What is your job? What do you do when you're not into cosplay?
Jessica: I have a degree in Liberal Arts (Humanities) since I originally wanted to be a journalist. I finally decided that I wanted to be CEO of a company, mainly a video game company. That is a very long-term ambition. Professionally right now what I do is related to cosplay. I don't do anything other than this, just play video games and run (laughs). Yes, this is my world now.
In Spain it is very fashionable lately to see cosplayers who call themselves "professional cosplayers" without actually being one.
What is the definition of a professional cosplayer for you?
Jessica: I think a professional cosplayer is someone who can offer a product that is supportive in some way. I think Yaya Han or Svetlana (Kamui Cosplay) can be considered professional cosplayers, because they can offer the community products like calendars or books to contribute. I don't consider myself a professional cosplayer. As soon as I consider myself that way, that will put a huge pressure and I consider that I am a little more diffuse, that I simply let myself go.
Jessica: I have a degree in Liberal Arts (Humanities) since I originally wanted to be a journalist. I finally decided that I wanted to be CEO of a company, mainly a video game company. That is a very long-term ambition. Professionally right now what I do is related to cosplay. I don't do anything other than this, just play video games and run (laughs). Yes, this is my world now.
In Spain it is very fashionable lately to see cosplayers who call themselves "professional cosplayers" without actually being one.
What is the definition of a professional cosplayer for you?
Jessica: I think a professional cosplayer is someone who can offer a product that is supportive in some way. I think Yaya Han or Svetlana (Kamui Cosplay) can be considered professional cosplayers, because they can offer the community products like calendars or books to contribute. I don't consider myself a professional cosplayer. As soon as I consider myself that way, that will put a huge pressure and I consider that I am a little more diffuse, that I simply let myself go.
That's why I don't like to consider myself a professional cosplayer.. Of course, if a company contacts me and they want me to make a suit for them and represent them, I can be a professional at that specific moment. But most of the time I just have fun and take that fun to a whole new level.
What is your favorite outfit? Which one has a special meaning for you?
Jessica: I love my Mad Moxxi. The colors are great and it is very eye-catching.
Ryan: Yeah, I said, "I'm finishing mine!"
Jessica: Yes, she said: "I think on Saturday I'm going to wear my suit and you won't wear yours!" (Laughs) So I said, "no!" The truth is, this worked quite well for emotional support. He always advises me by saying: "You can do this like this, or this other way."
Ryan: Yes, it is a team effort.
Do you think there is an evolution regarding your cosplays from your beginnings until now? We have seen your Dead Knight and it is not what we used to see in Jessica Nigri, It is a big surprise for all the fans. What can you tell us about it?
Jessica: I like to make simple and fun costumes. Creo que siempre he sido capaz de hacerlos. When my heart was set on it I loved it and said: "I'm going to do it, he is going to do it and I'm going to get it too." Now I'm going to be cheesy (laughs). In him I found the motivation and inspiration I needed. It's a lot of fun to do more intense things by sharing your work with someone. We can also cry together when everything is very difficult.
Ryan: Yeah yeah, it's like, "What are we doing ????" (Laughs)
Jessica: Yes, and a lot of people will say: “oh yeah, she makes the costumes for him ”, and no. I put my heart into what I do even much more than before. He can propel himself, because he is capable.
Okay, there was a time in your life where you went from being a girl in a Pikachu outfit to being an idol. An important cosplayer for all this world. What costume do you think made the big change?
Jessica: The one from Dead Knight, two weeks ago! (laughs) Sincerely I dont know. I'm going to tell you the truth. I do not read many of the things that are published on the internet. A lot of people ask me how I manage to deal with all the comments and it's just that I often don't read them. So I can't tell you for sure when that changed. In fact I suppose that even today there will be many people thinking: “But what the hell is this one doing? " and that's fine with me. There are people who don't like what you do and you can't do anything to change it. So I do not know. Maybe Juliet Starling or Draken from Wild Star. I don't really know. I'm sorry.
Companies are starting to hire cosplayers as the face of their characters for conventions. Do you think it is a good promotion?
Jessica: I think it's an excellent strategy for them, because before they had promotional models (booth babes) who are very pretty and are hired by agencies, But they usually have no idea of the company or video game they are promoting, so it is best to hire someone who knows the subject. So I think cosplayers are so into their role, because they are unconditional fans and they follow video games and anime very passionately., so it's good to find someone like that, who is creating something for your video game and their mind is there too.
