Cosplayer of the Week: Kimmy Marie Franklin
90SHARESLeo Nocedo : How did you discover cosplaying?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I discovered cosplaying in high school by finding out from friends and acquaintances. I would say the anime world was my jumping in point but since i’ve continued i have done cosplaying of all kinds.
Leo Nocedo : What was your first cosplay?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I started back in 2009 so it is honestly a little hard to be 1000% sure but in my mind it was either kyouya ootori from ouran highschool host club or tier harribel espada 3 from bleach
Leo Nocedo : What are your next 3 cosplay plans?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : This is constantly changing, so id suggest asking when you catch me at a con. For the moment however, I am planning to do some My hero academia cosplays with Mt.Lady and Midnight, Redo wonderwoman with new and improved quality, and hoping to get started on Xena Warrior princess.
Leo Nocedo : Have you ever been in a cosplay contest?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I have been in two or three I believe. Once to help get eterant numbers up and the other two for fun. I’m hoping to do more in the future as i craft more.
Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer sewing, armor making, or wig working?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I am not proficient in either of the three but i’d like to get into sewing pieces soon. Up until now ive just done small accessory crafting. I think expanding my skills could be fun. Sometimes it’s just a matter of time space and funds to do it.
Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer to do photoshoots at cons or at specific locations?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I plead the 5th i can’t decide, I love doing shoots at cons because even if you start alone someone cosplaying from the same source could walk by and join right in making for even better pictures, but on the flip side i love having raw images in special locations that don’t need much editing yet still feel like you truly are the character you’re cosplaying.
Leo Nocedo : Is there a type of character you cosplay frequently?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I love strong female characters and also super quirky ones. I do tend to lean toward ones that remind me of myself in some form as i think it gives me a better chance of doing them justice.
Leo Nocedo : Do you have any favorite cosplayers?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I don’t think I can say i have a favorite. I enjoy collaborating with so many.
Leo Nocedo : What’s the most detailed cosplay you’ve ever done?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I would say my moana is the cosplay i did the most work with, i had help from my cosplay mom, my mom and my cousin to add little details to bring it all together. It may look simple but tiny details can really make a difference. I often do more simple cosplays with characters that have bigger personalities.
Leo Nocedo : What are your top 3 craftsmanship tips?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : Always give yourself enough time to finish a project because you’ll be upset if it breaks during the con, There’s nothing wrong with updating later when you have a better budget, if you make a mistake once just fix it learn and don’t do it to the next project.
Leo Nocedo : What is your favorite cosplay you’ve done?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I always loved pocahontas growing up. I think being able to become a character you looked up to growing up is always a great experience and feeling. The view of the character and movie has changed. But i always think of her as an independent brave disney princess who took action and saw the value of discovery and exploration.
Leo Nocedo : What is your worst cosplay “horror” story?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I’d say my worst was once walking down town after a con and being mistaken for a street walker when cosplaying poison from street fighter. It was a bit awkward and since then for certain cosplays ive considered a cover up to prevent something like that again.
Leo Nocedo : What’s your funniest cosplay story?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I was once cosplaying as a walking dead zombie and didn’t have time to go to the hotel room to change before dinner so i had to go to dinner in cosplay. We ended up going to hooters after walking through down town. I heard shrieks all night whenever i had to wander around the restaurant.
Leo Nocedo : What’s the best in-character interaction you’ve ever had?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : Meeting a young kid at disney, it was his birthday and he saw me posing for pictures as aurora. He seemed to think i was the actual disney princess. I told him my birthday had just passed too. He said he was 7 and i mentioned i had a few more behind me and was 28 he seemed so excited our birthdays were so close together. It was a very sweet experience. Especially since ive been told a few times that my tattoos and tan make me unrealistic for most disney princesses.
Leo Nocedo : Have you ever cosplayed with a family member?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I have cosplayed a few times with family. One im hoping to do soon is with my mother so she can finally try it out. She loves harry potter so we will likely to mcgonagall and tonks together.
Leo Nocedo : What is your favorite cosplay photo of yourself?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : It isn’t the best quality but i think it capture the joy i have for the hobby and how much fun i have getting pictures of myself in cosplays of my fave characters.
Leo Nocedo : What are your go-to stores for cosplay materials/full cosplays?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I have to say i do a lot on amazon, micheals, joanns, walmart, hobby lobby, and the dollar store.
Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer to buy pre-styled wigs or style your own?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I enjoy having them prestyled it isn’t my greatest skill so i don’t mind passing it off to experts and appreciating their craft.
