Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Woods.
Hi Bianca, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up with 5 siblings, four of whom were older brothers who introduced me to video games and anime. I remember the first video game I ever played, Smash Brothers Melee on Gamecube, which is still a favorite of mine to this day. I played that game everyday that they weren’t hogging the controllers and fell in love with the ability to customize the characters, even if it was primarily as simple as changing the color of the same uniform. I also became fond of JRPGs and fighting games because of the ability to build and modify your character’s attire completely before going out and conquering your mission. It made it feel more personal, which in turn, made it more fun for me.
Once I got older, I stumbled upon anime, and like a lot of people, my first anime was Inuyasha. The admiration I had for how exciting the media and games coming out of Japan were sent me down a rabbit hole into exploring other aspects of the culture. Once I discovered that cosplay was a way to combine myself, the characters I love, and my creative energy, I started investing my free time and extra expenses into photoshoots and crafting for my costumes.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My experience with cosplay has been positive overall. I don’t place a lot of pressure on myself to create or compete. This is something that helps me feel confident and allows some time for meditation because it requires focus. The struggle of learning the art of crafting nothing into something is a struggle I enjoy, so I see it more as a positive challenge. It makes me admire full-time cosplayers and people with a high skill level for creating costumes that much more because I understand how much time, effort, and attention to detail it takes to get it right!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I don’t limit myself with my cosplay, so I will photoshoot characters that range from video games, anime, comic books, or original makeup looks. For example, around Halloween, I created a zombie version of Chun Li from Street Fighter with latex, tissues, and cosmetic paint. A few of my favorites are my shots of Poison Ivy from DC comics, Makima from Chainsaw Man, and Todoroki Shoto from My Hero Academia. I’m most proud of my Gojo Satoru shoot that I did in Japan last year. It was a full circle moment of being in the country that originated the art of what I was doing, and it was a surreal experience.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Other than playing video games with my siblings, as I mentioned before, my favorite childhood memory is listening to my parents perform live music in the garage. My mother sang, and my father played bass. They would sometimes take us to their performances, and seeing them both in their element of getting dressed up and performing, I’m certain, is part of why I enjoy creative arts as much as I do now.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: chibibicosplays
- Facebook: Chibibi Cosplays
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