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Cosplayer Spotlight: David Hardamon Jr.

An Interview with This East Coast Cosplayer

By Mark Wesley PritchardPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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David as his Pokemon Trainer, OC David Kurohana, from Pokemon XY.

As a cosplayer who's been doing cosplay for almost four years, I have seen some amazing cosplays. Some over the top and others, unique. It's a way to express themselves and feel good in their own skin. I have recently had a chance to interview David Hardamon Jr. Check it out below and I hope you enjoy this.

How long have you been doing cosplay and how did it change your life?

David: From 2011 to 2018, so about seven years now. I was a novice at first, then, later on, I became an expert and I'm still learning over time.

How did you first become interested in cosplay?

Well, in 2011, when I was still in 12th grade at Denbigh High School. I knew a little bit about cosplay from what I've seen on Google, whenever I look up my favorite anime video game characters come to life at anime cons, period. While I was still in school, my friend, Charles Mack, had told me about an Anime Con that happens to come every year in November at Hampton Roads Convention Center, where it's now known as Nekocon. It's where people, families, and friends meet up, dress up, have fun, and make memories together. He invited me and some of our friends there. Ever since then, I've been going to the same kind every year, along with new ones along the way. I've met a lot of people of common interests and ever since then, Charles and others, have been my inspiration to travel every year and learn about myself and make this my favorite hobby as a passion.

What is your fandom and how does it define who you are?

I have many fandoms that I belong to and love. The anime and video game type of fandoms, I'd say Pokemon, Dragonball Z, Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, Boruto: The Next Generations, Yu-Gi-Oh, Disney, Square Enix, Nintendo, and Kingdom Hearts. But mostly, my number one fandom is Pokemon.

Because Pikachu and I are like the same: adventurous and friendly. We both care about our families and friends, very strong, never gives up: no matter what against him, loves to help others the best way he can, has an easy go lucky personality, and fights to protect the things and those who are precious to him, no matter what the cost. And also, I forgot to add that you're never too old to love what you love and like. Because Pokemon is indeed for all ages. That's the best way to define myself.

What are your favorite cosplays that you've done so far?

Well, I have a lot of favorite cosplays, mine are OCs (original characters). Anime cosplays like from Pokemon, Kingdom Hearts, Naruto, etc. Well, my favorite cosplays are Pokemon Trainer OC David from Pokemon, Lucario, Pikachu, Infernape, Sora from Kingdom Hearts1, 2, and 3. Aladdin and Judar are from Magi the Labyrinth and Kingdom of Magic. Tarzan from Tarzan and Aladdin from Aladdin, Maleficent from Disney's Sleeping Beauty as a male genderbend, and Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame as a genderbend also. Lastly, Dhalsim from Street Fighter. Also, I'm learning to do cosplay genderbending, which is so cool and interesting. But most of all, my OCs from different video games in general like Pokemon, Naruto, or Kingdom Hearts, for example, are my favorite cosplays, because I can be myself or somebody else from different animes or video games, which adds the fun to the fandom world.

What would be your dream cosplay and why?

I have so many dream cosplays that I want to make happen in the near future, but if anything, I really want to be the very best Pokemon cosplayer, like no one ever was. I started going to anime cons with my friends and family, since the start of 2011, and I've met other Pokemon fans, who are also cosplayers of all ages, and they showed me so many ways to cosplay your favorite Pokemon creatures or characters. It's so inspirational and very creative and so awesome that I just can't get enough of it. And it's very supporting as well when you meet people who love the same thing as you and that to me, it's a really good feeling.

Which conventions would you like to attend in the future?

Well, there are so many conventions I want to go to someday in life, like the ones that are inside and outside of Newport News, Virginia, and Hampton, Virginia. But the one I'm mostly focused on and have dreams of going to right now is Otakon, which is in Washington DC, starting next month, August 9-12, 2018.

interview
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About the Creator

Mark Wesley Pritchard

Award-winning cosplayer, cosplay model, influencer, retro gaming fanatic, die-hard Texas Rangers fan, and nostalgic freak. Need I say more?

Threads: @thecosplayerfromtexas

Instagram: @thecosplayerfromtexas

TikTok: @thecosplayerfromtexas

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