Q: Your Name?
A: Yaya Han

Q: How old are you?
A: 25

Q: Any Internet Alias?
A: I use "angelicstar" as Username on some websites such as Cosplay.com

Q: Can you give us a brief description of yourself?
A: I am a Chinese costume designer/artist/model currently residing in Atlanta. I have always been a creative person and since I could remember have pursued the arts. It is my dream to make my passion for design a career.

Q: How long have you been cosplaying?
A: Since 1999

Q: How did you first learn about cosplay?
A: Technically I first cosplayed at a German convention, before I moved to the USA. I didn't know the term "Cosplay" back then, and simply dressed up as one of my favorite manga characters. Incidentally it was a male character, so my first cosplay experience was actually cross-play!

Q: How did you get "into" cosplay?
A: Before I ever knew Cosplay existed, I was a big anime/manga fan and avid artist. When I attended my first anime convention, throughout the weekend I kept seeing people dressed up as these cool anime characters! It really inspired me to expand my artistic interest into making costumes.

Q: What was your 1st costume? Why did you choose it? How was your first
experience?
A: I count two costumes as my first true Cosplay experience, which was for A-kon 2000 when I made Mill-chan from "Maze" and Mana from Malice Mizer's "Au Revoir" video simultaneously. Both were a great challenge because I really didn't know what I was doing and had to experiment with making up patterns, dye, lining, wig styling and cutting, appliques etc. before I ever learned about any of the above. But I think it was the trouble-shooting aspect that got me hooked on Cosplay after all.
I chose those costumes because I loved the Mana costume's design and I frequently karaoke'd songs from "Maze" at that time, so Mill-chan was an obvious tempting project.

Q: What is the most time you remember spending on one costume?
A: Probably over a month working on a costume consistanly every day after work (40 hour a week job).

Q: What is the most money you've ever spent on one costume?
A: Only about $600 - $700 which is a steal compared to some of my fellow Cosplayers' projects. Some of my most expensive outfits have been Yuna's wedding dress, Amethyst Enchantress, and Midnight Wings.

Q: What do you do for a living?
A: Currently I am freelancing in multiple fields - costume design and commissions, modeling, artwork (prints and commissions) and graphic design. It is tough just keeping up with what is due when for whom, but I love it so much more than working in the Corporate world. I hope to narrow things down by next year when I move to Las Vegas.

Q: What is your favourite costume to date? (or list your top favs and why)
A: I don't think I can pick a favorite costume of mine out of all of them; I love each for different reasons. Often my favorite is the one I am working on at the time.

Q: What is your least favourite costume to date?
A: Some of my early costumes were either rushed or not constructed very well, so I only wore them for one con and never again. I think my TM Revolution costume is probably one of my least favorites.

Q: Tell us about your most memorable cosplay experience yet.
A: The few times I have competed on stage, such as with the Angel Sanctuary skit or the Miyuki-chan in Wonderland skit. The prep for both was very stressful but being on stage after all that work, performing for fellow fans and being rewarded for your efforts was truly memorable.

Q: Tell us a cosplay "disaster" you've had happen to you.
A: So far I have been very lucky, as in no major wardrobe mal-functions or sewing-accidents have happened to me. The most disastrous things for me have been not finishing a costume on time and thus not wearing it to the con, or forgetting a part of a costume. But compared to some stories I've heard, this is nothing.

Q: Since becoming a cosplayer, what ways have you contributed to the
cosplaying community?
A: I think the best way I have helped contribute is through panels at cons where I share my experience and tips. I also have gotten many positive comments regarding the cosplay galleries on my website being insightful and inspiring, so that makes me feel great.

Q: Have you ever had any negative experiences from cosplay?
A: Certainly, like any other community, you run into negativity. When you've been around for a while in such a specific circuit as Cosplay, you have to kind of be aware of what you say and do. Small insignificant things can affect others in a much bigger way and be lasting. People read into your words and actions more than necessary sometimes. I think many Cosplayers put themselves out there receive a great deal of admiration, but also false judgment and prejudice. It is annoying, but I've long stopped worrying about it. Trying to connect and appeal to everyone is impossible, so I just put out what images and words I believe it and let people think what they want of it.

