Rikku-chan

I'm a Photography major/Studio Art minor at UIC. I love Chicago and hope to never live anywhere else besides maybe Boston. I frequently drown myself in all the cultural and artistic experiences the city offers. I have two little sisters whom I adore and wish I could get them to cosplay. My Con Family are some of my best friends and I wouldn't trade any of them for the world! I love meeting new people, especially fellow photographers and cosplayers, so feel free to say hi!

I love doing fashion photography and cosplay photography, so if you'd like a shoot send me a pm!

Add me on LJ!: Perky_thief (comment first!)
DeviantArt: xRikku-chanx
Cosplay/cosplay photography website: www.TotallyToasty.com
Photography/Art Website: www.MaCherieArielle.com

What got you into cosplay?
Back in 7th grade I got into Final Fantasy and Chobits and as I was google-ing pictures of various characters from both series and pictures of cosplay popped up and curiosity got the best of me!!
What was your first costume and why?
Belldandy was technically my first one, but I don't really count it since I didn't really make it seeing as my old best friend bascially did! So instead I count my first version of FFX as my first! I made her myself entirely, started when I was 15. I was SO PROUD of that costume even though it was a piece of crap! Rikku is still my favorite character, espeically her in FFX. I always felt I could relate to Rikku's personality and being a usually shy kid it was one of the first times I really felt like I stood out and felt confident!
What is your favorite costume and why?
True form Midna, FFX Rikku version 2 and Asuka definitely. Midna was a true test of my skills and dedication as a cosplayer as it really involved costuming skills as well as acting to portray a character. It's my pride and joy and I'm really proud of myself for allowing myself to try something new and difficult! FFX Rikku solely because I adore her and her design in particular! I really wanted to make it extra perfect, not sure if I achieved that but I tried to add as much details as I could to make it really accurate, it needs some work though. Asuka because I never have felt "sexy" really before in any costume. Oddly enough it's a really empowering feeling and you just feel so confident in yourself! A lot of work went into that costume too and first time working with that material! Plus I get to wear it with the best Rei EVAR, Hiyoko-chan!!!
Do you have a dream costume you'd like to make?
-Princess Garnet in her white gown -Rikku and her FFX-2 Machina Maw -FFX Rikku's wetsuit -Shiva from FFX -Amano Rydia -Completely handbeaded individual scaled Mermaid tail -more modest version of Test Plugsuit Asuka
What has been your most memorable cosplay experience?
ACEN 2007 with my YRP!! It was Hiyoko-chan as Yuna, Miyuka as Paine, and me as Rikku! it was AMAZING! I couldn't have asked for anything better or more fun! It still amazes me that Acen 2007 is where everything started! I met some of my closest/best friends out of that con! Ohayocon 2008!! I met my best friends there and realized that my now one-and-only (Gipps! aka Mike) liked me then! It was a fantastic con!! ^^ Otakon 2009! Didn't cosplay much but I loved hanging out with my con family and taking photos!
Do you participate in masquerades?
I did once or twice, but I don't like putting competition into cosplay. I think they're more fun to watch!! =)
What was your best masquerade experience?
My friend and I did a little skit in our FFX Rikku/Yuna costumes! (I was Rikku of course!) and we won first place!! YAY!! =D and at Reactor 07, I randomly met a really cute Yunie! so we just did the catwalk thing together!!
Have you won any awards for your costumes?
Yes! My FFX Rikku version 1 won first place at a mini-con that all the highschool anime clubs in my area held! Then in 2008 my Psychic'er Rikku won an Honorable Mention there!
Tell us a little about yourself
I'm a Photography major/Studio Art minor at UIC. I love Chicago and hope to never live anywhere else besides maybe Boston. I frequently drown myself in all the cultural and artistic experiences the city offers. I have two little sisters whom I adore and wish I could get them to cosplay. My Con Family are some of my best friends and I wouldn't trade any of them for the world! I love meeting new people, especially fellow photographers and cosplayers, so feel free to say hi! I love doing fashion photography and cosplay photography, so if you'd like a shoot send me a pm!
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Hiyoko-chan and I's cosplay/photography website: WWW.TOTALLYTOASTY.COM LJ: Perky_thief (leave a comment so I know who you are!^^) DA: xRikku-chanx
My favorite anime
Absolute Boyfriend, Fushigi Yugi, Chobits, DN Angel, Alice 19th, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, Ah! My Goddess, Fruits Basket, Red River, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Blood +, Utawarerumono, Studio Ghibli films, Chrno Crusade, Scrapped Princess, D-Grayman,
My favorite game(s)
Final Fantasy X, Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Harvest Moon, Sims 2, Age of Empires, Cooking Mama, ODIN SPHERE, Taiko Drum Master, Civilizations for PS3, Final Fantasy 9, Final Fantasy 8, Final Fantasy X-2
My favorite book(s)
ERAGON, Great and Terrible Beauty, Claidi Journals, Harry Potter, Sabriel, East, Fire Bringer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Illumination, (not to mention MANGA!)
My favorite character(s)
Rikku, Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Tohru (Fruits Basket), Fai D. Flowrite, Yuna, Gippal, Balthier, Fran, Paine, Princess Garnet/Dagger, Han Solo, Christian Bale as Batman, Lulu, Squall, Nuriko (Fushigi Yuugi)
My favorite movies(s)
Batman Dark Knight, Stardust, The Little Mermaid, Terminator, Howl's Moving Castle, Titanic, The Notebook, Indiana Jones, Ever After, Gattaca, Anastasia, Thumbelina, Little Women, 10 Things I Hate About You, Corpse Bride, Penelope, Repo! The Genetic Opera
My favorite actors/actresses
Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Harrison Ford, Heath Ledger,