The companies give you a 3D model and with those people cosplay, and for free! Which is impressive. I think companies should take that more into account. I also think that you should look at the lesser known cosplayers, because they focus too much on the biggest and most famous and, speaking of business, that comes in handy for numbers, but it's great when looking for cosplayers who are very talented but not yet as successful as others.
How many conventions do you go to each year? It must be crazy.
Jessica: In 2014 there were 23.
Since it was announced that you would come, it began to be rumored that you would come to more Spanish conventions this year. That's right?.
Jessica: We are talking to people to come to Spain more times. In principle, the idea would be to come to Madrid and Barcelona, but let's see how things go, because I want to return, since we have made great friends here. I think Shappi should come back too, because he's great. Oh is so cool!
Do you know or follow a Spanish cosplayer on social networks?
Jessica: Oh yeah! Maro, that is amazing. And all her friends. Yesterday we got together and met people with incredible cosplays of Tristana, Veigar, Teemo ... I think we know someone else. I think that sometimes we pay too much attention to the United States and when you leave there and see what is in other countries, you realize what is outside. We meet people like Maro and we think: "where have you been all this time?" It's great to meet new people, new faces, and new outfits.
Jessica: I like to make simple and fun costumes. Creo que siempre he sido capaz de hacerlos. When my heart was set on it I loved it and said: "I'm going to do it, he is going to do it and I'm going to get it too." Now I'm going to be cheesy (laughs). In him I found the motivation and inspiration I needed. It's a lot of fun to do more intense things by sharing your work with someone. We can also cry together when everything is very difficult.
Jessica: Yes, and a lot of people will say: “oh yeah, she makes the costumes for him ”, and no. I put my heart into what I do even much more than before. He can propel himself, because he is capable.
Okay, there was a time in your life where you went from being a girl in a Pikachu outfit to being an idol. An important cosplayer for all this world. What costume do you think made the big change?
Jessica: The one from Dead Knight, two weeks ago! (laughs) Sincerely I dont know. I'm going to tell you the truth. I do not read many of the things that are published on the internet. A lot of people ask me how I manage to deal with all the comments and it's just that I often don't read them. So I can't tell you for sure when that changed. In fact I suppose that even today there will be many people thinking: “But what the hell is this one doing? " and that's fine with me. There are people who don't like what you do and you can't do anything to change it. So I do not know. Maybe Juliet Starling or Draken from Wild Star. I don't really know. I'm sorry.
We know that you were the image of Juliet Starling and you recently worked dubbing Super Sonico.
Jessica: Yes!
How was the experience?. ¿Do you think this beginning in dubbing is something big? Was it your decision or did they call you?
Jessica: It was great. I've always been a fan of Super Sonico. I remember seeing it in 2010 during my first trip to Japan. I swear I saw it in a tea bottle and advertised everywhere. Originally it was a drawing for a music festival, as a kind of mascot. I thought, "oh my gosh, she's gorgeous, she looks at her pink hair on hers, look at hers… her eyes" from her (laughs) from her. She is great, I love it! I saw that you could find all kinds of his figures and I went crazy. It had scale figures of Sonico and everything. I love his attitude too. He is like: "bah, I don't care about everything." I love that!.
Jessica: Yes!
How was the experience?. ¿Do you think this beginning in dubbing is something big? Was it your decision or did they call you?
Jessica: It was great. I've always been a fan of Super Sonico. I remember seeing it in 2010 during my first trip to Japan. I swear I saw it in a tea bottle and advertised everywhere. Originally it was a drawing for a music festival, as a kind of mascot. I thought, "oh my gosh, she's gorgeous, she looks at her pink hair on hers, look at hers… her eyes" from her (laughs) from her. She is great, I love it! I saw that you could find all kinds of his figures and I went crazy. It had scale figures of Sonico and everything. I love his attitude too. He is like: "bah, I don't care about everything." I love that!.
Then the people who were doing the anime contacted me and said: “¿could you represent her at the Anime Expo and cosplay her? " I said, "yeah, that would be great!" At the end of the event, at the end of the Super Sonico promotion, they told me:“we have the texts in English and we are looking for a voice actress ”. So I asked them: "Why are you telling me this?" and they answered me: “we want you to be that voice actress” and I literally burst into tears. I started yelling, “That's my waifu! It's going to be weird because I'm going to be my own waifu! "
It was great. It was the second time that I lent my voice for something and I had to have my voice with a very high pitch all the time, because my voice is very hard. It has been incredible and, if the public received it well, I would like to continue doing it so that I can, in some way, fade away and say "oh, my face is over, because I'm getting old and everything starts to fall out." No seriously, I think that everyone should try or know the world of voice actors.
