Cosplay Arabia - December 2018

December 2018
DARK PHOENIX
ANYA DOGARI
TURNS UP THE HEAT
48
PAGE EDITION
MEET THE
FINEST
COSPLAYERS
IN BAHRAIN
EXCLUSIVE
INTERVIEW
HASSAN AKA
AWESOME_OLOGY
NEW KID ON
THE BLOCK
AMANI AL SHAIKH’S
PENNYWISE SPINOFF
FRESH &
UNFORGIVING
ANGEL TALKS
BAHRAIN COMIC CON
ANIMANIA 2018
EVENT COVERAGE

2
Cosplay Arabia
Editor’s Say :
Cosplay Arabia / Vol01
It is one thing to take the path less trodden, to carve your
own path in the sands of time. No markers, no guides, no
footprints left behind by those who have traveled before.
But what if we weren’t meant to look for guides? What if
we weren’t looking to carve a path even? What if we were
meant to take to the sky like birds, leaving no footprints
behind.
Launching this magazine has been just that- a culmination
of talent across the board, from creative published writers
to social media influencers and bloggers – all the way to
cosplayers who have been showcasing their art at events
across the region. What was once just snippets of news
articles and considered a photographers muse is now a full
blown magazine with insights into the regional cosplay
saga. Expect to learn about the origins of this artform in the
middle east along with the challenges faced by cosplayers in
the region with this edition.
This Magazine would not have been possible without the
love and support of the Bahrain Cosplay Community. We’d
like to thank Baraa Abdullah for his insightful thoughts &
brilliant advice, Samar Almeer for supporting us with the
launch and all the cosplayers featured for their time and
patience.
Personally, I’d like to state this magazine would not have
been possible without Haneen’s tireless support and
understanding. We both would collectively like to thank our
parents, siblings, friends and sponsors who believed in us
and gave us their feedback & support.
We can go on and on about cosplayers, profiles, DIY, Comic
Book Conventions we’ve attended, amazing people we’ve
met through this medium and tons more – but it’s time we let
you “get on with the show” that’s awaiting you just beyond
this page!
Editor In Chief : Ibrahim Ansari
Associate Editor: Mohammed Farija
Talent Relations: Haneen Farwan
Journalist/Writers: Sanchali Roy,
Mirna Almaz, Ouiam El Hassani,
Noor AlNoaimi, Zeeshan Asghar
Graphic Designer: Bogdan Eric
Marketing: Yasmina Koshel
Publisher: The Silver Kick Company
facebook.com/cosplayarabia
- Ibrahim & Haneen
@cosplayarabia / @mia.shot
www.cosplayarabia.com
The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion
of Matski Resources Co. WLL or its product “Cosplay Arabia” nor its publisher. They carry no responsibility for
the opinion expressed therein. Due to the social nature of this magazine, it may contain content copyrighted by
other individuals or entities. Cosplay Arabia does not claim copyright to said content in the form of names or
references to certain fictional characters or their likeness, usage of which falls within “Fair Use” under section
107 of the US Copyright Act.
Copyrights: Matski Resources CO. W.L.L | CR# 122164-1 | P. 973-34-211-869
E. info@cosplayarabia.com

CONTENT
Cosplay Arabia
3
6
Reem
Hajji
14
Hassan
Awesome_ology
18
Amani
Alshaikh
We interview the SFX
makeup extraordinaire !
Young blood bringing
creativity to the front
Meet the new kid on the
block tearing it up !
20
A n ya
Dogari
Cover Story - Animania
2018 Winner
24
Animania
2018
Event Coverage by
Mirna Almaz
34
AlAradi
Sisters
Maram & Marwa give us
Overwatch vibes
40
Arah
Bella
Our International
Cosplayer from the UK
42
Isa
Sadat
Tearing up zombies -
Aim for the Head !
44 Angel
Lioness
Bahrain Comic Con
Cosplay Judge Shares All

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Cosplay Arabia
“Hideous is the New Beautiful”
In a world full of creatures with gorgeous hair, long legs, stunning looks, and
killer abs, I want to be “Hellboy” …. and if you don’t know who that is, it is a
cosplay character: The son of a demon and a witch, who didn’t exactly win the
genetic lottery. The likable and good-hearted Hellboy, doesn’t really have the
classically handsome superhero look; However, this adventurous tough-guy has a
strong will and a desire to do what’s right.
If you are still wondering why would I opt for hideous when the cosplay world is
full of beautiful, sexy characters, my answer is very simple! Because I want to be
different! I want to stand out and display what is far more important than how I
look.
In this endlessly creative and truly artistic world of role playing, freedom is
given to you on a silver platter! You get to pick and choose what speaks most to
you, your soul, and mind. You get to live your wildest dreams, but in order to do
that you will have to be brave enough, courageous enough to face the outside
world. The ugly looks that “normal” people will shoot your way, and the nasty
comments, but most of all you will have to face your worst critics, and the most
heartless judge of all! YOURSELF!
In the normal world where Fashinistas and Models have sabotaged almost
everyone’s choices of what’s really beautiful, one finds himself in a tricky
war against himself. When the screens are filled with perfect bodies, perfect
shapes, perfect skins, perfect lives…. it is almost a sin to be on the other side of
the equation. When your hair isn’t silky and your skin doesn’t glow, you start
wanting to feel invisible … You doubt yourself and your values. So when it comes
to defying the community and its standards, dressing up like a fictional character,
and swaying around giving a chance to every wandering eyes to squint and
every turned head to shake and every eyebrow to raise, not only you are
considered different, but you are also seen as “weird” and “unwanted”. Especially
when we live in a relatively conservative environment, you become the odd one,
the creepy one.
Cosplay –ing- is a transformation that allows you to break free from a world full
of rules and regulations. It is incredibly enticing and unbelievably rewarding! It
is a way to reinvent yourself very elaborately, and be very comfortable with it.
Even if your body doesn’t look exactly like what you want it to, even if it means
that you will not look pretty, and desirable, even if people stair! It is something to
be proud of. It should add value to who you are, regardless of how you look.
So the next time you look in the mirror and meet the slightest hint of doubt,
shame, or uncertainty in your eyes, remember that different is great, different is
beautiful!
Ouiam El Hassani

CONTRIBUTORS
Cosplay Arabia
5
Sanchali Roy
Blogger
Sanchali Roy is a Lifestyle Blogger, Content Creator,
Newspaper and Magazine Contributor. Her columns have
been published in “Weekender Bahrain”, “The Daily Tribune
(News of Bahrain)” and many more.
She is the Social Ambassador for brands like “Radisson Blu
Bahrain”, “The FaceShop Bahrain”, “Reef Resort”, “Vivanta by
Taj”, “Mikasa Beauty” to name a few.
Contact her via her website SancSuum.com, via e-mail at
sanchali@sancsuum.com or @sancsuum on Instagram.
Ouiam El Hassani
Journalist
Ouiam El Hassani is a Blogger and columnist with Woman
this Month magazine.
At her core she is a Journalist, Tai Chi Teacher, Childbirth
educator, and a former HR manager. She is passionate about
writing and about life in general.
You can contact her via her blog: www.chanelmama.com ,
via Email: ouiam.elhassani@hotmail.fr or via her social media
account on Instagram: @chanelmama.bh
Mirna Almaz
Entrepreneur
Mirna Almaz is an ex-creative director who is now a full-time
mommy and business owner.
She is passionate about art, design, music, self expression
and improvement, books and the world of fantasy and sci-fi
culminating into co-ownership of “The Ravens Nest Cafe” in
Budaya. She is also the co-owner of “The Little Design Shop”.
You can contact her via her blog: www.mirnaalmaz.com, via
twitter @AlmazMirna or via her Instagram - @almazmirna &
@Theravensnest.bh
Noor AlNoaimi
Writer
Noor Al Noaimi is a professional writer currently juggling
motherhood, a day job and a passion for literature.
Her first novella “The Pearl Thief” set her on the path of
professional writing with the likes of Guide Magazine,
FP7, The Daily Tribune, Perle Magazine and other local
publications. Her best work, she says- is still unpublished.
You can contact her via e-mail : njalnoaimi@gmail.com

