DCN: With Raven finally getting her live action debut on the upcoming Titans series, she will be introduced to a whole new generation of future cosplayers. Do you think there will be any added pressure to portray this character?
DCN: How long have you been cosplaying? What was your first ever project?
My first ever cosplay from scratch project was Sorin the Planewalker for a local event! It was a learning curve haha!
DCN: What has been your favorite cosplay project so far?
SOPHII: This is a hard one but I think I’d have to say my Dragonair Gijinka! #OhMySquad (my Patreons) chose the character and it was the first time I was able to really design a costume from scratch. It was so much fun and I loved seeing my vision come to life!
DCN: You recently created a Nightwing cosplay. What made you choose to gender swap this iconic character?
SOPHII: Oh man, Nightwing. I love Nightwing and have wanted to cosplay him for so long. Years ago I bought a Nightwing bodysuit and hated it – so it stayed in the back of my cosplay closet – I had considered just selling it. But one evening I was looking through and inspiration struck – Nightwing was in the circus! So I redesigned the character and altered the bodysuit into something new and fun!
DCN: How long did it take you to put these cosplays together?
SOPHII: Dragonair took about two weeks as I was working on Raven at the same time! Nightwing took one night as it was mostly just altering and adding!
DCN: What is it about cosplay that calls to you?
SOPHII: Two big things. The art and the people. I love sitting at home, watching Hulu and building my dream cosplays – and I love getting to conventions and being surrounded by all these incredibly creative people! The community is unlike any other!
DCN: Do you have a favorite memory or story while cosplaying?
SOPHII: I do! Cosplay has always been for me. I do it because I love it and never really thought beyond that. I had the honor of being a guest at O Comic Con earlier this year and was able to meet one of the wonderful ladies from the CosLadies Community group I run on Facebook (alongside several other fantastic ladies) – later that evening she sent me the most incredible message about how my cosplay and my group had helped her and thanked me. I didn’t realize I was inspiring anyone, that was a pretty deep moment for me!
I also rescue and fosters animal! I’m really passionate about getting little fluffies into forever homes!
DCN: How do your friends and family feel about you cosplaying? Are they supportive?
SOPHII: Everyone around me is so incredibly supportive! My husband and our close group of friends come with me to conventions and spend their free time helping out at my booth and photo shoots. My parents and grand parents are my biggest fans, haha. It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many people who support and lift me in my crazy cosplay endeavors!
DCN: Do you have a pet peeve when it comes to cosplay?
SOPHII: Elitists. Cosplay is for everyone and everyone has different goals when it comes to this subjective art. Don’t tell someone else how they should cosplay… EVER. Be supportive of your fellow cosplayers. There is room for EVERYBODY to be successful and have fun. Support is key!
DCN: Do you have any cosplays you will never do and why?
SOPHII: I’ve decided I will never say never, haha. I said I’d never cosplay Harley Quinn again but alas, I’m working on a Harley concept right now haha.
DCN: Why do you think cosplay has become so popular over the last few years?
SOPHII: I definitely think the show ‘Heroes of Cosplay’ helped move cosplay into mainstream – but aside from that, the popularity of conventions was growing faster than ever after 2010 and more people felt comfortable joining in on the fun!
DCN: Which DC character may we see next from you?
SOPHII: Definitely Harley Quinn!
I want to give a huge thanks to Oh My Sophii for taking the time to answer these questions. Be sure to check out her work on her social media sites below:
