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I am very happy, proud and honored to inform you guys and girls that I got a chance to do an interview with the talented female UK cosplayer Bryony Harris (thanks Sharn for getting the boll rolling!). So during our interview we talked about Bryony’s journey to the ICL (International Cosplay League) final’s in Spain (Bryony is representing Team UK, and the ICL final takes place by the end of September at the Japan Weekend Madrid event), her history with cosplaying, video games and Gaming in general.

So without further ado, please enjoy our interview with Bryony =)

Robin TGG

We’re going to kick-off this interview by letting you introduce yourself to our readers. So, please go ahead and do so =)

Bryony

So I guess short and sweet is easiest for now to avoid spoiling any later questions haha, I’m Kaldorei Cosplay, I’ve been cosplaying for six years, and I’m a huge nerd from England.

Robin TGG

When, where, how and why did you get into cosplay? And for how long have you cosplayed?



Bryony

My first real contact with cosplay was at an MCM event in London. I hadn’t been to anything like to before so wasn’t really sure what to expect. I was awe-struck by the costumes, and the community attached to it. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and I truly wanted to be a part of that. Eventually, I started entering competitions, which has really pushed my need for creativity and makes me aim for bigger and better costumes every time.

Six years down the line I have two wardrobes full of costumes and barely any space for ‘normal’ clothes, so I definitely can’t say it hasn’t been time well spent.

Robin TGG

On the 27th of May, it became known that you managed to qualify for the ICL final, and that you would be joining the talented Maker & Muse Cosplay and Woodsmoke and Words Cosplay representing team UK. Well, if I’m not wrong now, it was thanks to your cosplay as Aloy right? Other than that, what do you feel when you found out about the news that you have qualified for the ICL final? And what do you think about your chances of winning the ICL final?

Bryony

Yeah it was a rather a shock as it was a last-minute entry into the competition as it was, my friends just kept saying you should at least try and see if you can enter, etc., etc., and I was allowed to enter and here I am now, so I can’t begrudge them for pushing me, I guess.

Heat aside from the unfortunate temperature at the time of year and the millions of layers to the costume, I was really shocked when I heard as there were so many talented entrants into the competition, it took me a short while to even register they’d said my name. I am very excited to go for the final in Spain, and I’m so happy I get to represent team UK.

I guess a lot of it is going to come down to luck at the end of the day. I’m there to have fun as my main focus, but that isn’t to say I’m not going to give it my all! And the most I can say for the costume for now, is it’s another huge challenge and a bit of a leap in skills for me, but if it turns out anything like the mad images in my head and note-book, I should do the UK proud.

Robin TGG

Here’s a follow-up question about your Aloy cosplay. How did that cosplay happen? Did it take a long time to make? And are you a huge fan of “Horizon Zero Dawn”?



Bryony

The idea for the Aloy costume came about after watching the first trailer from E3, I fell in love with the style immediately and knew it had to be done. In total it took about four months to make, the costume was initially made for the World Cosplay Masters final in Lisbon Portugal. Yes absolutely, I’ve lost far too many hours to that video game. I even had a major fangirl freak out when Guerilla games sent me a note and gift after seeing my costume, I also slightly tore the note in my excitement by mistake…

Robin TGG

Which of your cosplays are you the most proud of and why? And do you prefer to cosplay as game, anime, comic or movie characters the most?

Bryony

My favorite costume has to be my World of Warcraft Night Elf druid, mainly because it was such a challenge to make, and I had to basically fully transform myself with pointy ears, purple skin and fangs. It is also the costume which I met a lot of my close friends in so it means a lot to me in many ways.

I personally prefer games as it’s where a lot of my time goes, basically if Blizzard makes it, then I normally play it and then want to do a costume from it.

Robin TGG

May I ask which of your cosplays that has taken you the most time to make? And have you ever tossed in the towel on a cosplay before? (perhaps it didn’t turn out the way that you wanted, lack of time, and so on).

Bryony

The longest costume I’ve had to make is one I’m still currently working on two years down the line. It’s an orc warrior from World of Warcraft and just all the small details I’m working through are eating so much time and casting body parts like teeth and ears has been an educational roller coaster.

There have been a few times I’ve had falling outs with costumes, but I’ve never quit on them just shelved/ hid them until the motivation returns to try again.

Robin TGG

Based on your past cosplay pictures, I take it that you like “World of Warcraft” a whole lot? If so, have you played Wow for a long time? And do you still play it? And what was it that made you start playing WOW?



Bryony

Like is not the word I’d use, I think obsessed may be fairer. I’ve been playing WoW for 14 years now not even ashamed to admit that, I do play it still just not as regularly as I’d like due to ‘adulating’. It was actually my dad who originally got me into it (I was 11 at the time). We used to play together very late into the evening we raided from Molten Core to Ice Crown Citadel, and this has spiraled from there.