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Cosplay Arabia
SFX
QUEEN
REEM
HAJJI
Characters: Corpse Bride & Chucky
Text: Haneen Al Farwan
Artistic, Multi-talented, Creative,
the OG of Cinematic Special Effects
& Glamour Makeup as well as a stage
actress - Reem Hajji AKA “Vanity
Toonz” is a 19 year old self taught and
self made freelance makeup artist
who entered the world of cosplay by
chance !
Her Instagram feed led her to win
first place for cosplaying as Chucky
and the rest is history.
Q. So Reem what inspired you to
enter the world of cosplay?
A. It was honestly seeing other
cosplayers at IGN 2014, which was my
first convention ever that fascinated
me to do this. Knowing that there
was a community out there wherein
everyone was turning into different
characters from games, movies,
Anime, etc. was very interesting and I
thought “huh, maybe I should give it a
go” and I just went with it.
Q. You are also known to be a special
effects makeup artist. When did that
start?
A. Funny thing is that getting into FX
was also just a spur of the moment

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7
type of thing. I grew up in a home
of artists and I used to draw a
lot of cartoons as a kid. One day
a friend of mine sent me this
YouTube video of “pinkstylist”,
a famous FX artist on YouTube
saying “hey this guy seems
interesting, he is very good at
what he does” which also sparked
my interest - a moment of “hmmm
let me dabble in that”. And
that’s how I started it - initially
from face painting all the way
to bringing characters such as
Chucky & Corpse bride to life.
Q. What’s the best reaction
you’ve ever gotten from people?
A. Oh God (laughs) I remember
at a convention I was cosplaying
as the Devil. Me and my friends
were practicing for our skit under
a staircase which was kind of
dark. A group of guys passing by
freaked out and got scared of me
due to my sudden appearance,
it wasn’t my intention to scare
them, but hey - it worked.
Q. Oh My God (LOL), so basically
the character worked it came
to life. By that, do you believe
that a person has to have
certain qualities to pull off their
characters?
A. I believe if you set your mind
to it, anyone can pull off any
cosplay. I don’t think it should
matter if you look like the
character or not, you just do you!
Q. On average how long does it
take for you to achieve a look?
And what part of the process
do you find takes more time for
you?
A. What takes the most time
for me is the hair and makeup
because I heavily focus on that.
I don’t really take a long time to
assemble the look, I usually build
up to it using what’s around me
or just purchase it piece by piece
and props I usually have on hand
like Chuckey’s knife which I got
from my mom’s kitchen.

8
Cosplay Arabia
“...Don’t be afraid to be judged, and
don’t be afraid to make mistakes...”
Q. If you could cosplay
anywhere in the world,
where would it be?
A. Oh definitely Dragcon
in LA.
Q. What advice would
you have for those who
are new to the cosplay
scene?
A. Don’t be afraid to
show your skills, don’t
be afraid to be judged,
and don’t be afraid to
make mistakes. We are
all human in the end,
you can do whatever
you want - don’t let
anyone stop you with
their mean comments
and judgment, just do
you and be yourself.
RAPID FIRE
1. Marvel or DC ?
DC
2. Batman or Superman ?
Batman, Superman is stupid
(laughs)
3. Sony or Nintendo ?
Sony all the way
4. Anime or Manga ?
Anime
5. Console or PC ?
Console of course
6. Cats or Dogs ?
Cats
7. Three things you can’t live
without?
My car | Contact lenses |
Hope for the future
8. Social Media ?
Instagram @vanity_toonz

and act like them. For
example - Corpse Bride
- I saw myself in her.
She is a corpse who
could have married the
love of her life “victor”
but instead sacrificed
her happiness to see
him happy - a tale of
forgiveness and sacrifice.
Q. Why choose Chucky?
A. Because he is cute and
he is crazy, I think he is
very funny, he is happy
killing people and I like
that.
Q. Do you think
anything is missing
in Bahrain in regards
to special effects or
cosplaying?
Cosplay Arabia
9
Q. Have you had
any opportunities to
showcase your work,
besides conventions and
this magazine?
A. (Laughing) well yes
for the magazine. I’ve
had many shoots but it
wasn’t for cosplay - it
was mostly to showcase
my art and my work as
a special effects makeup
artist.
Q. Do you think there is
a career opportunity in
Cosplay?
Definitely, anyone can if
they wanted to.
Q. How do you choose
your character? What
makes you say I want to
cosplay as this person?
A. We definitely lack
lots of professional
Courses in Special
Effects and products like
“Pro Makeup” wax, liquid
latex, and for cosplaying
wigs and costumes.
Q. Any future
characters you would
bring to life soon?
A. Nothing planned
yet, but people do
recommend I cosplay as
the queen of hearts from
Alice in Wonderland.
Q. Finally, what’s next
and where to from here?
A. Growing my brand
Vanity Toons and
becoming a Certified
Special Effects and
Cinematic makeup artist.
And I would love to be a
MAC certified makeup
artist as well and of
course graduate college
(laughs).
A. If I see myself in the
character I will do it, it
makes it easier to mimic

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Cosplay Arabia
LAYLA
BALOOSHI
Character: L | Deathnote
Text: Sanchali Roy

Mild mannered
Cosplayer, Performance
Poet, and Model living
in Bahrain, Layla Yousif
is known as a calm
Graphic Design student
who never misses a due
date. A dreamer, full of
positivity and optimism,
she believes in making
the best of a situation
and turning it into a fun
ride. We sat down with
this beautiful soul who
is out to decorate the
world in glitter.
Q. Before we start, let’s
first talk about you and
cosplaying. What got
you interested and how
long have you been into
it?
A. What first got me
interested was a close
friend of mine I saw
cosplay for the first time
in one of the events.
Since then, just
seeing everyone was
so refreshing and
interesting [I just had
to try it]. I’ve been
cosplaying (for about) 3
to 4 years now.
Q. What was it like
dawning a suit for the
first time?
Cosplay Arabia
A. Cosplaying for the
first time was fun and
nerve-wrecking at the
same time. The character
I chose to do (The Joker)
was more complex than
expected.
Q. That’s awesome.
Being a student, how do
you save money up for
your hobby?
A. Well, finance wise
taking care of cosplaying
can be tricky. Since I’m a
graphic design student, I
don’t have enough time
to have a job and balance
my studies at the same
time. So I save up as
much money as I can
from what I get from any
part of my life (laughs).
Q. When you were just
starting out, what were
your biggest Questions?
A. Well, my biggest
questions (starting
out) were usually
around how to fill in
my eyebrows the same
color as my wig, how
to determine a good
wig and a bad one
quality wise, and (most
importantly) how to
stay comfortable with so
many props.
11