Leo Nocedo : Have you ever had someone mistake you for a different character?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I was dressed as stocking from panty and stocking vs. garter belt and someone thought i was twilight sparkle from my little pony. I also dressed as liz from american horror story and was mistaken for eartha kitt. So it has happened quite a lot i attempt to correct when i can but do so with a smile as i know some characters do look alike.
Leo Nocedo : List all the cosplays you’ve done.
Kimmy Marie Franklin :Wonderwoman, Harleyquinn,Huntress, Black Canary, PoisonIvy,Catwoman,Joker, Mera,Sailor Pluto, Sailor Moon,wendy darling, peterpan, Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent,Merida, Ariel, Jessica Rabbit,Joy Inside and Out, Mayor Nightmare before Christmas, Slave Leia, Cruella deville, Esmaralda, Moana, Pocahontas,Frozone, Mr.Incredible, Tinkerbell, MickeyMouse, Aurora,Tia Dalma, Audrey Rocio Ramirez,Storm,Bioshock Splicer, Sheva Alomar, Poison,Cassandra Dimitrescu,Tina Belcher,Louise Belcher,Miss Piggy, Vampire,Cleopatra, Princess Allura,Buggs Bunny,Nyphadora Tonks, Leta Lestrange, Mt.Lady, Midnight, Kyouya Ootori,Tier Haribel, Liz American horror story hotel,
Leo Nocedo : What’s the biggest con you’ve cosplayed at?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I got to attend dragon con as a vendor and cosplayed at the booth so i’d say currently that has been the biggest con for me.
Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer cosplaying characters with props, or characters that you don’t need to carry a prop around all day?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : Props bring up a lot of cosplays but i feel in cosplay just acting like the character can be fun too. I dont mind a prop if the rest of the cosplay is simple but if im already buried under the outfit i don’t want to have to struggle with a prop too unless i can attach it to myself.
Leo Nocedo : Have you ever lost a cosplay piece at a con?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I don’t remember ever having lose something, because I often i avoid props because i tend to be a bit forgetful and thus lose things often. So i try not to give myself a chance to lose it
Leo Nocedo : Have you ever bought a cosplay piece at a con?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I have bought wigs at cons quite often because i wanted to see the color in person before purchasing sometimes pictures just don’t do something justice.
Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer to cosplay solo or in a group?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : Both are great i have personally found larger groups can be a real challenge to organize but i do have a few cosplay buddies i do smaller groups with. Usually i say the more the merrier
Leo Nocedo : If you had a chance to meet your all-time favorite cosplayer, what would you say to them?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : Dont have one currently so . . … .. . not sure
Leo Nocedo : Have you ever done a cosplay panel?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I have done a couple basic cosplay make up panels. Im actually guesting for the first time at villicon and am now branching out to cosplay 101 and streaming 101 cosplays to help those just now starting out.
Leo Nocedo : Do you prefer to buy or make cosplays?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I have most often bought cosplays thus far and it does allow me to do more cosplays at a quicker place but id love to start building soon.
Leo Nocedo : If you could tell your past self anything about cosplay, what would you say?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : Not to worry about type casting or what other people believe you should do. It’s alright to take requests but in the end you should do what you like whether other people like it, take photos or don’t like it at all. It’s about your enjoyment.
Leo Nocedo : What is your ultimate dream cosplay?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : Xena Warrior Princess
Leo Nocedo : What’s the most difficult cosplay you’ve ever done? (Craftsmanship, wearing of, ect)
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I haven’t done it yet but I believe mt.lady will be difficult to do with the big horns and very high heels when it comes to running around at a con.
Leo Nocedo : What’s the most difficult character makeup you’ve done?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : The joker from the 2019 was so far one of the more annoying face paints i’ve had to do. I also find facepaints difficult because i often touch my face.
Leo Nocedo : What, in your opinion, makes a cosplayer a “pro” cosplayer?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : I think what separates pros and amateurs is the ability to accurately BUILD, PORTRAY, AND DISPLAY, the cosplays they put together, it isn’t just about the look but also about characterization and how they show off their hard work in photoshoots, con floors and groups. Though i believe cosplay is great for everyone whether they are a pro or not
Leo Nocedo : What is your favorite part of cosplaying?
Kimmy Marie Franklin :My favorite thing about cosplay is the ability to transform into so many different characters.
Leo Nocedo : What makes a good convention ?
Kimmy Marie Franklin : What makes a great con for cosplayers is when the con location offers great photoshoot spots as well as larger open areas within the con space to do group photoshoots. A con doesn’t have to be large to be great. I just think it is nice when there are areas for cosplayers of the same series or inspiration to meet as a group. Those are the ones I have enjoyed the most in the past.