1) How did you get into cosplaying?
I had been working in the cosmetics industry for around 4 years when I decided I wanted to teach myself SFX Make Up. I loved horror films, I had already crated a few zombies and chosen to go as Stephen King’s Carrie for Halloween one year. To practice techniques, I followed a chelsea smile tutorial, and turned this into a Joker look.
Meanwhile, I’d noticed a girl I went to school with had dressed up as SS Harley for Halloween. She looked amazing! We only spoke every couple of months, but Oliva was someone who just understood me. I was in Portugal visiting family when I noticed it was MCM Comic Con the weekend I returned to the UK. I joked with Olivia that we should go as Harley and The Joker, but before we could even think about it I had already bought tickets and ordered myself a green wig.
Sat in the car with a white face, mis matching eye shadow but completely normal clothing, we convinced ourselves that we were totally overdressed. However, looking back now, my Joker “cosplay” was just terribly bad! My Ledger style scars drew some attention, we were stopped for photos and even filmed for a cosplay music video. It was like another world, putting on a mask and you could just escape reality for a few hours. The whole thing was so alien to us, but we fell in love with it. I remember on the journey home, we were so overwhelmed at just how nice the community was, how accepting and friendly everyone was. From there it just became an addiction.
2) Where do you get your inspiration and ideas to cosplay from? Is it from programs you watch now or childhood programs or both?
My main inspiration is my own imagination. None of my Harley’s are strictly based on a single version of her. I love inventing new looks and styles for her with a splash of my own personality. I also love an excuse to wear these crazy outfits I could never even dream of wearing in my normal life.
As I meet more people within the community I’m constantly inspired by their creativity and fresh ideas. I don’t watch an awful lot of TV, but when I do, I become addicted to whole seasons. I’ve done Carl from TWD and I also have an OITNB cosplay in the pipeline. I try to chose characters that either I can relate to or maybe resemble in some way. I just usually chose the characters I love.
My childhood doesn’t inspire my cosplay that much. I grew up watching The Labyrinth and reading Where The Wild Things Are. I also watched a lot of Disney but I don’t feel that inspired to become a princess. Horror films and gore inspire me a lot more. But, hey, who knows, maybe I’ll do Max from Wild Things one day!
3) How do you put your outfits together are they 100% from scratch and if so what’s been your trickiest part to date?
I don’t sketch my ideas, I just keep a mental mood board in my head. It usually works. I keep a lot of images on my phone, as I see things that inspire me I just add them to my camera roll.
I do try and create a lot of bits myself, but I have such a talented selection of latex specialists, wig stylists, prop makers etc that I like utilise their skills too. I love to collaborate with different designers as it’s a great way to showcase each others work but also freshen up ideas, two heads are better than one after all.
My biggest challenge to date had to be Ivy’s pants. I know a lot of other people struggle with this too as I’ve had many messages asking how I made them, and we all have the same problem. Due to the elastic in the pants, after you’ve attached the leaves and pull them up, the glue doesn’t move with the elastic and they just all snap and fall off! My only solution to this was to hot glue the leaves on while I was wearing the pants! I would not recombined this to anyone unless you want hot glue burns below the waist! The worst of it, I’m going have to remake the damn things as they didn’t survive two solid days at a con and a photoshoot!
4) What’s your favourite cosplay to date?
That’s a really tough one! I would say Harley because I love her personality, plus her outfit is just so much fun. Her wig is so bloody fabulous too! But ultimately, it has to be Ivy, although she’s probably my most uncomfortable outfit to date! She was my first full cosplay, I made the costume myself, and she’s so glamourous. I’m very proud of that cosplay.
5) If you’ve cosplayed at a convention what was the experience like?
I’ve never not cosplayed at a convention! I couldn’t imagine going in human clothes! For me it’s a must because it gets you talking to new people! I love meeting people in the same costume as myself, or characters I love. I have a few characters I always look out for at cons!
My friend and I tend to have an “all out” cosplay for the main day (Saturday) and a “comfy cosplay” for the day we travel home. For my last Con I chose Carl as my comfy cosplay. It was nice, because although I wasn’t stopped as much it gave me the opportunity to really explore the convention hall. People loved the make up, it’s very different playing a really glam character one day and one who’s had their eye shot out the next!
Meet ups are a big thing at conventions, although due to my anxiety I haven’t made it to one yet! I always catch up on the awesome photos people get, but I’m not quite ready for it myself yet. I’m hoping to make some DC ones in October.
I’ve met some incredible people at cons due to being in cosplay that I probably wouldn’t have spoken to if I was out of costume. I always say to myself “where would I be if I hadn’t put Ivy together?” They have really become some of my closest friends and I’m most thankful to cosplay for that.
6) Can we expect to see you at any conventions this year?
I may be going to Sheffield con in a few weeks, whether I go on my own, with a friend or whatever is all still up in the air at the moment. However if I’m getting the train then I may have to choose a comfy cosplay!
I will 100% be attending both MCM London and Birmingham at the end of this year. I have a brand new Harley in the works, so I’m excited to take her to London for the first time! Old favourites like Ivy will be coming along to London too.
7) If you could cosplay as anyone and budget wasn’t an issue who would it be?
I know D.Va could be the new Harley, but seriously, how awesome would be D.Va but with an actual working robot?! Imagine, you could hop in and out, move around in it…..
Mercy also has an insane costume. There would be so many options if money wasn’t an object. However money doesn’t bring connections, even with all the money in the world, I’d still need to find someone to build this robot for me! Realistically though, cosplay is an expensive hobby, I want to get more into armoured work, so if anyone fancies throwing some Worbla in my direction that would be great!
8) Do you have any words of advice for up and coming cosplayers?
I still consider myself as an up and coming cosplayer, but I have learnt a few things. Network and talk to people! Don’t be afraid to say hello, or in my case, drop your hotdog and sprint across the hall screaming “Ricckkkkkk! Rickk!!” I get a little over excited when I see cosplays that are just too real to be true! But seriously, I’ve made some of the best friends from conventions, so don’t avoid the social events and always be yourself!
Buy good wigs. I cannot express to you how much a wig can make or break your entire cosplay. Really think about how you can cross over certain wigs for different outfits if you want to save a little cash. Also, help people and utilise your own skills. Go to town on what you are good at, hence why I always go overboard on my make up for cosplays. But if you can make amazing armour, then armour the crap pout of your cosplay!
Don’t take it too seriously. I’ve heard rubbish being said about my cosplays on social media, commenting on my looks or my weight. It could so easily knock me out of the game, but I always remind myself that these are just trolls, with nothing good to say. I try not to take on board the hateful comments and really focus on the good ones. Don’t feel like you have to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable just to get your cosplay noticed! Stay true to you.
9) Where can we find you online?
- Instagram – Hannah.indigo
- Facebook – Hannah Indigo Cosplay
- Snapchat – indigo27
There you go readers Hannah Indigo Cosplay! Don’t be shy go say hi and say ‘Skatronixxx sent me!’
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