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Cosplay Arabia
“the worst cosplay advice I’ve gotten is that I
should let any type of confliction slide in the
event. If someone bothers another person it is
important to speak up”
Q. Spot on. How do you
pick your costumes?
Do you have a special
connection to the
character?
A. Connection to the
character! Yup, I pick
my characters through
admiring them in some
way or form. (I do feel a
connection) with most of
them, that is correct.
Q. What do you consider
your most memorable
outfit to be?
A. Ahh, my most
memorable cosplay
would be my “Classic
Harley Quinn” cosplay. I
love the character and I
worked hard on it. I was
glad to see the audience
love it [just as much as I
did].
Q. What’s the worst
cosplaying advice
you’ve ever received?
A. Ehh, the worst
cosplay advice I’ve
gotten is that I should let
any type of confliction
slide in the event.
If someone bothers
another person it is
important to speak up.
Q. What are you
planning on doing (or
redoing) in the future?
A. I’ve already redone
some but there are
a few I can’t wait
to do. (For instance)
certain characters
like “Marceline” from
Adventure Time, “A
Genderbender of Hades”
from Hercules, “Belle” from
Beauty and the Beast, and so on.
Q. What are some of the best
things you’ve learned about
yourself since you’ve started
this new hobby?
A. Oooh! [I have learned so
much]. I realized that i have so
many sides to my personality
and I believe that everyone is
like that. It’s very fascinating to
be able to see how I and other
people are able to adapt to
certain situations.
Q. Currently, how many
costumes do you have?
A. I still consider myself an
amateur so I would say I have
over 6 (six).
Q. Not bad for an amateur. Are
there any other cosplayers that
you really admire?
Layla: I admire all cosplayers
(because) I can see how much
effort they put into their
cosplays. It’s always nice to see
people doing what they love.
Q. Are you competitive when
it comes to cosplaying or is
it just a way to express your
creativity?
A. For me, it’s not about being
competitive, it’s all about
having fun and being creative.
Every cosplayer is unique and
brings something different to
the table for me.
Q. Lastly, where can we find
you online?
A. When it comes to following
me online, I use my Instagram
to showcase my cosplays and
just my life in general. My
Instagram is @laylabalooshi96.
Thanks so much Layla for
taking the time to talk with
us.
Layla recently participated at
the Ravens Nest Halloween
party in costume and continues
to hone her skills for future
events.

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13
ALI
ASHOOR
Character: Reverse Flash | DC
Ali Yusuf Ahmed
Ashoor, a familiar
face to those acquainted with
the comic book convention
scene in Bahrain. That’s
because he has been actively
participating in almost
every single pop culture
event for the past 5 years.
Unsurprisingly, he loves
geeking out and playing video
games in his spare time – but
what caught us off-guard
was his love and subsequent
training in the Bahrain
Aviation Sector.
The first public event he
attended in Bahrain was the
IGN 2013, but off late he has
been attending international
events such as Middle East
Film & Comic Con in Dubai
& more recently the MCM
London Comic Con. The
primary difference between
our locally organized events
and those on an international
level is the sheer size, better
organization and availability
of more celebrities on hand to
enrich the overall experience,
according to Ali.
Being an avid DC fan - his
reverse flash costume
featured here is one of his
most cherished costumes. It
also happens to be his most
expensive outfit to date.
While Ali isn’t intent on
competing to win when it
comes to contests - he is very
content being part of the
Bahrain cosplay community
which he says is “a group of
very passionate good people”
- his favorite local cosplayer
happens to be retired cosplay
queen Fofie Sarhan while
his favorite international
cosplayer is Enji Night.
Ali recently won 3rd place at
the VR Cube launch event at
Avenues Mall Bahrain.
The main difference between
our locally organized events
and those on an international
level are RAPID the sheer FIRE size, better
organization 1. Marvel and or availability
DC ?
of more celebrities on hand to
enrich the overall DC experience
according 2. Batman to Ali. or Superman ?
Being an avid Batman DC fan - his
reverse 3. Sony flash or costume Nintendo ?
featured in the images is
Sony
one of his most cherished
costumes. 4. Anime It also or happens Manga ? to
be his most expensive outfit
Manga
to date.
5. Console or PC ?
You can find
Console
Ali on Instagram
@aliyusuf_ashoor2 & at the
next Bahrain 6. Cats Comic or Dogs Con ? in
2019. Cats
7.Dream Con Destination
Japan, best place for Geeks
8. Social Media ?
Insta - @aliyusuf_ashoor2

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14
HASSAN -
AWESOME_OLOGY
Character: Marilyn Manson
Text: Haneen Al Farwan
Hassan AKA Awesomeology
is a vibrant cosplayer,
a walking canvas and a role
model to thousands, but
when not in character – he
has a quiet personality and is
surprisingly down to earth.
His cosplays generally consist
of Disney characters, original
creations and sometimes
crossplay wherein he loves
adding his own special touch
to set them apart.
Q. You have been in the
Cosplay Scene, performing,
competing, and bringing to
life many attention-grabbing
characters, what inspired you
to pursue this?
A. It first started when I
saw a friend of mine – Farah
Sarhan (Fofie) having these
cool pictures on Instagram
of herself in different wigs,
outfits and a lot of things at
various venues. I sent her a
message, asked what she was
up to? And without answering
all she said was “there is an
event today at BIC come now
and I’ll explain” - literally no
other explanation. I got there
& the event was AICON 2013
- she was wearing a purple
wig and I also got to see @
Geekyemokun (cosplayer) -
basically she introduced me
to this world I didn’t know
anything about at the time.
Fast forward a few years
and we’ve become great
friends and attended several
conventions together. I’ve
learned so much from her
and get teary eyed when she
compliments my cosplays - I
consider Fofie my cosplay
mother.
Q. How touching ! Since she
is, as you said the one who
inspired you to cosplay,
tell us about your first
convention.
A. Oh god it wasn’t something
I prepared for very well. I just
wanted to show a character I
could relate to so I eventually
narrowed it down to Peeta

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15
from Hunger Games because I’m a huge fan and read all
the books. The cosplay however was very minimal - I
just wore a black jacket and covered myself in bruises
(Laughs).
“I get teary eyed when
she compliments my
cosplays - I consider
Fofie my cosplay
mother”
Q. What do you feel is the most important part of
cosplaying?
A. Just have fun, I mean it’s all about bringing a
character that you admire to life and having some fun
with it. In the end, focus on having a great time & don’t
stress over it. Like when I cosplayed as the mad Hatter…
well… Cross played if you want to categorize it - I was
wearing a corset, a wig, a giant hat, huge boots and
it was extremely uncomfortable but I didn’t feel it as
much because I was having fun with the character - I
absolutely forgot about the pain.

16
Cosplay Arabia
“I really enjoy adding my
own twist to the characters
I portray”
Q. Which one do you
feel stood out the most?
A. Laughing Jack! I’ve
gained so much from
this character. There
were both kids & adults
contacting me on a
daily basis who found
my video on YouTube,
which has over 100,000
views and was taken
by a close friend. These
people were giving me so
much positive feedback
on the cosplay and the
performance. I’ve made
some close friends
and even got some fan
sketches from that.
Q. You have over 15 different unique looks on
your social media account - each a masterpiece in
its own right. How do you choose your looks?
A. I always look for something I haven’t seen
before, especially in Bahrain. I tend to look for
characters that aren’t commonly portrayed -
ultimately narrowing down my choices to one.
Like Maleficent for example - yes there have been
a few versions portrayed by cosplayers here before
- but never a “gender bend” cosplay. I really enjoy
adding my own twist to the characters I portray. Iv
seldom done a 100% accurate portrayal - It has to
be personalized in some shape or form for me to be
satisfied with my creation.

