Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Q&A With Cosplayer and Model, Ireland Reid

If you're a regular visitor to the site, you know that I'm a big supporter of cosplayers and the cosplay community, so I'm really happy to share this Q&A I did with my friend Ireland Reid. She's not only a fantastic cosplayer, and stunning model, and supporter of mine, but she's a really funny down to earth person, and I adore the fact that she has no filter (you'll see). If you ever run in to her at a convention, be sure to say hi! For now, enjoy our Q&A...


What was your first cosplay or costume?
 I’ve been in costumes since I can remember as I was always in drama and theater in school. So I have been an Christmas Elf, Rabbit, etc (way to many to list man)


Who or what inspired you to cosplay?
 I have forever been bored with normal life attire and normal day to day clothes bore me. Making and modifying clothes to how I felt that particular day has always been something I have done. I especially love dressing up as other characters for fun. For example if I feel like being a badass DemiGod cocky motherfuckin asshole, I will gender bend Dante from DMC. lol.

What did you do before modeling and cosplay?
 Cosplay and modeling is only something I do part time believe it or not. It is not my full time job, lol. I am currently in my Master’s program for my MBA specializing in Marketing and Finance and am a hardware component engineer.

If you weren't doing this, what would you be doing?
 I’ve been doing this my whole life off and on, it would be weird not to do it. I don’t think I could live lol.

How much of your costumes do you create yourself?
 I would say 99% of them. Some things I can’t fabricate such as belt buckles etc.

What is your next cosplay, and are there any dream costumes you'd like to make in the future?
 My cosplay unveils are always a surprise so lips are sealed. My ideas keep me up 22 hours everyday so there are many I want to do. 

Are their any aspects of the costume making process that you can't do, but really want to learn?
 There are many I am familiar with but def would love to practice more such as lightening and metal working. 

Where are some exciting places your cosplay career has taken you?
 All over the world! London was pretty amazing, no lie but that was on my bucket list to begin with XD

What are some of your favorite conventions to attend or guest at?
 They are all honestly. I love all the peeps in the community!

Besides cosplay, what other nerdy stuff are you into? Gaming? Comics?
 
 Gaming for sure, comics, TCGs both physical and online based, Manga, Anime, etc

As your friend and fan, I see you taking on a ridiculous workload.
What do you do in your down time, if any?
 
 I don’t have down time. It is something that disturbs me when I do have it. I just feel like I have so much I need to do, to learn, to experience that things such as sleep stops me from doing all this. 

Do you have any favorite cosplayers?
 I LOVE ALL COSPLAYERS! The energy is fucking amazing!

What advice would you offer to a new cosplayer?
 Do the damn thing for you, nobody else! Have fun with it! Mash it up, be creative, buy it, whatever! Just have fun with it! Positive vibes!

Thanks for the time. Before we wrap, do you want to plug or add anything?
 I would like to take this moment to thank…..YOU! The reader, the believer, the dreamer! Thanks for everything! Hey Steve, keep doing your damn thing man! Much love! XX If you want to follow my crazy-ass adventures, I’m a social media whore, so you can find me every where. www.irelandreid.com, Facebook.com/officialirelandreid, Insta @irelandreid, Twitter @Irelandreid  


Steve Strout is the media mastermind behind this site, host of the Comic Book Swap Meet, nerd, terrible artist, gamer, convention goer and comic book reader who spends more time rescuing toys from thrift shops than a normal adult should. He is also known around the northwest for his promotion of live music and stand-up comedy events and is the creator/producer of the Comic Book Swap Meet mini convention, and Olympic Peninsula Comedy Competition (which will make it's big return in 2015). Follow him on Instagram at 
http://instagram.com/thestevestrout, and  He can be reached for comments at ptcomedy@yahoo.com on twitter at @thestevestrout