Cosplaying takes a lot of work, but it’s fun and the effort is worthwhile. Anyone can cosplay regardless of ethnicity, body type, or gender. Lieslynne did not hesitate to cross-dress when cosplaying last year, stepping outside of his comfort zone to experience what it was like. Pictured is him as Komi Shouko from ‘Komi Can’t Communicate’.
All dressed up — being whatever, whoever he wants
HE is spotted wearing a Japanese school uniform, complete with a skirt, and a purple bob wig. Despite his gender, Lieslynne, also known as Liz, 28, appears to look like the typical pretty schoolgirl beneath all of the cosplay and makeup.
To look the part, he applies eyeshadow, wears contact lenses, and even paints his nails. Liz’s dedication to become his favourite character from “Komi Can’t Communicate” was part of a challenge from his friends.
Dressed in the Osana Najimi costume, he explained that the character has an undefined gender.
“It is neither male nor female. Najimi is claimed to be both a boy and a girl. It all depends on the situation in the anime.”
However, when he plays the character, all eyes turn to see who is behind the ensemble.
Liz
Active in cosplaying
Since his college days, the graphic designer has been an avid cosplayer. Liz’s first venture in the field was during a cosplay photoshoot for an Anime Club activity in 2012.
“It was then that I considered becoming a character I admired.
“Makoto Yuki from ‘Persona 3’ was the character I first dressed as. Based on appearance and personality, it was one of my favourite characters. He was someone I tried to look like in real life, so it occurred to me that he would be an excellent choice for a cosplay,” Liz said, adding that his seniors encouraged him to dress up as the character.
Liz revealed that despite his years of wearing different skins and attending numerous anime conventions, Osana Najimi remains his favourite and best-dressed character.
“In the anime show, Najimi is a lighthearted and entertaining character. This describes my outgoing personality.”
After a decade of cosplaying, the Mirian revealed that the life lessons he learned were immeasurable. He learned a lot about himself, including his likes and dislikes, as well as the things that made him happy.
“I also realised that the cosplay community is supportive. I could never have imagined how much love they have given me.”
Liz, who is now based in Kuala Lumpur, has the opportunity to attend many large-scale anime and comic conventions. As he meets new people through cosplaying, he recalls a bitter memory buried deep within him.
“Last year, at my first event in West Malaysia, I cosplayed as a character I had never worn before. To get from Kota Kemuning to Kuala Lumpur, I had to walk, take a bus, and take the LRT. I arrived within two hours. However, the event was so crowded that my legs couldn’t stand any longer. I had a bad cramp and had to be wheeled out,” he shared.
Liz remembered the pain even after months had passed.
“I went there alone, so I had no choice but to rely on strangers for assistance. It was unbearably painful. Thankfully, the Red Crescent was there to help with my leg cramps.”
Cross-dress for cosplay
Liz began dabbling in cross-dressing for cosplay as a result of a bet from a friend. Despite the fact that the bet had been placed, he remembered not knowing who to cosplay until he met an interesting character — Osana Najimi.
“I chose to cross-dress because I wanted to enjoy my freedom. I also wanted to speak up for other cross-dressers out there. There has been very little criticism of a female cosplay in a male character. Meanwhile, a man dressed as a woman would face harsh criticism.”
Seeing the situation, Liz hopes that his cross-dressing effort will inspire others who want to cosplay the opposite gender.
“Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone. People around me were very supportive, which motivates me to keep going. Some were moved by how open I was about it on social media. This makes me happy that people respond positively to it.”
Komi Shouko — ‘Komi Can’t Communicate’ (female character).
As a cosplayer, he is proud that he was able to complete the challenge with an unexpected outcome. He added that even though he is cross-dressing as a female, it does not change who he is.
“I believe in a person’s androgynous beauty. Regardless of my gender, I want to be pretty. I am who I am, and I strive to consistently achieve the challenge and pride of nailing a cosplay as either a male or female character.”
After hearing many negative comments in the community, Liz said that everyone has the right to their own opinion. As he combs his wigs at home, he isn’t bothered by other people’s opinions.
“Cosplay is a hobby, so if it makes you happy and you enjoy it, go ahead and do it.”