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17
who doesn’t care much
to fit in with a certain
crowd or group.
I like to bring my own
thing to the table and
Marilyn Manson is kind
of that way if you look at
it. He definitely stood out
and did not fit with the
pop culture, everyone
considered him as a freak
but he is just a musician
like the rest of them -
albeit unique in his own
way.
Moreover, I like to add
my own element of
surprise, a “twist” so to
speak. Even though he
is a real life musician yet
his appearance and his
individuality makes him
unique - almost like a
fictional character.
Q. What Would be your
dream Cosplay?
A. I would love to do
Effie Trinket or Caesar
Flickerman from The
Hunger Games. Their
style and their look
is very vibrant and
colorful - so much detail
goes into their look and
the embroidery in their
costumes gives it great
charisma which exudes
power with a Victorian
yet an Avant Gard style
of elegance.
Q. For this magazine
shoot you chose Marilyn
Manson, a real non
fictional character. Why
choose a musician and
not a fictional cosplay
character?
Q. What are your
interests outside of
cosplay?
A. I have an immense
amount of love for
theatre and acting. My
grandparents are actors
so maybe its inherited. I
love being on stage and
bring fictional characters
to life through acting !
I remember back when
I was a kid I used to
play songs from High
school musical in my
bedroom and film
myself performing while
putting on different wigs
and props pretending
to be the characters
from the movie! It was
hilarious but I enjoyed
every second of it.
Follow Hassan’s cosplay
journey via his Instagram
@awesome_ology
A. I always love standing
out and being different,
I’m the type of person

Cosplay Arabia
18
AMANI
ALSHAIKH
Character: Pennywise | IT
Amani is a 17 year
old high school
student who finds passion in
cosplaying. Her introduction
was a stint at IGN 2014
wherein her sister did her
makeup. The experience left
her mesmerized and she began
participating regularly from
2015.
Q. Being a young cosplayer
- do you see cosplaying as a
growing trend among the
youth?
A. Yes, I do! Most of my friends
have been trying to cosplay
and they ask me all the time
about how I achieve certain
looks.
Q. What has been the general
reaction at home to you
cosplaying? Is it something
that is encouraged?
A. It’s very encouraged
especially by my mom! She’s
the most supportive as she
always sends me pictures
and cosplays to do, buys
me the makeup, surprises
me with tickets to events
such as Animania and IGN,
so yeah very supported by
the family when it comes
to cosplaying.
Q. Would you consider
cosplaying professionally
some day? Visiting
and even competing at
international events?
A. Of course if I get the
chance to I would be
totally down!
Q. What would make
cosplaying better?
A. If it was encouraged
more by our society and
if we had more events
and meet ups such as IGN,
Comic Con and Animania.
RAPID FIRE
1. Marvel or DC ?
Marvel!
2. Batman or Superman ?
BATMAN
3. Sony or Nintendo ?
Sony
4. Anime or Manga ?
Anime
5. Console or PC ?
PC
6. Cats or Dogs ?
Both
7. Three Important Things
Netflix / H2O / Milk (lol)
8. Three Favorite Movies
The Fault in our Stars /
Paper Towns / Titanic

Q. How do you research
the cosplay before you
make it?
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19
A. Whenever I see a
character that I like,
whether its 2 am or 2
pm - that’s irrelevant - I
have to write it down and
think of ways to adapt it
to my persona. Then work
on getting the materials I
actually need to complete
the cosplay.
Q. What are some of your
dream cosplays?
A. The Grinch & Mystique
(X-Men)
Q. If you could cosplay
anywhere in the world,
where would it be & why?
A. Japan or the USA,
because the sights are
beautiful to take pictures
in and you can find the
right materials to use for
your cosplay.
Q. Do you try to stay
cheap or do you splurge on
materials?
A. Sometimes I make
budget friendly cosplays
from things around the
house and sometimes I just
go crazy and splurge
You can follow Amani’s
journey on her official
instaram @aurora_ayee
“Whenever I see
a character that
I like, whether
its 2 am or 2 pmthat’s
irrelevant
-I have to write it
down...”

20
Cosplay Arabia
ANYA
DOGARI
Character: Dark Pheonix | X-Men
Text: Noor AlNoaimi

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21
Cosplay for most of us is usually a group of
oddly clad fans, dressed as a favorite character
from an anime, comic, movie or video game.
Picture them with bubble gum hair, impossible
physiques and animated expressions as they pose
for the cameras. Most onlookers, would never
truly dwell upon the extreme measures each of
these individuals would take to achieve such a
finished visual. Our cover girl, Anya Dogari; a
young accomplished cosplayer with a passion for
redheaded characters is another fan of this form
of escapism- Her Dark Phoenix won her first
place during last year’s comic con and we are
curious to know more,
Q. Tell us about yourself.
“I was blown
away. I felt like I
belonged. I finally
found the perfect
blend of all the
things I liked. The
colors, the details,
the creativity”
A. I was born in Moldova in 1993, and was always
passionate about the creative arts. When I walked
into my first Cosplay event back in 2016, I was
blown away. I felt like I belonged. I finally found
the perfect blend of all the things I liked. The
colors, the details, the creativity- I knew then
and there, that I wanted to be part of any Cosplay
fandom.
Q. Details? Is that what’s most important in a
costume?
A. Of course! That, and the color and shape of the
garment. A finished costume should really suit
you.
Q. Sounds like a challenge, how do you usually
go about it?
It really depends. First, I must choose a character.
Then, I tend to research the general picture of the
character’s costume. I draft a sketch of it and go
from there.
Q. So, you sew everything from scratch?
A. Not always. But a good sewing hand is
necessary, even a ready costume needs a bit of
altering to fit it’s owner.
Q. You mentioned choosing a character, is it
always going to be a redhead with you?
A. Unless it’s Khaleesi from Game of Thrones,
than yes…always.
Q. I take it you believe a person must possess
some similarities to their chosen character
before pulling off a cosplay?
A. It’s really about passion. Anyone can be
anything they aspire to be.

22
Cosplay Arabia
Q. Tell us about your first
costume.
A. I was Misty from Pokémon.
Another red head, It was an
easy costume for a beginner.
Q. So it could be hard,
depending on how intricate
the costume is. How long does
it usually take for you to pull
off the finished look?
A. It takes a week to make
a plan, a month to actually
finish the costume. I also,
practice my Cosplay skit a
couple of weeks in advance.
Q. A skit? Do you try to
mimic your character’s actual
movements and speech?
A. I do. I try to become the
character herself.
Q. What’s the most difficult
thing about accomplishing a
finished costume?
I find it stressful to meet my
goals, despite starting months
before the event. I suppose it’s
my beginner’s jitters.
Q. Do you ever ask for help?
A. I’ve got friends and
colleagues who are always
around for guidance and
support. I also follow a couple
of very talented Cosplayers
who never fail to inspire me.
Kamuicosplay from Germany
and Narga_lifestream from
Russia give awesome tutorials.
Their experiences really help
me a lot.
Q. What do you think
of Bahrain’s Cosplay
Community?
A. It is much bigger than my
home town. The community is
quite warm and friendly, and
everyone’s so encouraging.
It’s amazing to be part of.
Q. If you could be part of
another Cosplay event, where
would it be?
A. BLIZZCON!
Q. What will you go as?
A. Another red suit? It’s
supposed to be a secret.
Q. What are your thoughts
on escapism through
Cosplay? Do you believe in
such a thing?
A. For me, when I put my
costume on I remain Anya. I
act as my character only on
stage or during a photo shoot.
I’m not going to lie, it’s a great
feeling when people recognize
the character and ask me for
a picture…but this does not in
any way erase my true self.
I don’t think I could create
a decent costume if I was
in denial about my reality.
Cosplay is art. It’s inventive,
and fun.
Q. Being a woman, and an
attractive woman at that…
were there any incidents
during the many comic con
events you’ve joined?
A. Nothing like that. I just
get asked for pictures but
then I never go alone to these
conventions. I’m almost
always with friends or my
‘bodyguard’ (husband).
Q. Lastly, is there any advice
you’d care to give to new
Cosplayers?
A. If you can dream it, you
can do it! Believe in yourself,
believe in everything you do.
Try, make mistakes, try again!
Start with a simple costume
and then improve it. Don’t be
scared to show your work.
RAPID FIRE
1. Marvel or DC ?
Marvel!
2. Batman or Superman ?
Superman (He’s an alien!)
3. Sony or Nintendo ?
Sony
4. Anime or Manga ?
Anime
5. Console or PC ?
PC
6. Cats or Dogs ?
Meow :3
7. Social Media ?
Instagram @anyadogar

