always keep a planner with me.

20. I have alter egos named Dii-chan (girl cosplay) and Dii-kun. (boy cosplay) >.<

Davao Cyber Expo 2013

Hi there everybody~ How are you doin?
It's been quite a long time since I last wrote a blog post.

It's been a long time since I last attended a convention, and there was one last July 30 :D 

The Last Convention I attended was the Davao Cyber Expo, or DCE, which took place in SM City Davao- the Annex.

I cosplayed Mikasa Ackerman from Shingeki no Kyojin.

It's my first time cosplaying a character with huge props like this. It was really hard to move around without hitting people. Ooops.

My 3D Maneuver Gear was commissioned from Gomer Tabaoda of Gomz and Crafts.
I had the costume made by my trusted seamstress. I had my patches heat pressed in "Shirts Avenue". Scarf and white leggings were mall-bought by me. My belts were commissioned from Micheal de Guzman of Cosplay Props. Wig is bought from Vogue Royal Le Croix.
Makeup was done by yours truly. :D

 Once I'm dead, I won't even be able to remember you. So I'll win, no matter what. I'll live, no matter what! — Mikasa Ackerman

I'll do an official photoshoot of this costume with Mai and Argenn within August! I'm so excited! 

I was with my friends Argenn, who went as Sakura Haruno; Chime, who went as Kuroko Tetsuya Genderbend; Jillianne, who went as Midorima Shintaro genderbend, and Gui, who went as herself. :)

On to the pictures~~

OUT OF CHARACTER GLORYYYYY~

We love to make derp faces. I guess that's my specialty. XD

While waiting for our turn in the studio...

I still have lots of pictures, but I'm tired to resize them. Just visit my Facebook if you're interested.

That's all for now. JA~!

Hi there~

To the anon who asked me in my Tumblr, here ya go~ Sorry, I don't open my Tumblr all the time. :D

Cosplay Before and After :)

