Feature Friday: Captain Lauren
Feature Fridays are a go again, meaning I have more than one for the entirety of the month lined up and ready to go! Today, I get to feature a lady I’ve been asking to be a feature for months. I’m so excited. Basically, from the moment I first met her at a con I have been in love with her costumes. Captain Lauren puts so much passion and talent into her work, and she is also enthusiastic and the sweetest personality.
Captain Lauren
What is your cosplay name? Captain Lauren
How did you come about your cosplay name? Back in 2012-2013 was when I entered my weeaboo phase during my freshman year of high school. I was super into One Piece and my best friend and I would joke that I was her captain and she was my first mate. I put “captain” in front of my name and then the rest is history. Unfortunately, some mom on instagram who hasn’t posted in 6 years has the IG handle @captainlauren so I’m stuck with @_captainlauren.
What is your real world name? Lauren, although I am Boo Boo the Fool as well.
What do you do when you aren’t cosplaying? Right now I’m an Exercise Science Major at the University of South Carolina so my time is pretty taken up with studying and school. I’m also trying to graduate early so that doesn’t help with my work load. When I finally get a chance to relax and breath I like to play League of Legends, and I just started working out more so that’s becoming a second hobby.
How old are you? 19
How long have you been cosplaying? I’ve been cosplaying for roughly 5 years, although I would say that my skills began to pick up about 3 years ago.
What made you want to start cosplaying? I heard about an anime con in my hometown, and wanted to check it out. I knew people dressed up, so I threw together a Luffy cosplay from One Piece, realized how fun it was, and thus began my involvement in one of the most expensive hobbies I could have chosen.
What was your first cosplay and where did you wear it at? Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece) at Nashicon 2012.
Why do you continue to cosplay? I really love being able to see myself as a character. Who doesn’t want to wear super cool clothes for a day? A character who is so much more confident than I am and someone I can really try to embody.
How has cosplay had a positive impact on your life? Not on my bank account lol. I’ve managed to meet my second family through cons. Cosplay has also given me such a confidence booster; I feel like I can talk to anyone when I’m in cosplay! Also all the tactile skills (especially sewing!) is very useful.
What is your dream cosplay? The life fiber override version of Satsuki from KLK. Also Captain Fortune from League of Legends.
How do you choose who you will cosplay? Does it look cool? Is it expensive? Will it be really hot and uncomfortable? Then sign me UP. Really though, I am a sucker for color schemes and clothing pieces that just look cool? I don’t really know how to put it. Usually, I’ll have all these plans and then never actually do them, and focus on the ones that are actually in my skill range.
What is your next cosplay? This is always subject to change because I change cosplans so often, BUT I’m torn between Blood Moon Diana and Captain Fortune from League of Legends.
What is your favorite cosplay you have done so far? Why? I love my Nidalee cosplay I just did because it was so much fun to wear because it had a lot of (simple) elements so it wasn’t too terrible to make but really eye-catching.
Who is your favorite cosplayer/ cosplayer that inspires you? Probably Kinpatsu Cosplay. She’s the only Patreon I pledge. She cranks out cosplays so quickly and immaculately I’m always amazed, and when I get get tutorials at the end of the month it seems so doable that it inspires me to build bigger cosplays and just break them down into simple parts.
What’s the hardest thing about cosplay for you? The constant fear I’ll have a massive wardrobe malfunction. Also, I’m a chronic procrastinator so sleepless nights before every con!
What is the best advice you have for other cosplayers? Everyone is “terrible” at first or whenever they try a new technique. Just keep trying because honestly no one will notice most of your mistakes anyway. A lot gets lost in photography so 9/10 times. Don’t worry about the small details or slip ups. People are just happy to see someone as their favorite character.
What is the one convention/cosplay pet peeve the world could live without? When people ask for a photo and put their arm around you without asking. I’m okay with it from a personal safety standpoint (I don’t feel physically violated), but please ask first! Something could be very fragile on a cosplay, or body paint could smear all over both of us.
Top 5 resources/tutorials you have found for cosplay help? Cosplaytutorial.com, YouTube, Kamui Cosplay’s books (ebooks are really cheap like $5), Kinpatsu Cosplay’s Patreon, and honestly for a 5th just google the character name, add cosplay to the end, go on google images, and look at the photography to see how people incorporated the design into the real world and what they may have added or excluded.
Anything else you want to add? I always tell people never to get upset if someone has a mean comment about their cosplay because if someone is upset about the way you are dressing up as a FICTIONAL CHARACTER they have more problems than your vest that may be one shade of blue off.
Check out Lauren’s social media below. Leave a comment for her (or me!) below, and don’t forget to subscribe via email or Bloglovin’ to never miss a post.
Captain Lauren’s Social Media:
Instagram: @_captainlauren