Jaimee

Carnival of Masks presents South Africa based cosplayer and crafter, Jaimee Obertik, as part of our Beyond the Carnival: Interviews with Costume Folks Around the World series.

Cosplayer: Jaimee Obertik | Character: Hua Cheng from Tian Guan Ci Fu | Photographer: Jaimee Obertik

CoM: Jaimee, tell us about what you do.

JO: I love trying to recreate characters that I love with scrap materials as my budget is very limited as I'm currently saving for college. So, I make all my own props such as my swords, fans, dagger, etc. with leftover cardboard and clay.

CoM: What inspires you?

JO: The ability to be able to become whoever you want to become.

Cosplayer: Jaimee Obertik | Character:  Lan Wangji Mo Dao Zu Shi | Photographer: Jaimee’s younger sister

CoM: How did your life in costumes begin?

JO: I started cosplaying this year in February when a friend of mine convinced me to try and share my cosplays to help me gain a little bit of confidence in myself. It allowed me to find who I am without having to fear how everyone would judge me. Just being myself through cosplay was very freeing.

CoM: Do you attend costumed events?

JO: I haven't yet, I'm attending my first convention in September, ComicCon South Africa.

Cosplayer: Jaimee Obertik | Character: Wei Wuxian from Mo Dao Zu Shi | Photographer: Jaimee’s younger sister

CoM: What's your favorite thing about costumes?

JO: The props.

CoM: Do you have a costume related business?

JO: I make handmade crafts such as pendants, bracelets, hairpins, swords, as well as illustrations of people's cosplays in a Chinese danmei art style.

Cosplayer: Jaimee Obertik | Character: Xie Lian from Tian Guan Ci Fu | Photographer: Jaimee Obertik

CoM: Anything else you’d like to share?

JO: It doesn't matter if you are cosplaying from a well known book or a less well known book, it's about how the character represents you, what that character means to you, and how you connect with them. I love cosplaying for this reason as well. It let's you process whatever it is that made you see yourself in that character.

CoM: Thanks so much, Jaimee!

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