Ivy Doomkitty was in San Jose for Silicon Valley Comic Con and Jay Snook was able to ask her a few questions.
—
Comic conventions are happening all across the country lately. They have them in all of the major cities and each one houses its own unique brand of stars, celebrities and some even have tables with professional cosplayers. Jay Snook has attended a number of conventions lately as a press and has seen Ivy Doomkitty a couple of times. When he attended Silicon Valley Comic Con in San Jose he ran into her and was able to ask some questions on a number of different things. Here are some things he learned about this wonderful cosplayer.
How long have you been cosplaying?
Ivy Doomkitty: For about four years, well it will be four years this year.
What originally got you interested in cosplaying?
Ivy Doomkitty: Honestly just the creative outlet and being able to dress up as your favorite comic book and video game characters. For me it is something that always appealed to me. I grew up playing video games and watching all of the 90’s comic book cartoons. Like Batman, Superman and all of that stuff. When I went to my very first Con I saw all of these different cosplayers and people in costume. I didn’t know what the term was at the time. I said you know I want to do that. I want to dress up as Mystique and this character and that character, you know this is great. This is my childhood but re-imagined as an adult.
What are some of your favorite cosplays?
Ivy Doomkitty: Currently Bison. Bison is definitely a favorite. Meg Griffin is fun, I enjoy cosplaying as her. And Kylo Ren, my most recent one is a lot of fun.
Can you tell me a bit about the cause you are a part of?
Ivy Doomkitty: Oh Kitt Crusaders. We are a non profit organization based in southern California and we help save cats and kittens from high kill shelters. Since it is very, very high kill in the area that we are in. So it is a really, really small organization comprised of four heads and then everybody there is a volunteer. These are all women that have full time jobs and just volunteer whatever time they have to try to save all of these cats especially since we are in kitten season right now. We get them spayed or neutered and find a forever home for them. We are very selective about placing them in peoples homes. We always screen everybody to make sure that cat is a good fit for that home. But is has been really successful, we hope to be able to grow and actually have an actual facility where people can come in and play with them and adopt them out from there.
How did you originally get involved with them?
Ivy Doomkitty: Funny thing I was contacted by Katrina Law, she plays Nyssa on CW’s Arrow. She shot me an email asking if I was interested in doing a photo shoot for them where 100% of the sales of each one of the photos would go towards the charity. So I went in and I did it, spoke to them and fell in love with one of the cats I was shooting with there. I ended up adopting that cat. After that just started promoting their work more and more, learning more about them and now I am on their board.
How many members are a part of that organization at the moment?
Ivy Doomkitty: I honestly couldn’t tell you. There is so many because it is all volunteer based so it is depending on who has time at that moment or not to just go and pick up a cat or go get one from the hospital. You know anything like that. Transporting them, feeding them and things like that.
Where is its base of operations?
Ivy Doomkitty: The adoptions are held out of Petco in LA, I would need to look at the actual address. The other location is 100 North Larchmont Blvd in Los Angeles.
How many conventions do you go to each year?
Ivy Doomkitty: It varies. My first year as a cosplayer I did sixteen conventions. My second year I did about thirty. Last year I decided to start cutting down a bit and went down to twenty six. This year I will be doing more around nineteen.
What is the hardest thing about being a cosplayer at a Con?
Ivy Doomkitty: I would say the most difficult thing is if you go and you don’t have a handler. It can be very taxing especially if you have a very large costume that you can’t see all of its components and you need someone to help you with that or get into and out of it. But overall everything is usually fine. Maybe eating, not forgetting to eat is always an issue.
What would be some advice you would give to people who want to get into cosplay?
Ivy Doomkitty: Just have fun. Have fun, go with it. Enjoy yourself. Pick a character that you feel passionately towards.
Most of the time she has a booth and can be followed on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr. If you happen to attend a convention in your city it is worth it taking the time to meet her and talk to her. If you want to learn more about Kitt Crusaders click on the link. She always is wearing amazing costumes that won’t been seen that often.To see where she will be next follow her on social media for updates.
Source: 30dB.com – @IvyDoomkitty