GILLY KINS - THE CAFFEINATED CANADIAN COSPLAYING NERD

During my time interviewing cosplayers, I've found most of them all to be very down to Earth and interesting people, who just love to dress up and inhabit the characters they are supposed to represent. Granted, on occasion certain cosplayers aren't all that spry. Yet I can't say that about my good friend, Gillian Kins, who I spoke to only the other day whilst kicking ass and taking names at a Star Trek convention. 





1) What are your own origins, Gillian? Plus what path did you take in life before you got to where you are today?   I grew up in Toronto with a nerdy older brother and a father who loved Star Trek. My brother and I played video games and MtG together and my father insisted I watch EVERY episode of Star Trek at a very young age. That probably explains why Riker was my first crush.

I had a comic book store down the street that I would buy single issues from. In high school I got really into comics and expanded my nerdy horizons with conventions and stuff. My first convention was in 2004, and my first cosplay was in 2005.

The rest is now history.

2) What are the most persistent comments you've received from your fans?   I always love when I'm told that I did justice to the character or that my photos really capture their personalities.

3) What is your ‘regular’ job? And does it in any way shape or form aide you as a Cosplayer?   I work full time as an Account Manager at a Marketing Agency. If anything it’s made me better at budgeting and time management, otherwise there aren't a ton of overlaps.

4) How did your friends, family, and work-colleagues first react to the news that you were a cosplay model?   My family thinks it’s awesome. My parents love to see photos of what I’ve made. Most of my friends are cosplayers or fellow nerds so they love it too. The creative team at my agency think it’s really cool and come Halloween everyone wants me to make them something.

5) How do you decide what Cosplay costume to wear for a convention? And who makes them?   I make all my costumes. The biggest factor for cosplay selection is the weather. There is no way I'm wearing a bikini in the middle of the winter, and I'm not going to wear latex in the dead of summer. I always have a list of characters / costumes I want to do, so its just deciding what strikes my fancy at the time.

6) What was the best / worst convention you ever attended?   Dragon Con is the best convention ever. Period. The worst conventions I've ever attended was probably just a tiny fan appreciation event, a.k.a. Just a dealer’s room and nothing else

8) What would be your dream Cosplay gig and outfit?   The Warden from Warcraft and go to BlizzCon.

9) Has there ever been an outfit you just did not like wearing? And if so, why?   I did a cross-play as Suzaku from Code Geass, and I just didn't feel myself at all. Likely because my chest was bound and I was dressed as a man, but also because I didn't connect or associate with the character. I did the costume for a friend and only wore it once.

10) Do you have a credo you live by?   If you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong.

Ha! Lovely stuff, Gilly. Right to the point and no messing about. Don't you agree, dear reader? Yes? Good. So you know what you have to do. Follow our Ms Kins on facebook, twitter, and tumblr. Plus remember, be nice, and be real. Click-Click