I spend a fair amount of time flipping through cosplayer galleries and portfolios on sites like DeviantArt and Facebook. The amount of cosplay on the web is endless, and I know I’m only seeing a small percentage of what’s out there. And that small percentage continually blows me away. Case in point: Megan, also known as Galacticat. She’s cosplayed as Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones, Marvel’s Squirrel Girl, Battlestar Galactica’s Kara Thrace (Starbuck), and many more characters. She’s versatile and skilled at making everything from leather to superhero suits. I talked with Megan about her cosplay history, challenges she’s faced, and more.
Adafruit: How many years have you been cosplaying and what inspired you to start?
Megan: My first time cosplaying was in 2009, when I went to my first ever convention, but I didn’t really begin costuming as a serious hobby until 2011. I’ve always really enjoyed putting together costumes for Halloween and theme parties, so after I went to DragonCon in 2011, it was pretty much inevitable that I’d get hooked on costuming and con-going!
Brienne of Tarth – Photo by DWRD Studios
Adafruit: You’ve tackled costumes for characters from Squirrel Girl to Brienne of Tarth. How do you choose which costumes to make?
Megan: For me to costume as a certain character, there’s really got to be something about the character that speaks or appeals to me. I tend to go for strong female sci-fi characters and characters with designs I find really unique or interesting. Sometimes I come up with ideas that I think would be quite silly and fun or a bit different from the norm. While there are some “popular” (i.e. frequently cosplayed) characters I’ve done and would like to do, I really do enjoy doing costumes that aren’t seen as often.
Kara Thrace/Starbuck – Photo by Winchester Antares Studio Partners
Adafruit: Which costume has been the most challenging to create and why?
Megan: Brienne, most definitely. Making any armor is a challenge, but it’s especially challenging when you’re going for screen accuracy. Not only did I have to create my own templates for the armor pieces, I also had to scale them down so they would fit my body—because I am definitely not 6’3”!—and I had to figure out how to attach all the pieces to allow for as much mobility as possible. It was also my first time working with Worbla and leather, among other things.
Adafruit: What new skills have you had to learn because of cosplay?
Megan: Sewing, working with all types of fabric, patterning, making armor, leather work, makeup, wig styling… the list goes on! Every costume I’ve made has taught me a new skill, and there is still so much more to learn! Some of the things I want to tackle next are molding/casting and electronics.
Squirrel Girl – Photo by C.B. Lindsey
Adafruit: What advice would you offer to anyone interested in trying cosplay?
Megan: Just go for it. Don’t worry about how skilled you are. Don’t worry about what others will say or think. Pick a character you love, that’s within your skill set and budget—start small and learn new skills as you go on. You might mess up—no, you will mess up. We all do. Just practice patience and push through it. The online cosplay community is huge and full of tutorials and people willing to help you. Most conventions have panels and workshops on costuming, too. Cosplay shouldn’t be a scary thing—you might face some real challenges, and you may have to deal with the occasional jerk, but don’t let that stop you from partaking in such a fun, perhaps even life-changing hobby!
Visit Megan’s Facebook page to keep up with all her latest projects.
Top photo (She-Hulk) by Chris Auditore
