Tiffie Starchild interview
First off, who are you, and what do you do when you’re not dancing as Mario?
Hi! I’m Tiffie Starchild and I’m an artist and full-time Magical Girl.
How did you get into cosplay, and how long have you been doing it?
I’m not sure how I initially came across her work, but the first cosplayer to really inspire me was Yaya Han – her Lulu (from Final Fantasy X) costume specifically. Becoming your favorite character IN REAL LIFE?! My mind was blown.
What was the first cosplay you did?
Chii from Chobits.
Do you have a cosplay that you really want to do?
I have a whole list! The one I’m most looking forward to is Storm (X-Men).
Favourite cosplay you’ve done so far?
Definitely my Mario cosplay! It’s easily the most comfortable, the most fun to wear, and I’m seriously in love with the star plushie that I carry.
Which cosplayer(s) would you love to work with?
I’m not falling for this trap, there are waaaay too many to name lol.
Are there any group cosplays you want to do (eg Mystery Inc, Sailor Scouts, Avengers, X-Men, etc)?
Most definitely the Sailor Scouts, and I really want to complete the Mario Bros squad one day. Bowser, Peach, Toad – the whole gang.
Any advice for anyone just starting on their cosplay journey?
Absolutely! Make the experience your own. Interpret a character in a way that makes you happy, bend the rules, have fun. It can be kind of intimidating, but in the end we’re all a bunch of nerds that like dressing up as our favorite characters – it’s all good.
How long did it take to make the Mario cosplay?
You know, typically I time how long a project takes me to complete, but Mario was a bit more unique. Rather than attempting to sew a pair of jean overall shorts, I found some that suited the look – same with the shirt. None of that took terribly long, it was just a matter of searching. Then I spent a lot of time building on top of those pieces – mostly with Swarovski crystals! Painting the buttons, making the hat, adding crystals to EVERYTHING. I actually add more crystals to it every time that I wear it for no reason other than I really really like being sparkly.
How did you get involved in Nerd Reactor’s music video?
They asked if I was willing to participate, and I said yes :).
Would you be interested in doing similar videos in future?
Absolutely! It was a lot of fun to shoot, and I’m super happy any time it pops up.
On your instagram you say you’re an artist. What kind of art do you make?
All kinds! Right now I’m very into painting/multimedia pieces, but I also enjoy paper-crafting and building cosplay props and accessories. And that’s just what I do with my hands!
Is there any place to check out your work, besides Instagram?
Soon! There is a YouTube channel on the way, a Twitch channel, and I’m considering opening a shop to sell my work (it’s super cute but I keep it all and I’m starting to feel like a hoarder).
What do you do to help with your creative process?
I stopped second-guessing myself. It’s helped immensely in every aspect of my process. I stopped questioning my inspiration, I stopped questioning my talent, I stopped questioning my validity as an artist, I stopped worrying about how my art would be received. I just let it be and let it breathe.
I’m also a demon with lists in order to stay organized. I have SO MANY things that I want to create and my memory is sooooo bad, so I literally write everything down in order to stay on track, otherwise nothing would ever get finished.
Have you considered branching into Youtube videos and Twitch streaming to show off your work/process/etc?
Ahahah see question 13 ;). I’m very excited about launching both of these!
What’re your cosplay/con plans for 2018?
I’ll for sure be at Wondercon, AX, and SDCC, and I’m suuuure I’ll fit a bunch of others in. I haven’t settled on anything just yet, but there are some strong contenders that I’m pretty sold on. We’ll see!
If you could switch places with any Disney Prince or Princess, who would it be and why?
I’m gonna go with Princess Jasmine. Idk, she has a ride-or-die tiger and that’s pretty dope.
Any last words for this interview?
Yeah! Thanks for having me! And keep an eye on my IG – i’ll be branching out in big ways, but it’ll all start there :).
Where can people find you online (social media etc)?
www.instagram.com/tiffiestarchild