Ireland Reid Interview from Pokemon Cosplay to Princess Leia!
Welcome to Impulse Gamer Ireland!
Aww thank you!
You describe yourself as International Cosplayer, Model, Designer and YouTuber, which one is closest to your heart and why?
They are all very special to me and very dear to my heart. I would have to say that Designer is very close to the winner as using my imagination to bring things together is both frustrating but thrilling to me.
Tell us how you became involved in Cosplay and what was your first costume?
I actually was designing and making costumes long before I actually wore them to comic conventions. I had made a few costumes for the company Zenescope and when one of their girls for Comikaze, in 2013 couldn’t be there, they asked me to fill in, as I already knew everything about the character I was portraying. That was my first time actually wearing one of my pieces to a comic convention and it not being on someone else.
What do you like about Cosplay the most?
I love the community, honestly. People getting together expressing their love and dislikes for characters, dressing up and acting as their favorites, it’s all just so amazing to me. Cosplaying gives me the opportunity to go around the world meeting people with the same love and passion for the community as I do and I just love it to bits!
And on the flip side?
Just like everything else, there is drama as well sadly.
Tell us about your Pikachu Cosplay?
Well my Pichu cosplay I would say was the first cosplay that I did where people started to look at my work. While this piece is more of my simplest and smaller pieces to construct, it was one of my favorites to make for sure. It only took about 34 hours because of the patterns and all the individually placed Swarovski crystals on it, but the show stopper has to be the fully crusted Swarovski crystal pokeballs that I pair up with my Pokemon Cosplays. There are over 4k individual crystals on it, took over 3 ½ hours to construct and over 48 hours to dry completely. That is why she is still one of my dearest favorites.
So far, what’s been your favourite cosplay and why?
Each piece that I made is my favorite for different reasons. Whether I was using new materials for the first time, the time spent making it, or the adventure of the piece itself through construction without patterns. My most recent one would be my Tardis, which falls under the Unique Cosplay category. Taking over 152 hours to complete, over 65k individually placed Swarovski crystals just on the bodice and over 45 ft of OEM Led lighted wire which flashed in programed motion, that has to be one of my favorites right now. We won’t even talk about how much this one cost me lol.
If you had unlimited funds, which character would you cosplay?
I always budget out for my cosplays, but unlimited funds would help me create more tech inspired cosplays for sure. I love combining my job and love for technology with my creative cosplay side! I don’t know if I would just limit myself with one character, I would have to do several!
Who are some of the other cosplayers that inspire you?
My favourite cosplayer of all time and has been for years would be Yaya Han. Her attention to detail is out of this world and she is also the sweetest person ever in person. You can tell she is really involved with her fans and the community.
Tell us what drew you into the world of geek?
I have lived in this world all my life. My father has always been into technology since the early 1980s and he kind of got me into it in the mid 80s. He also was a huge fan of Star Wars, Stargate and other sci-fi films so I grew up with Princess Leia and Luke, Zelda/Nintendo and the original My Little Ponies and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was just as passionate about all that now as I was when I was little.
Who is your favourite character from comics, gaming or movies and why?
I have so many favorites that it is just impossible to only pick just one of them honestly. I don’t think there is enough room to write all of them and why they are my favorites honestly.
If you had one superpower, what would it be and why?
I would love to be able to control Time, something of a Doctor from Doctor Who, however I would also love the ability to stop time as well to enjoy more time around my loved ones and friends.
What’s the coolest mystery box that you have opened?
I’m obsessed with mystery boxes, you have no idea. I originally set up my YouTube channel just for opening mystery boxes! Lol! I think everyone that I have opened has seriously been my favorite whether it was from Lootcrate/Nerd Block to fan mail. I adore them all!
What about the coolest thing that you own?
Coolest thing that I own at the current moment…well I do have a golden Majora’s Mask new 3ds that I am pretty happy about along with the limited figurine and collector’s guide. I’m so afraid to take it out of the case…I just love it..
Which is your favourite con and why?
They are all actually my favorites honestly. Every comic con that I go to, I always meet new people, people who are into the same things that I am into and it is just an amazing feeling. I am always excited to dress up and go to comic cons! It is like Disneyland every day for me, but it is the people who make it so much fun and so special!
How did you get involved in modelling?
I actually had some friends who were working on photography for college and asked me to be the model to help with lighting saying that my red hair is perfect for working on lighting and mastering it. I did some shots for them, they shared their portfolio and soon others started asking me to model for them. One thing really lead to another and I have been doing it over a decade now, just for fun, never full time.
What’s been your favourite photoshoot so far?
I got the privilege of going to Costa Rica last June with a bunch of girls and the amazing photographer Brent Allen. Climbing through jungles and everything super early in the morning to get those shots necessary was so much fun! There was a time when we were shooting and literally got dumped on by a huge rainstorm. It was amazing!
So what else do you have planned for the rest of 2015?
So much is planned actually between new cosplay unveils, to traveling, to working on my Master’s Degree in Marketing/Finance. I also have my own company and we will be working on gearing up for the 2016 season as well. There is never a dull moment for me and I just enjoy it that way!
Lastly, where can our readers find out more about you?
You guys can find me anywhere! For my schedule, sneak peek at new cosplays coming, to the newest videos, live stream gaming or just everyday stuff, you can find me here:
Website: www.irelandreid.com
Twitter: @Irelandreid
Instagram: @irelandreid
Tumblr: officialirelandreid
Facebook: facebook.com/irelandreid.model
Twitch.tv/irelandreid
YouTube: Irelandreid27
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