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23

24
Cosplay Arabia
ANIMANIA
2018
Text: Mirna Almaz / Images: Haitham M. Al-Issa
If there is one yearly
happening on the Bahrain
events calendar that gets me
psyched and excited, it is
Animania!
Animania is, and has always
been, very special to me. Don’t
get me wrong, I’d enjoy any
event allowing me to geek out
shamelessly, but there is just
something extra special about
Animania.
Maybe because it was the
first event of its kind on the
island? Maybe because it let
me discover and connect with
others just like me? Not sure,
but there is something with
this particular event that feels
like home.
Admittedly and to be
perfectly honest, it isn’t the
biggest Pop-culture event
that happens on the island,
but there is something about
it that us, the devoted fans,
know and understand; it
triggers a nostalgia we cannot
shake off.
In the day, who would have
thought an anime convention
would actually get this much
hype and footfall in this part
of the world! But it does, and
it works! What a success it has
been and still is!
Enough with the mushygushy
stuff, let’s get down to
the reason you are reading
this:
Animania Bahrain hit it’s
8-year mark on September
28, 2018. Just in case you
hadn’t already noticed, I have
been an avid and passionate
supporter of this geek-fest
since its inception at Adhari
Park back in 2010, which
I remember it as if it were
yesterday; the venue was
packed with positive energy,
happy cosplayers geeking out
and role playing as pros! That
day, a community was born.
Anyone obsessed with anime,
gaming and comics found
their place. We finally had a
venue to gather, be who we
are, and let our interests and
talents shine. It was historic!
Fast forward to 2018, the
event has moved to the
Bahrain International Circuit.
It’s now a two-day event, and
it’s been reported that more
than 15,000 people attended
this year.

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@himo_917
@hazeofflames
@venset_vala
@sa7ooori_art
@udaidshabbir

26
Cosplay Arabia
MC Baraa Abdulla, the always entertaining and geek-know-it-all, was behind the mic as usual.
Nothing hits the nostalgic spot more than walking into a venue and hearing Baraa’s voice blazing
from the speakers!
Upon entering, the first thing to catch your eye is the Cosplayers and all the friendships
developed over the years. Every year you see more new faces daring to cosplay, and every year
they upgrade their game. It’s always awesome to see new people coming out of their shells and
showing off their cosplay powers. The majority of costumes are designed and fabricated by the
cosplayers. Seeing how proud they are of their work shows how much this convention has done
for all the geeks and nerds who struggle to shine and find their place!
This year’s celebrity was famous voice actor Doug Cockle, who played Geralt of Rivia from the
legendary video game, The Witcher. Fans were able to participate in a Q&A session, get their
pictures taken, and get their merchandise signed. Comedian and TV presenter Bader Saleh was
among the celebrities to visit this year.
Gamers got to shine and show off their gaming skills with countless gaming tournaments. Some
of these that made a mark were FORTNITE, Overwatch, FIFA18 and TEKKEN7. Competitions are
always great entertainment and this year presented a broad variety of contests. For example,
there was a burger eating competition.
@maou.dwz
@shido_cosplays
@faisalmohammedx
@itssamsenpai @zizocosplay @ahmeddragunov

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27
@spiderman.bh
@rxgxdx
Cosplayers participated in the
convention’s annual cosplay
competition – always a main
attraction - where each
cosplayer gets the stage to
themselves for a few minutes
to entertain, play the role,
and convince the judges why
they deserve to win. A truly
exciting moment for anyone
cosplaying.
This year local and regional
YouTubers were put in the
spotlight too, and if you ask
me, it’s about time these
guys got both the support
and media recognition they
deserve.
“Walk with Aziz”, “Monster
BH”, “WEBARI” and “XZIT
THAMER” were amongst the
more well-known YouTubers
attending and covering the
event. Scores of their fans
were delighted to get their
shots taken with them and to
get their autographs.
@usforever2806
@amy.gamer
My favorite part of the
convention is the Artist Alley.
An entire hall dedicated to
local and regional artists who
get to show off all their work,
talent and socialize with
like-minded individuals on
the art scene. Artist Alley is
all smiles, along with a potent
shot of art and creativity.
Animania gives Local
businesses a chance to
participate as vendors,
presenting visitors with an
unequalled chance to get their
hands on collectables, comics,
clothing, statues, games and
much, much more. There is
something for everyone.
This year’s activities included
The Haunted House,
Boardgames and Dungeons
& Dragons sessions from
The Ravens Nest, Illusionist
Redmaw, a Nitro Live show,
live performances from the
local band Until Dusk, just to
mention a few.

28
Cosplay Arabia
@moumen86
@bidzsaleh
It was a proud day when
The Raven’s Nest was
selected to participate
this year. When we were
approached, we couldn’t
say no. We created a drink
in honor of the occasion,
and we specifically made
sure that it was pink (a
special request from Samar
Al Meer - the mother of
Animania). We were proud
to see so many gathered at
our booth. I never thought
that a day would come and
I would be participating as
a vendor and part of the
entertainment.
Organizers and backers,
along with every
participant and visitor,
have done an unbelievable
job. Animania is definitely
here to stay. If I were to
give the whole experience
a word, it would have to be
“Magical.”
- Mirna Almaz,
Co Owner - The Raven’s Nest
@coranellya_5
@mykryptoncomics
@ameerakojder
“My favorite part
of the convention
is the Artist Alley
- its all smiles,
along with a
potent shot of art
and creativity”

MOHAMMED
OSAMA
Character: Rambo
Cosplay Arabia
a girl because I had a wig
on over and over again, it
was frustrating !
Q. Least favorite part of
cosplaying?
A. People bumping
into my props which I
barely managed to stick
together. They need to
be handled with care
and people in attendance
should be courteous to
cosplayers.
Q. Do you have a
cosplayer who motivates
you?
A. Not particularly, I feel
like the Bahrain Cosplay
Community pushes me
to do better more than
anyone or anything else.
You can follow Osama on
his Instagram account @
bubbersapr
29
Osama is a
university
student who is currently
pursuing his chemical
engineering degree. He
was first introduced to
cosplaying by his close
friend Aziz and they’ve
been cosplaying ever
since.
Q. What drives you to
cosplay ?
A. Getting to wear
whatever I want without
social restrictions is
refreshing sometimes
but what keeps me going
is the fact that it’s my
favorite hobby and I
enjoy doing it immensely.
Q. Do you prefer buying
or making you cosplays?
A. Making your cosplay
is part of the fun ! I am
extremely proud of
whatever I make even if
it doesn’t look that great,
it’s my personal effort
& there’s satisfaction in
that.
Q. What is the funniest
reaction you have
gotten cosplaying?
A. I got kicked off
stage and out of the
convention once because
people didn’t like my
Donald Trump cosplay.
Q. Favorite part of
cosplaying?
A. The car ride to the
convention, we stop at
red lights & freak out
people in other cars
(laughs)
Q. What was your worst
Experience cosplaying?
A. Guys mistaking me for

C
I
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Cosplay Arabia
PHOTO
GALLERY
A glimpse inside the ever evolving world of Cosplay in the
Middle East.
Cosplayer: Mutab M. AlDawsary
Instagram: @toobytag
Photographer: Saleha Mandili
Instagram: @mandeelyo9797
Cosplayer: Hassan
Instagram: @awesome_ology
Photographer: Hussain Mahdi
Instagram: @hm.bh
Cosplayer: Afi Sama
Instagram: @afi_vaqar
Photographer: Naveen
Instagram: @3podphotography
C
I