Q: Are there any cosplayers you cosplay with frequently?
A: I love cosplaying in groups so of course I have friends with whom I do it whenever we can coordinate it. Adella, Tristine Citrine, and the sisters from Firefly-Path are some of my cosplay buddies.

Q: Your wings are always breathtaking, how did you learn to make them?
A: I helped a friend make a pair of feather wings and we figured out the basics from that project. Later on I refined the technique until it worked out the best for me.

Q: Tell us about DayDream Artisans.
A: It is a Costuming Store my friends from www.Bountyhardware.com and www.Firefly-Path.com launched with me together earlier this year. All of us share a great love for costuming and creativity, and we combined our skills and knowledge to offer a well-rounded custom costuming service to others, a one-stop-shop with the highest quality in mind. The website and our customer base has been growing overwhelmingly fast and we hope to turn this into a professional business and career in the near future.

Q: What steps do you take when working on a new cosplay?
A: If the design is appealing or the character suits me and I decide to go for that costume, I do as much research as possible and get reference pictures together, then print them out and shop for the right materials, both locally and on the internet. I like to give myself a month to work on a couple of outfits together, that way if I get bored working on one I can switch to the other. If I need to order something for a costume, I try to do that even more ahead of deadline to ensure that it will get here on time. And sometimes I buy stuff for costumes I don't plan to make until a year or two from then because it might be hard to find that material/prop/wig. So as a result I have a lot of stuff waiting to be turned into costumes, lol.

Q: Can we get a teaser of costumes to expect you to make in the future?
A: I plan on making a number of costumes from Nene Thomas' artwork, including the outfit from the painting she did of me, "Aria". I also would like to make a new version of my Fire Fairy.

Q: Are there any costumes that make you sigh and think "one day..."?
A: Certainly there are costumes that I am saving for the right circumstances in the future. To be honest most of them are original designs that I'd like to make for my own enjoyment, but I also would like to make more costumes from movies and the sci-fi realm.

Q: What conventions do you attend? (regularily)
A: I love Anime Expo and Dragoncon, and have been to Ani-magic, Otakon and Katsucon multiple times. I'd like to check out more west coast cons as well as sci-fi/fantasy themed events next year.

Q: How many (roughly) have you attended to date?
A: 30 - 40 I'd say. I have never kept count actually, lol.

Q: What else do you do in your spare time?
A: I work a lot on different projects all the time, so when I am not doing my job/a photoshoot/sewing/working on art I like to read, play with my dog, go out with friends, try a new restaurant, check out a movie, go driving in the mountains, shopping etc. I also love to travel whenever possible.

Q: Are there any primary photographers you use?
A: There is one photographer, Kevin Stewart, with whom I have consistently worked with these past four years, who has inspired me and motivated me to new heights, and is one of my best friends. Kyle Johnsen, the admin of Cosplay.com, has also shot a few of my costumes.

Q: How long as your website, AngelicStar.net, been running?
A: It was launched in 2001 and has grown ever since. The main purpose for AngelicStar.net was to act as an up to date and growing Portfolio of Works.
When I first decided to create a website, it was for purely personal reasons: To collect photos of costumes I have made and worn, and to share my experiences with other hobbyists. Over the time, as the number of costumes grew, my interest shifted from simply recreating to design and modeling, reflected in the contents of AngelicStar.net today.

Q: What advice could you give to people interested in cosplay?
A: Keep in mind that this is just a fun hobby and should never take over your life or be taken more seriously than that. Always do as much research as you can (the internet holds the answer to all!), and when it comes to constructing a costume, don't be afraid to experiment. The problem solving is half of the fun, and very rewarding in the end.

Q: Could you share with us some of your cosplay resources?
A: I buy a lot of my fabric locally, either from Jo-ann's, Hancock's or a specialty fabric store. I recommend www.cosplay.com for quality wigs in a great selection, and www.electriqueboutique.com for shoes and boots of all kinds. Also, eBay is an invaluable source for anything and everything!

Q: The unevitable question... why do you cosplay?
A: Cosplay has given me countless wonderful things such as life-long friends, a career dream, and a myriad of skills and knowledge. While I've always expressed my creativity as an artist, 2-D art can only take you so far, and Cosplay incorporates so many different forms of crafts that stimulate and challenge me. I love the process of turning a design into reality, and I learn something new with each project.