Cosplay Superstar Interview: Yaya Han

Back with more cosplay fun, Robot Punch! returns with another interview with one of cosplay’s hottest icons. This round, we speak with Yaya Han, a professional cosplayer, model, and fashion designer.

For nearly a decade, Yaya has travelled to conventions all over the world, adorned in some of the most intricate costumes ever designed. Yaya was able to spare some time from her busy schedule to share with us some insight to the brains behind the beauty.

To give a bit of background, Yaya Han has lived in all corners of the world: China, Germany, and various parts of the US. Growing up, she’d always had an affection for anime and manga. It wasn’t until one fateful con that she was introduced to cosplay and has since built a significant career of realizing her favorite characters. Every year, she attends several events around the world, posing for photo shoots in fantastic, sexy outfits. Best of all, she’s truly one of us–a genuine geek.

Here’s what she had to say:

1. We’ll start with the easy stuff: What are your favorite characters, either in general or to go in costume as?
   
   
   

   Yaya as Lulu from
   Final Fantasy X

   It’s hard to pick favorites because I feel attached to all the costumes I’ve made, but some are indeed more fun to wear, such as:

   Lady Deathstrike - because it is so fun to take fighting photos with everyone at conventions!

   Ada Wong - because it’s easy to pose in this costume, and it’s so comfortable.

   My Peacock costume - because I had so much fun with the design and creation of this outfit

   Gothic Princess - because I love Nene Thomas and her artwork!




2. What are the most difficult parts of making or wearing your costumes? Are they as comfortable as they are beautiful?

   
   For me the most difficult part is time. I don’t have much of it. And I also have moved a lot in the past three years so there have been months where much of my equipment has been in storage in another State, or I just didn’t have the proper set up to make the sewing and prop making as easy as I’d liked.

   I also anticipate more difficulties ahead, because I want more practice in sculpting and casting props, and using new materials, so I can continue to challenge myself. But then again, experimenting blindly while making a costume is my favorite part of this artform.

   As for comfort… well, most costumes are not that comfortable lol. The more elaborate they are, the less comfort there is to be had. But as women, we are already used to “Beauty is Pain” so cosplay is just a part of it… I mean come on, 5 inch stilettos and curling irons? Dangerous!






Yaya as Christie from
Dead or Alive 4

3. On the web, there isn’t a site or message board about cosplay that doesn’t include photos of your work. What do you think about the popularity you’ve generated?

   
   I feel very lucky to be included, and grateful that when people talk about cosplay, they would think to use my photo for an example. I try to use my name recognition to represent this hobby in a very positive way, to educate people who are not familiar with cosplay, and to help other cosplayers with whatever knowledge I have. At conventions, I try to get involved with the programming as much as time allows, such as doing panels, Q&As and work shops. So if you ever have questions about cosplay, look for me at a con near you! I’ll be happy to answer them to the best of my abilities.




4. Along with designing extravagant costumes, you also have passion for graphic arts, photography, singing, theater, and dance. Does artistic talent run in your family?

   
   Yes, mainly from my dad actually. He used to draw and paint, and is a very good singer. My mom has become more crafty lately as well and now makes jewelry!




5. Anime conventions can be pretty crazy (and I don’t just mean the fans). What have been your most surreal con or cosplay experiences?

   
   I’ve pretty much seen it all. From receiving bizarre photo requests and gifts, laughing at memorable quotes by strangers and friends alike, to witnessing dance moves that shouldn’t ever see the light of day. Cons can be very fun and very out there.






Yaya's original design:
Steampunk Madam

6. When you attend a con, do you save a day for yourself where you go in street clothes, so you can enjoy the event incognito? If so, how different are those two experiences?

   
   I usually don’t cosplay on the last day of the con. That used to mean being able to walk around and not taking photos every two steps, and I use that last day to check out the dealer room, say bye to friends and just to hang out. However, in the recent couple of years, more and more people are recognizing me out of costume and sometimes I will still get asked for a picture with someone. I like both, cosplaying and being in plain clothes.




7. Having lived all over the world, you’ve no doubt been exposed to all sorts of flavors of otaku. Are there any cultures that stand out in how they celebrate their anime or video game fandom? Are there traits you’ve noticed that seem universal?

   
   Well, I lived in three very different countries and cultures, and each relate to this kind of fandom in very different ways. In China, animation is widely accepted and celebrated. Beijing is planning to build an Anime/Animation City. Every young person just about has heard of cosplay. The fashion is influenced heavily by Japan and Anime. There are cosplay and anime events every weekend somewhere in the country.

   Germany is more reserved. When I lived there as a teen, no one knew what anime was. I had one magazine to help connect me to the other anime fans in the country and we had to use snail mail to talk about our favorite shows. Getting anime was even harder. These days it’s much better and manga and anime can be found in sections of book and Media stores. There are enough events to keep the fans busy. But it’s still very unusual to the mainstream media and everyday people.