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31
Celebrating the creativity of cosplayers and talented photographers from all over the Middle
East, the photo gallery aims to promote the art of cosplay as seen through the lens of these gifted
photographers.
If you are a cosplayer or a photographer looking to make your mark – tag @cosplayarabia on
Instagram or Facebook for a chance to be featured on our social media or print editions.
Conversely, you can write to us at : info@cosplayarabia.com
For now, enjoy these amazing images.
Happy Browsing !
Cosplayer: Sam
Instagram: @itssamsenpai
Photographer: Hussain Mahdi
Instagram: @hm.bh
Cosplayer: Zainab Allawi
Instagram: @zainab_allawi
Photographer: Lee Crow
Instagram: @leecrowphotos
Cosplayer: Leen
Photographer: Lee Crow
Instagram: @leen__666 Instagram: @leecrowphotos
Cosplayer: Saud Al Hazzani
Instagram: @vegacosplay
Photographer: Abdullah A. AlJughiman
FB: Facebook.com/Ecco.Fantasy
Cosplayer: SumiCosplay
Instagram: @sumicosplay

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Cosplay Arabia
Cosplayer: Mexii Said
Instagram: @yara_mexii
Photographer: Naveen
Instagram: @3podphotography
Cosplayer:Roshan Joseph
Instagram: @roshan.joseph1.0
Cosplayer: SumiCosplay Photographer: Jeffrey Pabroquez
Instagram: @sumicosplay Instagram: @dxb.photographer
Cosplayer: Ahmed
Instagram: @ahmeddragunov
Photographer: Naveen
Instagram: @3podphotography

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Cosplayer: Rana “Cherrie” Elnajmi
Instagram: @dreamcherries.cosplays
Photographer: Naveen
Instagram: @3podphotography
Cosplayer: Saud Al Hazzani
Instagram: @vegacosplay
Photographer: Jeffrey Pabroquez
Instagram: @dxb.photographer

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Cosplay Arabia
MARAM
ALARADI
Character: Widowmaker Huntress | Overwatch
Text: Zeeshan Asghar
Maram Al-Aradi is a familiar face in the Bahrain cosplay community and has also been
a judge at Dreamland Expo 2018. She is currently part of the cosplay department at
Bahrain Comic Con for 2019. When not involved in cosplaying, Maram tends to her day job
working with the supreme council of environment and has a Chemical Engineering background.
She is famous for her Grim Reaper attire for which, she says, she had the perfect persona to pull it
off.
Being a dedicated cosplayer means Maram pulls out all the stops, she makes her own cosplays
and even prepares props, custom built helmets, guns etc. as needed without which – she says
– cosplaying would be tasteless. She makes sure she does justice to her chosen character and
focuses on overall appearance. A cosplay she is proud of is her Original Character Scarlich, which
is a cross between a normal human and a witch which took about 3 hours to dress up - adding
testament to her commitment. Some of her dream cosplays are Miss Fortune, Dancer of the
Boreal, Shyvana and Daenerys Targaryen.
Maram has also worked with her sister Marwa on a group cosplay at Bahrain Comic Con 2018
wherein they won 3rd place and they have an interesting future project of playing characters
from The Avengers: Infinity Wars series.

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35
Her motivation to cosplay,
other than being a hobby
and challenging herself is
the words of appreciation
she receives and admiration
from people at conventions.
She has a soft spot for kids
who get excited to see
her in character. A gripe
she has with conventions
though is the long wait in
ques to enter the gaming
area and having to pay
the full ticket amount
even though cosplayers
remain a major attraction at
conventions.
Maram would love to
cosplay in japan, the
birthplace of cosplaying.
She strongly believes this
is a career orientated path
which helps develop talent
and opens doors to several
fields including voice
acting, make-up artist, VFX
and more.
She has no plans of stopping
any time soon and hopes
she can continue cosplaying
all her life, especially
wanting to cosplay as a
family with her future
husband and children.
Follow Maram on Instagram
@m.alaradi & Facebook -
Maram Al-Aradi.
“If Cosplayers are
not encouraged
nor appreciated
properly, the
community will
die in Bahrain”
- Marwa

36
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MARWA
ALARADI
Character: D.Va Back Cat | Overwatch
Text: Zeeshan Asghar
The other half of the
Aradi sisters duo –
Marwa is a 21 year old gamer
& anime fan who stumbled
upon cosplaying when she
attended Animania with her
family back in 2010.
She recalls wondering
what was stopping her from
cosplaying, just like any other
fangirl her age, who admired
other cosplayers at the
event. She began cosplaying
consistently 4 years ago and
hasn’t stopped since. Marwa
is also a senior IT computer
Science student at University
of Bahrain.
Her early cosplays were
simple and appropriate for
a beginner who was new
to styling her own wigs
and props. While she hasn’t
particularly cross played
(gender switched characters),
she finds boy wigs
interesting, they seem “cool
and different” which gives a
nice twist when she feels like
mixing things up.
What’s essential for a
cosplayer to get right ? Well
Marwa feels a cosplayer
should be instantly
recognizable by the audience.
“If you have to explain who
you are then you haven’t
done the job” she says.
Her motivating factor to
continue cosplaying are
recognition, acknowledgment
and appreciation from the
attendees. While some
aspects of your cosplay
cannot be made locally due
to time or material shortage,
Marwa believes the most
attention is gathered when
you put in all the effort by
yourself and as such she tries
preparing everything.
Another aspect of cosplaying
important to her is that the
costume should be Hijabi
Friendly (not tight, not short
and generally decent). She has
played Ahri, Black Cat d.va &
Game Master (original).

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37
“The community needs a big bang
to be reborn again”
In the near future she would
love to play Ling Xiaoyu,
Mercy from Overwatch, Star
guardian Jinx, & Sylvanas.
She consults her mother
on the type of material
required & availability while
researching her cosplays.
It’s important to know if it
can be stitched or not. Good
tip for a beginner is to avoid
complicated designs as it
could be both frustrating and
expensive to fix.
Marwa also competed in a
recent Cosplay Competition
where she gave her best shot
to achieve an award, but
her experience wasn’t quite
tasteful, judging was unfair
and some people suspected it
was rigged, the prizes were
announced late which wasn’t
worth it. Although she was
able to secure 3rd position,
which is still very respectable.
She fears the Bahrain cosplay
scene is slowing down,
conventions are becoming
expensive and messier.
Mistakes are being made
which are prominent to the
audience. “The community
needs a big bang to be reborn
again” she says dreading
next year might be her
last competing unless the
community is reborn.
Not all is doomed though - She
once got a funny comment
while cosplaying ASHE from
league of legends: “You are the
most useless character in the
game.” She couldn’t help but
feel amused. A convention
she would love to attend ?
“BLIZZCON!!!! You can find
exclusive merchandise in
that convention related to
the games of blizzard which
I would look forward to.
Bahrain doesn’t have that sort
of thing.
A cosplayer she admires &
would love to meet there -
“Alyson Tabbitha - I followed
her on Instagram and she is
the best!”
Follow Marwa on Instagram @
marwaalaradi