It was great. It was the second time that I lent my voice for something and I had to have my voice with a very high pitch all the time, because my voice is very hard. It has been incredible and, if the public received it well, I would like to continue doing it so that I can, in some way, fade away and say "oh, my face is over, because I'm getting old and everything starts to fall out." No seriously, I think that everyone should try or know the world of voice actors.
Jessica: I think it's an excellent strategy for them, because before they had promotional models (booth babes) who are very pretty and are hired by agencies, But they usually have no idea of the company or video game they are promoting, so it is best to hire someone who knows the subject. So I think cosplayers are so into their role, because they are unconditional fans and they follow video games and anime very passionately., so it's good to find someone like that, who is creating something for your video game and their mind is there too.
The companies give you a 3D model and with those people cosplay, and for free! Which is impressive. I think companies should take that more into account. I also think that you should look at the lesser known cosplayers, because they focus too much on the biggest and most famous and, speaking of business, that comes in handy for numbers, but it's great when looking for cosplayers who are very talented but not yet as successful as others.
How many conventions do you go to each year? It must be crazy.
Jessica: In 2014 there were 23.
Do you remember any special moment in one?
Jessica: I'm going to be cheesy, at last year's Katsucon. (laughs) And I think E3 2012, when I did the Lollipop Chainsaw thing. I met a couple of youtubers that I admire a lot, like Phillip de Franco and Kassem G. Whenever I go to a convention I meet Kassem G and I love it.
What do you think of Winter Freak?
Jessica: I love Winter Freak! I think it's Spain in general, the people ... I think cosplay here is like something newer and it seems like everything is growing. It's that spark, with everything boiling. I love it.
Ryan: I think the nice thing is that there are people cosplaying for the right reasons.. Just for fun and to spend time with partners. Here it is more authentic than in other events you can see in the United States.
Jessica: Yes, I think everything is more commercial there.
Ryan: Here you see people and remember that this is what you do it for.
Jessica: Exactly. That's the reason we all started and now we're seeing it here and now again.
That's why it's done, and I also think that everything here is very passionate. People in Spain in general are more passionate. They put a lot into everything they do. For example our friend Luis Maro, who has made a Ziggs suit. He is charming and very sweet. The contributors here are amazing. They treat you very well.
Jessica: I'm going to be cheesy, at last year's Katsucon. (laughs) And I think E3 2012, when I did the Lollipop Chainsaw thing. I met a couple of youtubers that I admire a lot, like Phillip de Franco and Kassem G. Whenever I go to a convention I meet Kassem G and I love it.
What do you think of Winter Freak?
Jessica: I love Winter Freak! I think it's Spain in general, the people ... I think cosplay here is like something newer and it seems like everything is growing. It's that spark, with everything boiling. I love it.
Ryan: I think the nice thing is that there are people cosplaying for the right reasons.. Just for fun and to spend time with partners. Here it is more authentic than in other events you can see in the United States.
Jessica: Yes, I think everything is more commercial there.
Ryan: Here you see people and remember that this is what you do it for.
Jessica: Exactly. That's the reason we all started and now we're seeing it here and now again.
That's why it's done, and I also think that everything here is very passionate. People in Spain in general are more passionate. They put a lot into everything they do. For example our friend Luis Maro, who has made a Ziggs suit. He is charming and very sweet. The contributors here are amazing. They treat you very well.
Jessica: We are talking to people to come to Spain more times. In principle, the idea would be to come to Madrid and Barcelona, but let's see how things go, because I want to return, since we have made great friends here. I think Shappi should come back too, because he's great. Oh is so cool!
Do you know or follow a Spanish cosplayer on social networks?
Jessica: Oh yeah! Maro, that is amazing. And all her friends. Yesterday we got together and met people with incredible cosplays of Tristana, Veigar, Teemo ... I think we know someone else. I think that sometimes we pay too much attention to the United States and when you leave there and see what is in other countries, you realize what is outside. We meet people like Maro and we think: "where have you been all this time?" It's great to meet new people, new faces, and new outfits.