   I suppose USA is somewhat in between. We are used to the success of comic book movie adaptions and events like San Diego Comic Con and Dragoncon show that Animation can take over a whole city if it wanted to. Japanese animation is just a step behind, and already it’s introduced more and more through video games, movie deals and translated releases. There are close to 200 conventions celebrating geek fandoms in this country. I am enjoying the ride and rise of the American anime scene a lot.

   

   Yaya as Psylocke
   from X-Men

   As for a universal trait, all the cosplayers from the different countries I’ve met and cosplayed with share the same enthusiasm and passion, which totally rocks!




8. I think it’s safe to say you have a small army of male admirers around the world. Do your fans manage to stay cool and respectful when they approach you?

   
   Most of the people who approach me are awesome and incredibly kind, as well as respectful. Every once in a great while, a guy will be too forward for my comfort, but I try to be nice no matter what. My attention is pulled in so many ways at a con from photos, friends coming by, working my booth and helping customer, rushing to panels etc. that I usually can’t stay and chat very long anyway, so even if someone’s being disrespectful, it would only be for a few moments before I’m gone. So it’s nothing to sweat about.

   As for online rudeness - well the best way is just to ignore it. Ignorance is true bliss in my world.




9. What types of exercises do you use in order to fall into character? Do you tend to stay in character while in costume, or do you break to be yourself?

   
   I don’t really have any special exercises to get in character… I just put on the costume and go have fun! As a girl, you’ll look yourself over, make sure everything looks okay, and the rest is just attitude and confidence. I suppose the only time I “act” in character is during a photoshoot or when I am doing a performance on stage.




10. You’ve been modeling professionally for nearly 8 years. What was it like transforming something you personally love into a business? Have either the industry or your feelings as part of the fandom changed much over the years?
    
    
    

    Yaya as Fook Mi (or Fook Yu?)
    from Austin Powers

    It was a lot of work and a lot of hardship to make my own business. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family and friends. I made some mistakes and learned some big lessons. But that is the only way you can learn, so I try to make the best of whatever situations I’m in and keep my focus on the important things.

    I feel very lucky that I can work for myself doing what I love. It has definitely changed me as a fan - whenever a hobby becomes work it loses part of the purity of the fun - but I don’t see that as a bad thing. I may not be as obsessed with watching anime and reading manga like I was 12 years ago, but I’m actively contributing to the scene, and I’m still in the thick of it. I just enjoying being a fan in a different way.
    




11. When you’re not traveling to attend a cosplay gig, what’s your average day at home like? Do you have a strict routine for producing your costumes and conducting business?
    
    I work all the time. Whether it’s on my website (which is all designed and maintained by me), answering emails, replying to business correspondences, or actually making the costumes and products in my store, I’m constantly working, every day. It’s kind of sad to admit that actually lol. But that’s how it is when you run your own business. The advantage is that I have total freedom, and can set my own schedule. I did the salary office job thing for over 3 years, and don’t ever want to go back to a 9-5 day again.

    
    As for how I conduct business, I set goals for myself each day, and I make a lot of To Do lists lol. Because I travel to an event almost every weekend, I also find ways to work on planes and road trips, like updating my website on the laptop.

    But - don’t think I’m just all work and no play. I take breaks, I make the best and most fun out of each business trip, and when I party, it’s on!






Yaya as Sheryl from
Macross Frontier

12. How do you decide on which costumes you’ll work on next? Is it by the level of challenge? Your own feelings about the character?

    
    Both I suppose. I always want to challenge myself, but the more I do for my store and business, the less time I have to make personal costumes, so the challenge becomes finding time to make a costume in only two days, and I can’t go for the elaborate crazy outfits on my list. But I do also consider what I feel like making, too. One month, you just want to bead and sew ruffles, and another time, you only feel like making wings or props.




13. You’re one of the rare cosplayers that dress up as Sharon Apple. Are you a fan of Macross Plus? (I think it’s under-appreciated, myself.)

    
    Absolutely, Plus is one of my All-time favorite shows. I just adore Sharon as a character, and also wish more people knew and appreciated this anime.




14. Which other cosplayers do you admire? Are there any that you’d most like to work or compete with?

    
    My cosplay friends are who I admire the most because I can see how dedicated they are first hand to their craft. They also help me stay excited about cosplay. Limebarb of and Ale-chan are two of my favorite cosplayers and great friends, as well as the girls of wego4kyo.com and pixiekitty.net. I love all of them to death and I really respect them as cosplayers.






Yaya as Felicia
from Darkstalkers

15. And of course… Do you have any words of wisdom for those fresh in the world of cosplay?

    
    My advice is to do it for fun, and for yourself. Don’t cosplay to fit in, or please someone, or to get attention. There are cheaper and easier ways in life to do those things lol. Cosplay is such an involved artform that you really can only enjoy it in the long run if you embrace all it’s creative aspects, and be true to yourself.

    And be nice to others. Don’t judge, and don’t let others judge you. Now go have a blast.

    Thank you for this interview, Sean!

And thank you, Yaya!

If you’d like to learn more about Yaya, you can browse through her bio and photo galleries at her homepage, AngelicStar.net. You can also check her schedule to see when she’ll be appearing at a convention near you!