Robin TGG

What games have you enjoyed the most so far this year? And do you have any favorite game titles or game series? And which game genres do you prefer to play?

Bryony

I’ve spent a lot of this year playing Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, getting far too sucked into exploring and side quests, cursing Korok seeds for the rest of my life. Outside of WoW, I’d say it has to be Tomb Raider, which has always been a favorite and a huge inspiration for me. My favorite genre had to be anything fantasy/RPG exploring style games. I like having freedom of choice and action in games.

Robin TGG

Do you remember how it all started for you in terms of finding a liking to Gaming and video games? (your first game, your first console, and so on).

Bryony

The first game I remember playing has to be Spyro the Dragon, I am beyond hyped for the remake this year. I may have had a little cry when the trailer came out. I remember as a child rushing home from school just to get extra time playing it and then getting shouted at for not doing school work.

Robin TGG

I also noticed that you have made a really awesome cosplay as Lara Croft. So I simply have to ask you which “Tomb Raider” games that you like the most? And what would you like to see from the next “Tomb Raider” game? (where it takes place, which direction the series will take next, etc.).



Bryony

My favorite Tomb Raider has to be the anniversary game, just for the nostalgia and joy I got from seeing the originals completely remastered. As for the next game I’d love to see more of Lara developing as a character, she has more depth to her these days and a much better polygon ratio. I would love to see dinosaurs again. Still, I know that goes against the realism theme, but it can’t hurt to hope.

Robin TGG

Now that I think about it, you have cosplayed as a lot of strong female characters (you have even cosplayed as Xena!). So do you have any favourites when it comes to strong female video game protagonists?

Bryony

I have a major soft spot for evil women with authority, such as Maghda, Widowmaker and the Warsong Commander. I think the main reason I like this is its such a polar opposite to me in real life where I’m relatively timid and shy until I get costumed up that is. I’m also not too shy to admit I think I’m possibly the only person who’s a fan of Cersei Lannister.

Robin TGG

Is there any cosplayers that you look up to and take inserpation from? If so, who? And why? And which cosplayers do you like the most on the cosplay scene?

Bryony

Yaya Han is one of my biggest inspirations. She’s very cosplay positive. Furthermore, she encourages anyone to give it a try regardless of look or skill level she’s just happy to see people taking part. Her work is also incredible. So it gives me something to drive my work towards.

Other cosplayers I’m a huge fan of are Lightning Cosplay because she’s super talented and has such a wide skill set. So it’s always great to watch her to try and learn new things to try.

Lilskaii Cosplay also is someone who inspires me. She’s my best friend, and we’ve done so much together its great to have someone who pushes me to be better and try as hard as we can to make each other hit deadlines, (Not always happening but we try).

Robin TGG

Are you a console, mobile or PC person? And which format do you spend the most time on?

Bryony

I am mainly a PC gamer, I’d say my time is an even split between PC and PS4. However, recently I have been trying to play a N64 for some classic games, which has been a learning experience to say the least.

Robin TGG

What games are you most excited about playing this year and during 2019?

Bryony

The first thing this year I’m looking forward to without doubt is the Battle For Azeroth WoW expansion. I’ve been waiting a long time for this the hype is real and its predominately focusing on my favorite character from the series Sylvanas Windrunner (FOR THE HORDE!).

I’m also really excited to see what Cyberpunk 2077 from Projekt Red is going to be like as I loved the Witcher, so I have high hopes for this. I’m currently catching up on E3. So I will most likelyt add more games to this list of mine shortly!

Robin TGG

What’s your hopes, expectations and plans for the rest of the year? And is there anything else that you would like to say to our readers?

Bryony

I’m planning on having a lot of fun in Madrid in the ICL finals regardless of the outcome. I’m more excited to meet the other competitors, make some new friends and hopefully learn a few new tricks and ideas.

I’m also hoping to qualify for ECG solos this year if the Cosplay gods allow it, I’ve got a lot of work to finish for it and I can feel the stage nerves already but I’m sure it will work out in the end. I mean what’s the worst that can happen right? Right?

To your readers, I’d like to say thanks for firstly taking the time to read this and get to know a little about me and my strange little world. If you have ever considered doing cosplay and are worried about how it turns out or anything. Then remember this, everyone starts somewhere. So regardless of what people say everyone is nervous the first time they out a new costume. So just get out and try it, because you never know how it’ll go until you do.

I’d also like to say thanks to you Robin and the guys at The Gaming Ground for this interview and opportunity to share the cosplay world with people.

Bryony Harris social media pages:

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Robin “V-Act” Ek

Editor in chief

The Gaming Ground

Twitter: @TheGamingGround

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Tags: Bryony Harris, Cosplay, Gamer, Gamers, Gaming, ICL, International cosplay league, Kaldorei Cosplay, Video games