France 🇫🇷

Beryllium (solo): Hi ! I’m Beryllium ! A lot of my friends call me Bery. In real life I’m Helena and I’m 28 (but still 25 at heart!). I love anime, magical girls and cats ! I’ve been cosplaying since 2010 but I try to enter in big contests since 2022 . It’s my first international comp so I’m excited, also a little nervous but fun before everything !

Platine (duo): Hello, I’m Platine Cosplay aka Luna! I started cosplaying 3 years ago at the same time as Byzarye. I haven’t been able to stop since! What I love about cosplay is creating things by hand, performing on stage, meeting people and making plushies to go with my cosplays. I’ve had the opportunity to do several scenes, win several first prizes, and be a judge from time to time! Aside from that, I’m an IT technician and a big Pokémon fan. I’m really looking forward to representing France at the ICL with Byzarye!

Byzarye (duo): Hello, I’m Byzarye, aka Anouk. I’ve been cosplaying for three years now, just like my duo! Costumes are more than just a passion for me, they’re what I want to do in my life. Beyond cosplay, I’m aiming to be a costume designer in the film industry. I love spending hours sewing, painting and sanding, as much as competing on stage or going to conventions! Representing France at the ICL is an incredible adventure, and all I’m looking forward to is the final!

How did you discover cosplay and what made you start in this hobby? How long ago?

Beryllium (solo): I discovered it in a magazine and on internet forums in 2010, I was prepping my very first convention visit at 14years old with my parents and I saw people where comming in costume ! I was extatic. I was like « I love dressing up, I love anime/manga, that’s a yes for me » and it sticked with me since then.

Platine (duo): I started cosplaying 3 years ago. I’d been going to conventions and seeing cosplayers for years, but I never really thought of becoming one myself. I finally took the plunge at the end of 2021 and bought Megumin’s cosplay. I then crafted her mage staff, and that’s when I discovered my passion! I’ve always been creative, so I liked it straight away. I then took sewing lessons and started making everything by hand.

Byzarye (duo): Three years ago, I stumbled across Kamui Cosplay’s account, and from there, it was obvious that I wanted to do cosplay. I’ve always loved tinkering, sewing, electronics, jewellery, modelling and painting, but each time I got bored. Doing cosplay, it’s impossible, there are so many different techniques for each costume!

What does cosplay mean for you? And what is your favorite part of the hobby?

Beryllium (solo): It is the thing that allowed me to challenge my shyness! I was really shy as a kid but meeting new people, becoming friends with them, showing up on stage made me go «out of my shell». It even allowed me to meet my lover!

Honestly my favorite part is sewing, I can learn new technics at every project, hoard fabrics like a goblin and I love to stay for hours in my sewing room !

Platine (duo): I love almost everything about Cosplay (except the rush, I’m doing everything to avoid it), but what I like to do most often in my free-time is sewing for my cosplays, I really love sewing and I love my sewing machine. My favourite thing about cosplaying is being able to go out to conventions with my cosplays and meet lots of people with whom I can share this passion while roleplaying a character I love.

What cosplay means to me… that’s a complicated question. Since I discovered this passion, it’s what drives me forward and pushes me beyond my limits every day. The days when I don’t make at least a little progress on my incoming cosplays are rare, and when I don’t do any for a long time, I end up missing it. Cosplay just makes me feel good, and I’m lucky that the people around me are so supportive.

Byzarye (duo): For me, cosplay represents … 100% of my free time and often even my not free time … In short, my great passion. Having projects changes a life! Thanks to cosplay, I’ve found what I wanted to do with my life : being a costume designer; I’ve made friends, to mention just one, the one and only Platine!

I find it impossible to choose a part of cosplay that I prefer, it’s a whole! Of course I could choose the incredible moment of the first fitting, when everything comes together. But there are also the hours of crafting and sewing, the makeup, the shootings, the stage appearances, the conventions, and even the rush before an event. That’s why cosplay is my passion, not sewing or acting.

What changes do you see in the cosplay community in your country compared to when you started?

Beryllium (solo): It is so much more easy than before ! Now with all the ressources available everyone can learn new technics really fast and a lot more in details !

Like for wig and makeup, back then we made some really simple « beauy » things, now you can push the details so far and it’s so cool ! Wig now can have the exact shape you want and it’s so impressive !

Same for performances, people are so good on stage, the stories they tell us are so interessting !

Platine & Byzarye (duo): Beyond the expansion of the community, the biggest change we’ve seen is that cosplay is becoming increasingly accepted and respected. Cosplayers are no longer automatically considered as cringe weebos, which is cool!

Why did you choose that project for the ICL national selection? Is this your first time joining an international cosplay competition?

Beryllium (solo): 

I loooove Sakizou’s work, It is so detailled ! The rococo vibes, the elegance, all the challenges on the costume! I bought the purple fabric in like 2018 with that exact design in mind, I only made it in 2023 and I’m glad to have waited until I had the skills to make it as I wanted!

It is my first time in an international competition yes!

Platine & Byzarye (duo): For the final, we have chosen Ryuko Matoi and Mako Mankanshoku from Kill la Kill because these two characters represent each of us and our friendship well. Our cosplays don’t usually come from the same universes/inspirations, but Ryuko and Mako both come from an anime that we really like, and have endearing personalities. We’d already done Mako and Ryuko (classic uniforms) for the selection, but in different, much simpler outfits. We like the idea of being able to keep the same characters throughout the adventure.
This is the first time we will be taking part in an international competition, so the pressure is strong!

What do you expect from your visit to Spain? Is this your first time visiting the country? 

Beryllium (solo): It is my first time in spain ! I want to meet all the sweet people from this ICL year !  And also eat all the delicious specialty hehe.

Platine & Byzarye (duo): It’s not the first time we’ve been to Spain, but this is the first time we’re going together. We’re hoping to do our best on stage, and make the most of it with all other participants. It’s also a great opportunity for us to meet new people and visit a convention abroad.

Have you decided your project for the finals in Madrid? May you give us a clue? 

Beryllium (solo): I have decided really fast after my selection, I despise to rush things so I wanted to start early. It is again a choice guided by a fabric crush,and only god knows how much I still love that fabric after buying more than 20m and drowning in it for 6 months lol.
The character is the villain from a ghost movie by Guillermo del Toro, I think it is a big clue lol

Platine & Byzarye (duo): For the final Byzarye chose Ryuko’s ‘Kamui Senkentsu’ shape and Platine chose Mako’s ‘2-star’ uniform.

Describe the cosplay community in your country using five words.

Beryllium (solo): Showstopping, Community, Talented, Competitive, Fun.

Platine & Byzarye (duo): Mutual support, Growing, friendly, High level, Theatrical (roleplay).

Link to your Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter (add other social media if relevant):

Beryllium (solo):

Instagram : @Beryllium_Chou

Facebook : beryllium cosplay

Platine (duo): https://www.instagram.com/platine.cosplay/

Byzarye (duo): https://www.instagram.com/byzarye/

Beryllium, Platine and Byzarye were selected at TGS.