#FeatureFriday with Jenna Breanne Cosplay

Today I get to feature another gorgeous Steampunk Princess from the group. The gorgeous Jenna Breanne of Fitz Cosplays, who was Rapunzel in our group earlier this year, shares her story below!

How and when did you get into cosplay?
Well my family has always been Halloween/costume enthusiasts but never knew about cosplay until I started going to comic conventions. The first year my sister and I had some free time before a con was in 2012 and we dressed up for Calgary Expo. Since then I was hooked and have been building costumes ever since then.

How did you come up with your cosplay name?
I just ended up using my Instagram name that I already had made which is just my first and middle names. And then for the facebook page that I share with my sister we used a variation of our mothers maiden name

What do you do when you're not in cosplay or geeking out?
I work as admin at an university for my day job.

My main hobby that I love doing is snowboarding. Luckily I live so close to the mountains so I can get once a week during the ski season. I love snowboarding so much I actually got my teaching certification in snowboarding a couple years ago and work part time as an instructor at a local hill.

I am also a big history buff so I whenever I have the funds I try to travel to lots of places that have lots of history.

What is your proudest cosplay accomplishment?
My very first big cosplay that I ever made was a Brightest Day Hawkgirl and I made these 5 feet tall wings and made the helmet. It took me six months as I had to attach each feather on individually but to this day that costume is still my favourite cosplay of the ones I have ever made.  

Also when I cosplayed as Hope Summers at Calgary Expo 2014 David Finch asked for a photo with me. I based my costume off his variant and kept missing my chance to wait in his line to get an autograph (due to prior commitments) I was pretty excited about it. I could barely talk I was so stoked.

What cosplay(s) are you working on right now?
I am working on a version DC superhero Girl Batgirl for Otafest and a rebirth Starfire for Edmonton Expo.

Who is your cosplay idol/inspiration?
It is going to sound cheesy, but I usually get inspired a lot by my friends. They always seem to be create these amazing cosplays, know how to take great photos in (something I am still working on as I am always so awkward in photos) and are always trying new skills/techniques. So I always try and push myself to keep improving myself to keep up with their quality of work.  

What is your dream cosplay?
I’ve always wanted to have a trio and us have do the golden eagle armor of Wonder Woman, Donna Troy and Cassie Sandsmark. I think would be so epic if we could pull it off, but sadly right now I don’t have the time to commit to that large of a build.

What is your favorite convention to attend and why?
I would have to say Edmonton Expo as it has a feel of the bigger conventions that I go to but it is still small enough that you can spend a lot more time meeting/chatting with people.

Do you have any cosplay or convention pet peeves?
I don’t like it when there is a big group cosplayers and someone when they are taking photo asks one of the cosplayers to step out of the shot. Unless they step out themselves or ask if you want them in the photo (as they are a different genre) I find it rude to ask someone to move out of the way.

I also hate when I finish building my costume and realize that I did not include an easy way to go to the washroom without taking the whole thing off. I usually then have to dehydrate myself before the con so I don’t have to take off my costume as little as possible.

Do you have any horror stories or mistakes you've made that others can learn from?
I’ve made many mistakes lol. I always seem to think I am bigger than I actually am so when I build things they tend to be a lot bigger than they need to big. Like I made a set of wings that were so long that I actually could go up or down stairs and inclines.

I also remember not bothering to invest in a heat gun/read up how it is best to use thermoplastics like worbla. So when I first started using them I would either boil them on my stove or heat them in my oven and then throw the super-hot pieces on my body to form and cool. I had so many burns on my body ha ha.

Do you have any tips or words of encouragement for other cosplayers?
Don’t be afraid to different materials. I used bondo, spray foam and sintra for all my build before I even heard you could use worbla/craft foam to make your costumes and I still prefer to those materials for lots of my props.  

Also online tutorials are great but I have found what works for some people don’t usually work for me and will use them as starting points. You know your own strengths and weaknesses so if a tutorial talks about using __ and you don’t think that technique, either use one you like or find another tutorial that works for you.

Do you have anything else you want to say, or add to this interview?
I think the most important thing about Cosplay is having fun. It doesn’t matter if people recognize your character or how many people are impressed by how large of a build it is. I mean one of my favourite things to do with my costumes is to do mashups of two genres and they aren’t the most recognizable. If you enjoy doing it then do it and don’t let other people get to you. Also once you no longer doing it just take a break as it is a hobby and hobbies shouldn’t have a negative impact on your life.

Where can we find you on all things social?
Instagram: @jenna_breanne
Twitter: @Jenna_breanne_
Facebook

Photos provided by Clear as Rain, Photographer Thistle,  and Ashley of Fitz Cosplays.

Check out the interviews I've done with some other Steampunk Babes:
Alana Waffles
Nica Stone
Noble Actions