Yes, these two pictures are just one person. XD



Hi there, I just wanna share my cosplay before and after. I saw some friends doing it here on Facebook. I thought, “Hey, why not post my own?” This is quite a long post. :D

~~~

I started cosplaying during 2008, though I wasn’t really that active. I had no connections and I didn't attend conventions because I didn't know any that were being held before in Davao. I didn't really get to go out that much because my parents didn't allow me to. At that time, cosplaying was not yet mainstream as it is now. I also had very limited allowance that's why I don't get to produce costumes immediately. Still, it was fun looking at myself in the mirror, alone in my room wearing my cosplay. From year 2008-2010, I just managed to produce one to two costumes a year. I was that poor (lol).

Little by little, at the start of 2011, I bought my first wig. I was in college already that’s why my meager allowance can somehow manage. I also gained a little freedom. It was not easy at first. I had no friends in the cosplay community, I only had my best friends (whom I influenced to cosplay later on) to relate my cosplay endeavours with. (I don’t know why I didn’t gain any friend in the cosplay community. Maybe I’m just not an active congoer, or I look scary T_T). I am also very shy and socially awkward, especially in person. My best friends and I didn’t go to events that much either. We just had “noob” photoshoots at our friend’s house. Our cosplays were really not the best (no wig, no proper makeup, no lenses, no HQ camera, etc..), but we had fun times.

I faced a lot of issues, weight was one of those. It was because I was overweight. People also said things like, “Di bagay sa’yo yan” (That character doesn’t suit you) or “You are not really fit for cosplay”. Those words even came from some of my friends and schoolmates. It's really disheartening. Plus, I was the person who believed that I am not pretty, or even decent looking. My confidence was of the level of worms (quoted by my classmate XD). Nevertheless, I still continued to cosplay. I strived hard to improve. I also didn’t know a thing about makeup, contact lenses, and etc... I was really bad at makeup, but I watched countless of tutorials (thanks Michelle Phan) and improved throughout the years (or do so I believe. Hahahaha)

Cosplay did a lot of good things to me. It made me improve myself. I also had an outlet for being a manga and anime addict. I also discovered that I had hidden artistic talents within me (My course is more on the Science and logical side of life XD). It made me increase my self-confidence. If you love what you are doing, never give up. Always do your best. Do not try please anyone because some people will naturally find faults in you. You'll just be dissapointed if you do cosplay for fame and never be truly happy. In the end, their opinions doesn't make them a better person. It's only what you believe in that matters. :)

Misa Amane Cosplay

Misa Amane Cosplay

Misa Amane from Death Note Cosplay

Hi everyone~

Last May 30, 2013, my friends and I had a photoshoot. Here are some of my shots taken by the ever amazing photographer, Mai Ri Yan~

Visit her photography page~ http://www.facebook.com/ilovemaiphotography

Lucaille wig Review

Hey~ I'm doing another wig review of one of the many famous wig brands~ Lucaille~!

This wig was pre-ordered from OujiHime Shop on Facebook. They were really friendly. I used this wig for my Mirai Suenaga cosplay. :)

Pictures~

With Flash: 

w/o Flash:

Pictures when worn:

The Positives:

1. It's soft and smooth
2. Many styles available in the Lucaille brand
3. Quite thick
4. Not easily tangled 
5. Not shiny 
6. Heat resistant 

The Negatives:

1. Quite pricey

I hope this was helpful~ Jaaaa! :D 

Otaku House Cosplay Idol 2013

Hey guys~

I just joined the Otaku House Cosplay Idol Contest. I'm just trying my luck and hoping (not expecting) to win too. ^__^

Please vote for me. :)

Akashi Seijuro Cosplay is my entry for the contest :)

(Click the G+1 above the pic and the Facebook like)
http://cosplayidol.otakuhouse.com/2013/asia-pacific/dii-akashi-seijuro-from-kuroko-no-basket/
Thanks, I appreciate it so much ^___^

Like and share this photo here:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152269842777137&set=a.10152268310347137.1073741836.151208427136&type=3&theater
Thaaaank you ~

I am not expecting to win, but I want to have more experience as a cosplayer. :)

Ja-nee~ 

Akashi Seijuro and Satuki Momoi Cosplay

Last May 18, 2013, my friend, Argenn just arrived from Japan! It's been two years since she left Philippines.

We decided to have a photoshoot right away~ hahahahaha!

Akashi Seijuro Cosplay

It's me as Captain Creepeehhhhh~ I mean, Akashi Seijuro. XDD

Since I always win, I'm always right. 

It was so freaking hot during that day that all of our makeup just melted off. Nevertheless, it was successful and 'twas fun. :)

Satsuki Momoi Cosplay 

Here's Argenn as Satsuki Momoi. Soooo pretty right? Tetsuya will fall for her for sure. XD

Satsuki Momoi, The Analyst.

"I will imagine that this ball is Tetsu-kuuunnnnn~"

We'll have another photoshoot on the 29th of this month with our other friends~ I'm looking forward to that. :)

'Till next time! Jaa~

GEO Mimi Cafe Contact Lens Review

Yo~

Today I'll be doing a review for a contact lens. It's GEO Mimi Cafe in Waffle Gray. I was supposed to get the Princess Mimi in Bambi Gray but it was out of stock. T_T I got this one instead.

I bought these lenses from Rainbow Project or GEO Contact Lenses (Official Distributor in Philippines) [HOK] (Facebook Shop) 

Here are the pictures~

  

As you can see, it's 15 mm in Diameter

 Without Flash

With Flash

Pictures when worn :)

The Positives:

1. Eye enlarging
2. Nice design (3-toned)
3. Comfortable to wear

The Negatives:

1. Color is not that vivid (especially in dark eyes)
2. May get uncomfortable with longer hours of wear

That would be all for now~ JA-NE! ^_^ 

   

Doll Makeup Look

Hey everyone~ I had a makeup trial (not a tutorial yet) of a doll look inspired by Anastasiya Shpagina. I hope you'll like it. Maybe I'll create a tutorial once I master this look. :)

L-Email Wig Review

Hey People~

I'm doing this wig review again, from L-Email brand. I bought this from Oi Tara Shop on Facebook (Last 2012). The owner is really nice. I claimed my wig via meet-up because we're both from Davao City. I used this wig for my L Lawliet/Sasuke and random guy trial cosplays.

Okaaays, on to the review!

The wig was really spiky and nice. It's also easy to style because it's not overly soft. It's also manageable (because it's short of course).

Pictures:

Without Flash:

With Flash

Pics when worn: 

 
Positives:

1. Easy to style and create spikes
2. Thick enough
3. Not shiny

Negatives:

1. Quite pricey (compared to VRC and Misaki), but still affordable.
2. Rough-ish and hard
3. Frizzy on the scalp area (I guess this is also to create the volume of the wig)  

Will I repurchase?
Maybe yes, if I see something I like from their brand.

Will I recommend this?
Yes, for their short wigs. I haven't tried their long wigs yet. I heard they have good long wigs though.I would also recommend this for wigs that needs lots of styling. It's easy to work with.

That would be all~
Jaaaa-ne~! :D

Male Cosplay Makeup Tutorial

Tutorial made by yours truly :)

Crystal Animation Lens Review

Hello Everyone~

I'm doing another review again and this time, it's a contact lens brand. It's Crystal Animation Lens in A6. I bought from the Rainbow Project shop in GMall, but they also have a Facebook online shop, Geo Lenses Official Distributor (HOK).

As you can see, it is 14.2 mm in diameter. 

Pictures taken w/o flash

Pictures when worn (w/ flash)

Taken using camera phone 

The Positives:

1. The lens is really pigmented. 
2. It is comfortable to wear
3. It really brings out the anime look in your cosplays

The Negatives:

1. Not enlarging (I believe this size is better for cosplaying guy characters). 
2. Looks unnatural (If used as a daily lens). 

I hope this helped you in choosing your next lens purchase.

Sore ja~! ^__^ 

Female Cosplay Makeup Tutorial

I made a makeup tutorial again~ See what boredom can do to me. XD Check it out~

Simple Gyaru Makeup Tutorial

Seijuro Akashi Cosplay~

Heyy~!

This is my first Vlog in a cosplay (and in my new channel too). Check it out. ^__^



-Dianne

Crystal Contact Lens Peridot Green Review

Hey~

I'm reviewing another style from the Crystal Brand of Contact Lens. It's the Peridot Green. I bought this from Rainbow Project too. :)

Here are the pictures of the lenses.

As you can see, it's 15 mm in Diameter

 W/o flash

W/ Flash

Pics when worn:

The positives:

Comfortable to wear

1. Affordable
2. Eye enlarging

The Negatives

1. Not that pigmented

That would be all for now~ Byebye! :D