#FeatureFriday with KendelB

Today we get to share the first interview of the New Year, and I'm so honored to introduce KendelB! She's an amazingly talented cosplayer with a wide range of interests and an insane gift for her craft. Read the full interview below!

Hi! My name is KendelB and I’m a cosplayer from Georgia. I’m 20 years old and I’ve been cosplaying for about four years now.
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​How and when did you get into cosplay?
I’m not exactly sure how I found out about cosplay but I know that Jessica Nigri as Juliet Starling from Lollipop Chainsaw really inspired me to start. I looked more into cons and saw that people would dress up as their favorite anime and video game characters and I LOVED it.

I’ve always been a shy and timid person. I keep to myself, hardly talked, and I'm always be so awkward in crowds. Cosplaying however helped me get out of my shell. I love that I can get away from reality for a weekend and hang out with other people who have the same interests as me. I started taking cosplaying more seriously though in 2014. I began making my own costumes and wanted to make this into a full time job.

How did you come up with your cosplay name?
My cosplay name is pretty boring actually, my name is Kendel and middle name is Bonnie. So my mom always calls me KendelB, so I just used it.

What do you do when you're not in cosplay or geeking out?
I REALLY enjoy playing video games. Besides cosplaying, it’s my favorite thing to do.

What is your proudest cosplay accomplishment?
Teaching myself how to sew. I was so scared to start cosplaying because of sewing, but I just watched a lot of YouTube videos and learned from my failures.

What cosplay(s) are you working on right now?
KatsuCon is approaching and I’m making a LOT. I’m working on Alleria from WoW, Juvia from Fairy Tail, Uraraka from My Hero Academia, Froppy from My Hero Academia, and Esdeath from Akame ga Kill

Who is your cosplay idol/inspiration?
Kinpatsu 100%. Her work is flawless and she’s such a kind caring person that just wants to help everyone she can.

​What is your dream cosplay?
My favorite video game of all time is Nier Automata. I would love to make a super accurate 2B with her swords and Pod.

What is your favorite convention to attend and why?
My favorite convention would definitely be KatsuCon. It’s so beautiful and I love seeing all the amazing cosplays there.

Do you have any cosplay or convention pet peeves?
I can take people telling me I don’t look like a character and I shouldn’t cosplay them, it doesn’t bother me one bit. However when it’s directed to others, I can’t stand it. I hate when people say “You can’t cosplay this character because your chest is too small,” or “Your skin tone doesn’t match the character, don’t cosplay them,”. There are so many talented cosplayers out there who work so hard on making their costumes or just people who find joy in running around at cons as their favorite character. And for them to be belittled by these hateful people makes my eye twitch.

Do you have any horror stories or mistakes you've made that others can learn from?
A huge mistake I always make is waiting until the last minute to make something. A con is supposed to be fun and be a break from your stress in the real world, so get what you need to get done before you go to the convention!

Do you have any tips or words of encouragement for other cosplayers?
If cosplaying makes you happy, do it. It’s hard to explain cosplay to people and some may even find it weird. That’s ok though, be you and don’t change because of what others think. Wear your Naruto headband proudly and ninja run down a hallway.

Where can we find you on all things social?
Instagram: @KendelB
Facebook
Twitter: @_KendelB

All photos provided by Arcane_Shutter Photography.

She's so awesome. If you aren't already following her, now's your chance!! And if you know someone who deserves to be featured, send me a message with their name! Happy 2018 friends.