38
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BARAA
ABDULLAH
The man, the myth - THE LEGEND.
Seldom do you come
across a man who can
claim to have seen it all
when it comes to gaming
conventions, not just in the
country he resides in - which
for the record is Bahrain - but
the middle east as a whole.
Baraa is now officially the
face of the Middle East Game
and Comic book convention
scene - be it Animania where
he made his start a lifetime
ago, or the more recent
GamesCon which was held
in Abu Dhabi last month,
he’s seen (and hosted) it all.
We knew this magazine just
wouldn’t be complete without
his presence to grace our
pages. Without further ado -
let’s get cracking!
Q. Over the past eight years
– you have been the voice
of the Gaming and Comic
Book Convention scene in
Bahrain as well as the middle
east. Can you elaborate on
that journey and what it has
been like to watch this trend
grow?
A. The journey has been a
blissful one, beautiful full of
adventure, challenges, and
drama. If it ends now, I will
thank God because I feel I
have served and have been
part of a lot of memories and
beautiful moments. I hope I
get to live more of it in the
future. 8 to 10 years that’s a
lifetime full of moments and
adventure. At this point, it
feels like there’s more to give.
How does it feel to see this
trend grow? It grew to the
point where it became
overwhelming, to the point
it became oversaturated. We
want to serve everybody, but
it became challenging. We do
see a sense of change right
now regarding events – what
works and what doesn’t, so
that’s what I see so far.
Q. Eight years is a long time
– do you think the trend is
just starting to pick up or
has it lost its steam/appeal
to the youth (to which it is
generally aimed at) already?
A. First of all, I don’t think
it’s a trend. It’s not something
that’s going to lose its pace
because at the end of the
day pop culture is a culture
that goes around in different
platforms, and gaming it goes
around different platforms
– an event is just a station to
the platform itself. So would it
lose its pace with the youth?
I don’t think it’s going to lose
it at all. Maybe the style of
events might change – some
will go bigger, some will go
smaller, some might stop – but
people will not stop talking or
experiencing pop culture.

Cosplay Arabia
There’s still a lot to
experiment with, and there’s
still a lot to go– ComicCon
San Diego is 60 years old. I’m
predicting that there will
be an industry around here
that will develop comics and
games that are catered to our
nation and start exporting it
to the world – the same thing
has happened in Japan,United
States, Germany, and France.
Q. Do you think cosplaying
is getting the attention it
deserves in Bahrain? What
more can cosplayers as well
as establishments such as
this magazine and event
organizers do to promote and
encourage cosplaying in the
GCC?
A. The cosplay scene is a
niche of a niche. For it here
to actually get more attention
people need to understand
what is cosplay and you
need to give it more passion
and interest for it to get
more attention. People need
to understand the trade of
cosplay – they think it’s just
costumes and that’s it. They
don’t realize there’s a lot to
consider. I think cosplayers
not only in Bahrain but
around the world need
attention but it needs more
time.
Prizes are always nice – but
then it creates competition
and when you create a
competition you only have 1
or 2 winners out of 20. Media
is always good to help shed
some light on them. One
thing cosplayers have issues
with is they ’re dependent on
events as the only place they
go showcase their work. So
let’s say you do one cosplay
at one event – now it’s time
for that cosplay to go to other
platforms such as corporate
events, charity, etc. If I sum
it up – its media strategy –
cosplayers need to work on
their media strategy and how
to showcase their work.
Q. Most cosplayers do it for
fun but don’t really see a
growth arc outside contests.
Do you feel there’s more
they can do to grow and
perhaps start a career from
cosplaying?
A. They need to see a broader
horizon to what they do. Not
just cosplay to certain events
and if you afford only to go
to your own country and
your country offers only 2 or
3 events a year – that’s not
enough to get you out there –
you need more exposure.
Sometimes people need to
offer their skills in different
places like theater or movies –
I know a person from Kuwait
who is into that and he can be
a case study of how cosplayers
make it bigger and make a
career out of it by stepping
out of their comfort zone.
Q. Apart from being a TV
personality and an Event
MC, you also have your own
YouTube production and
show on Bahrain TV which
ties into gaming and pop
culture. Tell us more about
that.
A. It’s called VG55 on Bahrain
TV based on video games &
its been going on since 16th
of November 2016. It caters
more to the gaming world,
shedding light on the gaming
community. So it’s simply a
Bahrain TV show on gaming –
the first of its kind on Bahrain
TV ever.
Q. It must be very hectic
for you being involved in
4 simultaneous projects
while being a Family Man as
well? How does one strike a
balance?
A. It’s not easy. Time
management is so important
right now, not losing track of
things is so important right
now. I guess what keeps us
going is we see people smile
“Experiment, invest
money, get broke, make
mistakes, you have to
make mistakes, feel bad
about it, no problems,
just get back up again.”
and when I come back home
I see I’m putting food on
the table and opening more
opportunities for my family
and me and other people.
It seems like we are on the
right track. We’re in the
right age to make it happen
until something big comes
along and we feel like we can
relax a bit and build on the
momentum we’ve developed
over the last few years.
Q. Any last piece of advice
you would like to give our
readers?
Experiment, invest money,
get broke, make mistakes, you
have to make mistakes, feel
bad about it, no problems, just
get back up again. Remember
everything you feel right now
will pass through – whatever
challenges you have right
now they are there for you to
learn. You will be challenged
by your family, challenged
by friends, challenged by the
community and it may seem
sometimes you are alone in
a path. Remember just keep
working keep focused and
keep going. Try different
things and see what clicks.
Right now you have the most
powerful tool at your disposal
which is social media – you’re
so lucky to have that so make
the most out of it.
Interview & photograph by
Ibrahim Ansari for Cosplay
Arabia on 23rd of October
2018. Edited by Mohammed
Farija prior publication.
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Cosplay Arabia
ARRAH
BELLA
Character: Android 18 | DBZ
Bella is a student game
developer from the UK
who has been cosplaying for
the last 3 years. She frequents
MCM Con in London and is
now an advanced wig stylist.
We got her for a few hours
during her last trip to Bahrain,
and this is what she had to
say -
Q. Tell us a bit about
yourself & what got you into
cosplaying?
A. I became hooked on
cosplaying during the
beginning of 2015. The thrill
of dressing up as my favorite
character and having people
recognize me, it was as
something unique that I’d
never experienced before.
Q. Do you have someone who
inspires you to cosplay?
A. “Cowbuttcrunchies” is
incredible. I’d highly suggest
looking her up. Her work
ethic and attention to detail
is so inspiring!
Q. What are some of your
dream cosplays?
A. Griffith and Guts from
Beserk, big swords man.
HUGE SWORDS. That and
final form Senketsu from kill
la kill. It would involve SFX,
latex, lights, props, armor,
and wigs. All in one costume!
Q. How do you research the
cosplay before you make it?
A. I use google, cosplay
amino, deviant art, YouTube
and Instagram as my main
sources for tutorials and
tips! I look at how other
cosplayers have done the
character for inspiration
and helpful hints, giving
them credit where it’s due
of course. This is helpful for
characters with unrealistic
aspects to them (Junkrat’s
missing leg for example).
Q. What is the funniest
reaction you’ve gotten
cosplaying from people?
A. People asked me if my
Caulifla wig was my actual
hair. OVER TEN TIMES. “Yes,
I take my vitamins.” Was my
answer.
Q. What was your worst
experience acting in
character?
A. Having to buy food in
a supermarket, as a super
Saiyan, with a crumbling
wig. A man insisted I was

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“to compete for contests in the UK, your costume has to be 80%
handmade...”
sonic the hedgehog and wanted to take a photo of
me for his friends. I also had a man gasp “Oh my
god!” at me in a strong Dutch accent.
Q. Do you compete in cosplay contests? Have you
won anything?
A. I compete in masquerades all the time,
but to compete for contests in the UK, your
costume has to be 80% handmade, so not yet.
However I have great ambitions to compete with
Diamondhearthero for the world cosplay summit
in the next few years. He’s great at skits!
A. I can’t speak for others, but for me, not
particularly. He showers me with all the attention
and love I could ever want, and I trust him
completely. In the end it doesn’t matter how many
people fawn over him, if anything I’m happy on
his behalf! If he’s worked hard on a costume or to
look attractive, I’ll celebrate his success along-side
him. He’s the one going home with me after all!
You can follow Bella’s latest creations on her
Instagram page @mx.crescent
Q. You are engaged to a cosplayer as well - does
that mean all future cosplays will be couples
cosplays only ?
A. Definitely not, although I could not be more
excited to do those! People have such sweet
reactions to couple cosplayers.
Q. Do you think it is a positive or a negative
thing having a partner who cosplays ? Does
jealously creep in ?

