What do you get when you put together a cosplayer, a fresh nursing graduate and a piano afficionado? You get Dycee! Join me as we read the story of this gamer, cosplayer and “crossplayer” (just trust me ok?).

Photo taken by Kat Robs

So just click that link and give it up for Dycee! More after the jump!

Hi Dycee! Tell me something about yourself.
Haluw! ^_^ I’m Dycee (you pronounce it as “dye”- the one you use to color hair, and “sea”- big big body of water *grins*). And my age… is for you guys to find out *lolz*. I’m a fresh nursing graduate (though my dream profession really is to be a pilot *grins* but I did not qualify ~_~ too bad) I want to be an animator too, or anything that concerns art. But I ended up taking nursing though… XD Now how did that happen? Heehee!

I love cosplaying (whether I’m portraying a girl character or a boy character! yeah, i’m kinda flexible ^.~) I love gaming, reading books, writing poems and playing the piano, ooh…and I love nekos! =^_^= *meow* and I’m a proud owner of a Persian cat named Cagalli ^.^

Photo taken by Pao Navarete

How long have you been cosplaying?
Last year (2006) ^_^

What made you interested in becoming a cosplayer?
Hmm…it started out of a whim actually. A friend of mine who also likes anime went with me on our very first convention; then we saw people wearing costumes of our fave anime character. So we thought, “How about us portraying our fave characters? Just for fun before we graduate?” and that’s how it all started! It’s really fun to be your fave character for a day ^_^ We had so much fun during our first cosplay…so yup…tuloy tuloy na yun afterwards ^_~ We met a lot of friends and people who appreciates what we do, that’s what made cosplaying really fun for me. ^_^ It’s the fun we have with people with same interests like ours. ^_^

Photo taken by Jake Amora

How do you conceptualize a costume before you have one made?
Hmm…I make sure that the character will suit me and that I LIKE that character ^_^ It should have an aspect that is simillar to mine. I should “feel” the character…hmm…then comes the budget XD as much as possible, I don’t splurge a huge amount of money on my costumes ^_~ and being broke will take the fun out of it ne? ~_~ So as much as I can, I take part in making my costumes (like doing the props, and if it is easy to sew, then I do it ^_^)

What are the favorite costumes that you’ve worn?
I love all my costumes! ^_^ There’s a story behind every costume that I’ve worn ^_~ It’s hard to pick one fave X3

What was the most memorable cosplay moment you’ve had?
Ooooh, this is a hard one XD Hmmm, all my cosplay moments with my friends were fun XD We always enjoy each other’s company and take lots of pictures XD (which is quite evident in my multiply account XD). But if I’ll choose just one moment, I have to say it’s my loveless cosplay (When i went as Youji Sagan); it’s my first group cosplay and we all had so much fun back then ^_^ Definitely, the best group ever ^_~

How much did you spend for your most recent costume?
My most recent costume (Konoe) only cost me P250 pesos XD All my costumes are not that expensive (I think my most expensive costume only cost me 1k or less)

What was the most expensive costume you ever made?
That would be my Youji costume (just because of the bubblegum wig heehee), wigs are quite costly ~_~ but if we’re going to talk about costume per se (minus the wig), that would be my Tear Grants Costume and Lenne costume ^_^

What costume you had was the hardest to make? How come?
Hmm, my Lenne costume XD I need to sew parts of it the day BEFORE the convention ~_~ and I had a hard time making the arm bands T_T

Photo taken by Kat Robs

What are the awards / recognitions you’ve won as a cosplayer?
Hmm… I don’t usually register because I’m kinda shy during catwalks XD (yeah, ‘la sa itsura ko, pero I usually freeze onstage. XD But i’m starting to work on it!) I just like cosplaying but I don’t compete that much ^_~ Hmm…but I did won some awards though when I registered during last year’s hero convention; I was part of Hataw Hanep Hero’s top 15 finalists when I cosplayed Tohru Honda, and our group last ICC won Best Group too (me wearing my Maria-sama ga Miteru costume),and recently…Our Lamento:Beyond the Void group won the Audience choice award. ^_^ To be honest though, awards are not that important to me anyway. ^_^ What’s important is the fact that I had fun during the event and that there are people who appreciated what I cosplayed. ^_~

Photo taken by Kat Robs

Has anyone ever made fun of you when you cosplay? How do you handle that?
I guess that can’t be prevented…I just smile at them ^_^ and when they approach me and ask what I’m doing, I just explain to them that I’m cosplaying ^_^ and I like the reaction I get when people are amazed of my hobby ^_^ in the end, they learn to appreciate it too

What can you say about the local cosplay community?
Hmmm….I don’t know much about the community since the only people I know are fellow cosplayer friends ^_^ If I’ll base it to people I know….well…I could say that it is a great and fun community ^_^ Everyone knows how to improvise in their costumes and everyone is realllyyy creative!! Most cosplayers have brilliant ideas and the way they make their costumes are really awesome ^_^ People are helpful to their fellow cosplayers too (and from what I’ve heard, the community is growing too! ^_^ the more the merrier ^_^)

Photo taken by Kat Robs

Aside from cosplaying, what are your other interests in life?
Hmm…aside from cosplaying, I express my self through playing the piano and making artworks. ^_^

Photo taken by Dycee’s brother

What games do you play? (Please enumerate)
Lots! It will flood! XD but here are some:
• DOTA
• Aero Revo Supah Supah
• Initial D and other racing games
• Final Fantasy
• Suikoden
• .hack
• Tales of the Abyss
• Ys: Ark of Napishtim
• Magna Carta
• Golden Sun
• Chocobo Tales!
• Super Mario! XD
• Atelier Iris
• Wild Arms
• Lunar
• Tekken
• Threads of Fate
• Sims
…and the list goes on and on and on ^_^ (I used to play Ragnarok too X3)

Crossplaying as Konoe (a guy, yes a guy!). Photo taken by Erving Go

What are your future cosplay plans?
I want to do mecha cosplays in the future XD (Cagalli’s Akatsuki!) As for human characters: I want to do Olha (from Ys: Ark of Napishtim), Priestess/Crusader (Ragnarok), my character in Aero Revo X3, Cagalli Yula Attha or Athrun Zala XD (Gundam Seed), Sephiroth, Tifa or Rinoa (Final Fantasy), Prince/Hero (Suikoden V), Viki (Suikoden)… hmm, that’s it so far. X3

Photo taken by Mark Lao

What’s your message to the cosplayers out there?
As long as you’re enjoying what you’re doing…
as long as you’re having fun…
as long as you’re passionate…
as long as your creativity is flowing…then keep on cosplaying ^_~

…oh… and see you on conventions. ^_~

Photo taken by Kat Robs

And that’s Dycee for you ladies and gentlemen! You can also check out Dycee’s Deviantart page for more stuff about her. Keep on visiting The Master’s Den for more gamer babes and interviews. Also visit cosplay.ph for more info about Pinoy cosplay!