Zaizai as Sumomo, Aira as Kotoko
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We all had our make-ups done at home, retouch at the venue.
We got to the mall at around 12pm I think. I got a bit cranky when I said that we should go inside already and confirm our pre-registration to make sure we get in the competition before getting dressed and whatnot, but they can't seem to decide on what to do. I guess they got overwhelmed by the number of people outside the hall. I was surprised for a moment to see such a crowd that early. Going inside the hall was another. It was so FULL OF PEOPLE!! XD XD If you fall on the floor you'll merge with it. XD
We only had our registrations confirmed and went outside right away, but before we did, I jumped with glee when I saw the taurpalin for my Sang'gre Alena cosplay that I submitted for the Animax Maximum Cosplay.
THE PLACE IS TOO JAMPACKEDCROWDED BEYOND WORDS! Inside the hall, outside, the whole fifth floor was full of cosplayers and event-goers. There were dressing rooms provided inside the hall, but we dared not go back in there.
We went to the third floor CR to get dressed in our costumes. Zaizai and Aira got changed first before I did. I only have to put on my shoes, pants, and wig anyway. After I did, I helped Tita Maya with her costume and make-up. It suddenly made me think twice about cosplaying characters that involves body paint XD She cosplayed Emily from Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride.
When I went out of the CR, I felt the people staring at me. Most probably my wig. It was really long @_@ Of course during the first hour it was still flowing wonderfully, even the partition at the back is obvious, but as soon as we went inside the event hall, my wig got caught up at almost everything it can get caught up in: bags, zippers, belts, props. It tangled like crazy, but at least the front was still okay.
Cameras everywhere. Flash here. Flash there. Smile, pose, smile. I thought I'm going to go blind with all the lights and flashes. The photo-ops never seemed to end especially when the three of us: Chii, Sumomo, and Kotoko got together. It was a blast! They all liked my costume and told me how cute I was :3 I feel very much accomplished with my Chii cosplay though I noticed that there are still parts I can improve on, like my ears and my skirt. I want it to be fluffier and bouncier.
Call time for cosplayers was at 4PM. We went inside about a quarter before. I was sooooo scared to go inside!! It's like you stand on one end, and then you'll be swayed towards the other end by the sea of people. It also did not help that my wig kept getting caught and tangled with other people's belongings and costumes.
It was hot, stuffy, crowded, and my legs hurt from standing too long - for the pictures and the catwalk. The Catwalk. I thought it was going to be like the 1st PCC with the cosplay tag and all. We even had a tag skit prepared but we did not get to do it. Cosplay tag was made effective on the later batch of cosplayers :0 Anyway, there's always the next convention to do it.
More photo-op outside. This time Cozy joined us. She's now feeling better and wore the Atashi cap Tita Maya made. I sat down on a corner so I can hold her on my lap. Within seconds, cameras surrounded us and took pictures of her. She is such a cutie anyway, and all throughout the photo-ops she was just playing with my basket and cookies. :) Sometimes she would stand up, smile at the camera and then sits back down on my lap, throwing the cookies around. We stayed like so for around 30 minutes before finally deciding to go down the third floor and get changed. The camera people had receded by then so it was okay to leave.
I see a friend once, and never again. It was that jampackedcrowdedfull!! There were so many cosplayers but I think majority didn't join the contest. Either that or part of the group cosplayers.
We got home early and was in bed by 9:30PM. We all had head aches and too sleepy and tired for anything else. We left our costumes in paperbags in the living room to clean up tomorrow. YUP I am most happy! I have waited for the perfect time to cosplay Chii. I prepared and waited for the perfect wig, costume, props. This costume took me half the year to plan and make. So I am very much happy even if I did not win anything. Then at around 11:30PM I received a phone call telling me that I won the first prize for the Animax Maximum Cosplay Resume Contest, then slumped back to bed. It was like, I was still in a dream. It was not until the winners were posted at the forums and saw my name that I finally believed I won! XD Here is my entry for the contest, special thanks to Presea for the beautiful photo of me.
I am definitely looking forward for the next Cosplay Mania event and I am hoping they will have two halls instead of one. Congratulations to the organizers, volunteers, and cosplayers!