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Cosplay Arabia
My name’s Isa,
I’m 28, born
& raised in Bahrain, my
mother is half Spanish/
Pinoy, while my dad is
half Turkish/Persian. I
got into cosplay because
it sounded fun but
after seeing everyone’s
reaction, them being
in awe, it was very
motivational & just
made me want to do
more.
Someone who truly
inspired me to keep
pursuing this was
my late best friend
Mohammed, he adored
his cosplay of Deadpool
to the point that his
own personality
improved, in terms of
confidence, fitness, his
love for spreading joy
to everyone and overall
quality of life really.
ISSA
SADAT
Character: Leon| RE4

Q. How do you research the
cosplay before you make it
A. Initially, I try to find
inspiration from other
cosplayers & fanart, then
find good quality fashionable
casual outfit that can also
work as everyday wear, it
gives it a more live-action
feel/touch to it.
Q. Do you style your own
wigs?
A. Yes, but sometimes ask my
fiancée Arah for professional
help in wig styling!
Q. Do you try to duplicate
your character’s expressions,
walk, movements, etc.?
A. Of course! Roleplaying the
character is one of the best
things ever.
Q. What is the funniest
reaction you’ve gotten
cosplaying from people?
A. Shy fans screaming to
catch my attention from a
distance haha, it’s cute.
Q. What was your worst
experience acting in
character?
A. I was in my chubby phase
as Maes Hughes character
from Full Metal Alchemist,
and one of the judge asked if
I made the cosplay, I said I did
not, he said: “What a shame.”
Q. What is your opinion
of the Bahrain Cosplay
Community?
A. It’s still very young, as
many come into the Cosplay
Community with a wrong
mindset about the Cosplay
Concept, Cosplay is simply
meant to be for fun, find old
& new friends, to explore
one’s capabilities, to challenge
yourself and improve in many
aspect of your life.
Q. You are fond of RE characters
and usually cosplay as them at
conventions - do you think this
is limiting you as a cosplayer ?
A. Not at all! Having the drive
& passion for any cosplay, be
it repeated style or theme, is
the most important aspect of a
cosplayer, as with every version
it shows obvious improvement.
Q. You are engaged to a
cosplayer as well - does that
mean all future cosplays will be
couples cosplays only ?
A. Most probably, as the hobby
is very contagious & a fun
experience to be shared with
friends, family & especially loved
ones!
Q. How extreme are you willing
to go to emulate your character?
A. I would go as far as to body
build & dye my hair, both
equally expensive but worth the
challenge as it pays off big time!
Q. Do you think
it is a positive or
a negative thing
having a partner
who cosplays? Does
jealously creep in if
they get too much
(male) attention at
conventions ?
A. It’s definitely a
positive thing, as they
become both your
partner & rival. You
constantly grow in
cosplay progression! I
feel quite proud to see
my partner making
new friends & being
even more popular!
You can follow Isa‘s
cosplay journey via
his Instagram account
@diamondhearthero
Cosplay Arabia
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44
Cosplay Arabia
ANGEL
Character: 2B | NieR:Automata

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45
Q. Best fan related experience you
would like to share?
A. One of the girls came yelling
Missa! Missa! (my character cosplay)
and hugged me, that felt so nice
because she didn’t know me, yet she
was so fond of me and ever since
then she comes and says hi to me at
conventions with a big smile and a
huge hug.
Long time veteran cosplayer Angel shares her
journey & experience at Bahrain Comic Con in
this Cosplay Arabia exclusive.
Q. Tell us about yourself when you aren’t dawning a
suit.
A. I am a crazy full time mommy (2 Baby Dinosaurs
and 5 Fur balls to be precise), coffee and chocolate
addict and I love to wake up early. I enjoy doing things
that make me feel content, even if it means going to
the same cafe twice a day, enjoy music, singing in the
car and I love food. I might be the craziest person you
know.
Q. Speaking of suits, any regrets or horror stories you
would like to share from your time cosplaying?
A. Regrets on the costumes definitely - It’s 100 degrees
here - stay away from Leather! Try to go with minimum
makeup or face paint. Also try to choose a light cosplay,
something you can breathe in (which definitely means
no thick fabrics used in your costume) Lastly, don’t
wear high heels because you’re going to walk a lot. Try
to wear the most comfy shoes.
Q. Worst fan related experience?
A. Fans that became stalkers in
real life - following me and taking
pictures or videos of me with my
kids or other people. Also, people
who get too close or touchy while
taking selfies at the events.
Q. How was your experience with
judging the cosplay contest at
BCC? Would you say being a judge
helped or hurt you as a cosplayer
in the region?
A. It was a challenging & learning
experience, an eye opener, to see
how things work from a different
perspective, from “the other side
of the table” so to speak as I’m a
cosplayer who is now scoring other
cosplayers on their work, where
you get to see the good and bad, the
ugly and the beautiful.

46
Cosplay Arabia
“Sometimes you
have to stop thinking
about other
people’s opinion
and just be yourself”
I heard stories before about
how judges can be misjudged
for their verdict (which I
found to be true to an extent)
and the aftermath continued
well past the event itself
which was disheartening.
However, I learned a lot about
myself and how to handle
things around me due to this
which is why, overall, I felt it
was definitely an experience
worth trying that am
thankful for.
Q. If you were called back -
would you be interested in
reprising your role as a judge
or participating in any form?
A. Well, first it would depend
on their approach and second
it would depend if I had good
coffee or not (laughs). I’d like
to give back to the cosplay
community– as long as they
maintain professionalism I
don’t mind helping.
Q. Cosplaying is very
focused on conventions in
Bahrain - do you think it’s
better cosplayers move away
from cons and display their
creations elsewhere as well?
A. Yes, I totally agree with
that because we don’t have
many conventions, so if you
love cosplaying you can create
your own place to cosplay
like visiting charities and
orphanages or you could do it
at a mall. I’ve done that before
and it was really nice.
Q. Any cosplayers you look
up to or follow on social
media?
A. 1. Jessica Nigri, 2. Riddle,
3.Yayahan and 4. Alodia
Q. Will we continue seeing
you cosplaying in the region?
Perhaps elsewhere in the
GCC as well?
A. I’m going to keep
cosplaying, I have great plans
for the future and want to
take it to the next level with
the upcoming cons. For GCC,
as you know I have kids so
it’s hard to move around – I’d
love to though and if I got
the chance I’d definitely go
to other events both inside &
outside the GCC.
Q. Any last words for our
readers?
Life is all about you and
having fun, sometimes you
have to stop thinking about
other people’s opinion and
just be yourself. Enjoy every
moment and do whatever
makes you happy as long as
you are having fun and not
harming anyone that’s the
best you can do!

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47
Interactive
Corner
Hey CA Fans !
What did you think of our new print edition?
Hit us up on Instagram or Facebook and let us know the answers to these questions:
1 2 3
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favorite
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least favorite
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4 5 6
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aspiring writer/
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looking to make your
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the next edition?
We’ll be doing a drawing from all the responses for a free copy of our next print issue,
as well as contacting cosplayers & photographers to be featured so get your answers in
before the 1st of February 2019.
Photography Credits
All featured articles have been
photographed & edited by @mia.shot -
Bahrain’s premier portrait photography service
catering to Cosplay themed shoots.
Other services offered include Fashion,
Advertising, Events & Product
photography. Contact: info@miashot.com
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Cosplay Arabia