~Getting Ready...

Hmm...where should I begin? Oh yes, it all started in mid September. I was browsing around online and I came across a page full of anime convention coverage. At the bottom of the page there was a link that took me to a website will a list of upcoming conventions. Lo and Behold there was one right in Tennessee taking place in November. My dad seemed to love the idea, so we decided to go. I really wanted to make a costume for the cosplay. I tried really hard to find an easy yet nice looking costume that I could put together. Finally I decided on Star Sailor Mnemosyne from the manga version of Sailor Moon Sailor Stars.

Come mid October I had found the base of my dress. Then a storm brewed up....

In order to make that sailor collar thingie, I needed the same color fabric as the dress but I couldn't find it anywhere. My mom insisted on buying different color fabric because "no one would be able to tell the difference." Well I could tell the difference so I ended up spending $15 on another dress just so I could cut it up-.-; I think the costume turned out great!

Then my dad and I had set off for Tennessee ( I live in Kentucky)

~At the Con...

Boy was I nervous!! Gosh, everyone was at least 2 years older than me! I arrived a bit late and I had to rush to get to the Cosplay Q&A. I did not want to miss the Q&A because this was my first convention. I looked around and discovered that I was the only one not in costume so after the Q&A I went into a bathroom to change.

Fully costumed, my dad and I decided to check out the dealer room. There was SO MUCH STUFF!! It was an anime lover's heaven! I had $30 to spend but i just couldn't decide what to get...there was just so much! After about an hour of searching, I chose a Tenchi Muyo artbook and a kawaii 10th anniversary Sailor Moon plushie ^-^

After I finished shopping, my dad asked if I wanted to go check out the art room. Of course I did!! On our way downstairs, a guy asked to take my picture! So I stood in front of a black sheet and 3 people took my photograph. ^-^

Halfway down to the art room, my dad looked at the events sheet and said, " look, there are movies playing!" I looked at the paper. The only movie I wanted to see was " Cardcaptors, The Movie 2~Enchanted Cards" but it was playing during the cosplay ;_;

I looked at a clock. It was time for the guest panel!! I ran upstairs, with my 3 inch high shoes clonking loudly with every step I took. I skidded into the main room just in time. The guests were Tiffany Grant, voice of Asuka from Neon Genisis (she even wore her hair like Asuka's; Complete with the lil red hair doo dads), Kira Solar, voice of Dota from Sorcerer Hunters, Debi Derryberry, voice of Ryo-ohki from Tenchi Muyo and Jimmy Neutron o.O;;;, Bill Timoney, voice of Dew from Eyes of Mars and Sonnt Strait, voice of Krillin from DragonballZ. I listened to the guests talk for an hour then I got their autographs ^-^

After the guest panel we went to our hotel room and ate McDonalds. After a lunch, we headed back to the lobby. We got back just in time to see a few of the comedy anime music videos. They were really funny, especially the Ranma 1/2 one "The Man Song" and Sailor Moon one with "Dirty Pop" by N*SYNC o.O;

After the AMV's were over (they were running a bit late) the judges called all the cosplayers into the main room to get ready. As I walked to the main room I passed a lady with naked sailor scouts on her shirt. That was just SICK so I yelled "HEY THERE ARE CHILDREN HERE LADY!" u.u;

The judges lined us up in a tiny room and began calling people out to perform. I WAS SECOND IN LINE! ><;; After an over-exited vegeta, I went on. My legs felt like marshmallows >< I slowly walked up on stage and spun around...then I walked off. I sat quietly during the rest of the cosplay. After the last skit my dad motioned to his watch meaning it was time for my movie. I snuck out of the main room and down to video room 2. There were some er...technical difficulties before my movie began but it turned out alright. After the movie I walked back upstairs for the awards. I won second place in the youth division! I was awarded with a talking model of Akira Endou, a character from Sentimental Graffiti.

~After The Con

Next year I am going as Akira Endue. My model inspired me ^.~ I had the time of my life at the MTAC 2 1/2! I hope to see some more Sailor Moon costumes next year. The only one besides mine was a Sailor Mars ;_;

(Note: Click pictures for full-size images)

Pic #1 is me on stage, pic#2 is a really nice Sakura, pic#3 is a group picture of some people doing skits, pic#4 is Sailor Mars, and pic#5 is Neo Queen Serenity.