Quite the dream come true, I’m excited and humbled to announce that I’ve been published in Gothesque Magazine’s September Vol. 2 issue!
Gothesque Magazine, September 2015, Volume 2
As early as I can remember, one of the things my parents constantly told me was, “Ang ganda ganda ng anak ko! Pwede kang magiging model!” which translates in English to “My child is so beautiful! You can be a model!” At first hearing, this was the usual flatter any child would expect from his/her parent(s). However, over the years it got me thinking – what if it were possible? Do I have what it takes to be a model? As I got older, my weight fluctuated greatly, which made pursuing the idea of becoming a model some kind of distant fantasy. Then, I met my friend, Mike, who took my first just-for-fun photo shoot.
Actually, I take that back. It wasn’t just for me; this was a couples’ plus my boyfriend-at-the-time’s graduation photo shoot. But it sure was damn fun, and I wanted more.
Then, I learned about cosplay.
I was first introduced to anime watching Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z during Saturday morning cartoons, and video games had been a part of me since I was a toddler. (The Nintendo Entertainment System was dispersed in the USA the year I was born. Oh dear, does that date me?) But I didn’t get a taste of convention life until high school, when I attended FanimeCon in San Jose, California for the first time. My world changed. “What? Wearing costumes like it’s Halloween?” The thought lit up my inner creative. However much I loved dressing up in my homemade attire among other likeminded individuals, I had no idea that it would be the bridge to modeling I was looking for. Jump ahead 6+ years (again, dating myself) to my first Anime Expo when I met my second photographer friend, Elliot. Thanks to him, I got my first photos as the powerful Chinese fighter known for her kicks, Chun-Li, my idol.
Photography by Elliot Trinidad
I found out that cosplayer photography is a thing which exponentially gained in popularity. I made more cosplay, did more photo shoots. In 2011, I joined the Frag Doll Cadettes and met one of my best friends, my Cadette sister, Divii, who also loves cosplay as much as I do. She later introduced me to Temira (Yellow Bubbles Photography) and her sister, Amber (Spoiled Cherry). A couple photo shoots later, and here we are. One check off the bucket list.
This was the first step. Now, let’s see if I can get cover girl.
Shelli Anpan 
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