She wowed audiences especially the guys during her cosplay stint at the recently concluded Level Up Live 2007. You have seen her in action during the award-winning skit of her cosplay group, The Frost Jokers. She recently caught the attention of Ragnarok community, especially the male players of course.

But what has she got to say about all of this? Let’s all hear it from Gypsy Diana aka “see-through girl” after the jump!

What’s your name?
Maria Diana Fernandez

Age?
22

How did you get to join The Frost Jokers?
One saturday morning, I received a Yahoo Messenger group message from Master Diwa (MD) asking out who can cosplay a gypsy, I was too much excited to use my almost-done champion costume I immediately said “oo game ako dyan!” Nakaligtaan ko na gypsy pala yung needed at hindi champion… ayun wala na atrasan hahaha! I actually challenged myself.

How does it feel to win the Level Up Live 2007 Group Cosplay?
How does it feel? Hmmm of course very happy and proud, it was not easy for me to meet people and be seen by them wearing such a daring costume… it was truly a liberating experience. I’ve realized that the mere fact of joining the event is a nice “self-reward” for a job well done in my graduate studies and work, much more when we won! It was too much of what I have expected.

Diana doing some greetings while being awarded as best group cosplay

Have you cosplayed before? If yes, what characters have you cosplayed?
Yes I am not a first time cosplayer. I’ve cosplayed Card Captor Sakura, Ragnarok’s Milk Merchant, and Priestess… but all of these were “illegal” since walang basbas ng parents hahahah *guys wag tularan* but this time pinayagan na ako ah, hahaha!

What Level Up Game do you play?
Ragnarok Online lang… since 2003.

What server do you play in?
Baldur server.

What are the characters that you play?
I have a champion ora_pronobis, lord knight =ora_et_labora=, and blacksmith ora_provendis.

Are you a member of any guild?
Yes. I am a member of Alliance guild.

Now everyone’s asking, how did you get convinced to wear the skimpy gypsy costume?
Kuya MD and kuya edwin had excellent persuasion skills. So far that’s the only reason I know. I really don’t know hahaha! During our first conversations about the cosplay pinipilit ko yung champion pero wala eh nadaig talaga nila ako. /heh

Did you have any last minute doubts in wearing the costume at the event?
None not even a hint… eh ‘di sinakal ako nina kuya MD at kuya edwin kung nagkataon hahaha!

How long did your costume get done?
2-3 weeks. Si manang mananahi kasi mahilig matulog hahaha kidding. Actually there were adjustments made especially with the harem pants, dapat yung laglag effect nya is evident. There was intensive quality control with my costume as compared to the bard and clown costume. It has to be worry-free… you know what i mean ^_^

How much did you spend on your costume?
Around P2.5k

What was the most challenging part of your making your gypsy costume?
The harem pants, again the “laglag” effect needs to be evident sa costume… and the bra… during the dress rehearsal natatanggal yung strap… so we really needed to fix it. Otherwise I would possibly create a huge accidental scene on stage hahaha!

It would been an “eye-opener” haha! What inspirations did you have as the basis for your dance steps during your skit at LU Live?
I reviewed basic belly dancing steps on Youtube, and those of the professional or famous foreign belly dancers, the video of Asmahan is one of them, she is the La BLue Girl for kuya MD and kuya Edwin, hahaha! /gawi

Hahaha amf! What was the most memorable moment you had while wearing the costume at LU Live?
Hmmm maybe the picture taking with a bunch policemen is the most memorable one hahahaha!

Do you have plans to join other cosplay events after Level Up Live?
Yes why not? ^_^

Will you be wearing similar costumes in future cosplays too?
Definitely! There’s nothing wrong about it in the first place ^_^ maximize the costume! hahaha!

What keeps you busy nowadays?
What keeps me busy… Hmmm first is my graduate studies in UP Diliman, then my about-to-end marketing course in Ateneo Graduate School of Business… my comeback to the corporate world since my teaching contract in UP Manila is almost due… then am currently planing a business venture for the yuletide season.

What do you consider as you present career?
Being a full-time graduate student and a part-time instructor at UP Manila.

What’s your message to your co-cosplayers out there?
Cosplaying is one of the healthiest activities for anyone, it does not only bring out the artist within us but it also gives a reason for us to believe in our own capabilities and potentials… so there… tuloy tuloy lang basta wag pababayaan ang ibang responsibilities and priorities natin. ~_^

Thank you very much Diana! We hope to see you again in more cosplay events to come! Also check out cosplay.ph for more info about cosplayers! And to everyone, keep on reading The Master’s Den for more interviews!