On Cosplay: When I was twelve, I rented Ranma 1/2 from my local library for a reason I can’t quite remember. I loved it, and eventually rented every single anime video they had. I then discovered my local comic book store carried issues of manga, and started buying whatever they had in their tiny selection. I could not get enough of the artwork and stories. I continued to watch anime and read manga. In 1999, I made my first cosplay for Halloween; it was a gijinka Pikachu. My first convention was Anime Central 2002, and I was yet another gijinka Pikachu. I had such a blast cosplaying at this convention that I went from attending cons once a year to up to six times a year. There is nothing more fun than making costumes, being your favourite characters, hanging out with friends and making new ones. It became an addiction.

On Fashion: Ever since I could remember, my mother owned an endless amount of Louis Vuitton bags, and always went to special occasions in St. John dresses. When my older sister reached college, her closet suddenly overflowed with Dolce and Gabana, Versace, and Marc Jacobs. When I was 10-years-old, a band (the Smashing Pumpkins) was my world. I saw their guitarist walk the runway for Anna Sui, and fell in love...with the clothes! I wanted so badly to have clothes like the guitarist wore, and at 11-years-old, I designed and sewed my first garment with the help of my mother. I also received my very first Anna Sui shirt, sporting an anime girl on a futuristic motorcycle. I never stopped sewing since...or aquiring designer clothing, for that matter ^_^;. I have been sewing since 1995, and am mostly self-taught. However, the foundation for my sewing skills came from my mother, my grandmother, and a home economics class I took in sixth grade.