You may have seen Ren around some of our events recently, ALWAYS slaying!
Ren is a cosplayer who began attending our events this year - starting with our Cars & Cosplay event we hosted with Street Senpais in January. Since their first event with us at Cars & Cosplay Ren has attended many of our other events, including XOXO, AZPM as well as Damsels & Dames (just to name a few) Ren is always creating beautiful content, and always has the coolest cosplays to show off at our events, we are so excited to have them in our community!
Outside of AZPM - you can find Ren on Instagram @inar.icos Twitter inarixcos on TikTok @inarixcos , as well as a member of the cosplay performance group- Zero End!
Ren has been cosplaying for 9 years, so its safe to say they are very well seasoned in cosplay! Ren always puts together such wonderful cosplays, and they are also super versatile! Here are a few cosplays that has us LIVING recently from Ren's collection:
Ken: @jackerufu
Barbie: @inar.icos aka Ren
📸: @venusofzelda
📸: @hiresboyfriend
Wig: @ardawigs style Hansel classic in Dark Blue
Contacts: @uniqso
Cosplay: @inar.icos aka Ren
📸: @billy.taylor.visuals
Cosplay: @miccostumes
Cosplay: @inar.icos aka Ren
Ren has always been so kind to us, and to our community. They always have such great energy at events, and are always willing to help anyone out at our events. You may catch them at upcoming events, always ready to slay!
Q&A with Ren
Q: What are your favorite things to model/cosplay? (Certain photography styles, props, type of clothing, etc.)
A: I usually stick to video games and animes, but I also love matching aesthetics to songs for photoshoot inspo. Anything mythical/whimsical like fae or renaissance aesthetics are a favorite of mine too!
Q: Do you have a favorite photoshoot you've done? If so, tell us about it!
A: Can I say all of them? I feel like every photoshoot brings its own energy, but for the sake of answering the question, I think my Yor photoshoot with Chi (@japanda.photo) is my favorite. It marked my first event with AZ Photo Meetups, and it really boosted my confidence in modeling!
Photos by @japanda.photo from our event Cars & Cosplay co-hosted with street senpais
Q: Where do you draw inspiration from when modeling/cosplaying, planning photoshoots, planning outfits, etc.?
A: I am a Pinterest gremlin through in through. If it’s not in a Pinterest inspiration board, then I draw inspo from the songs I listen to. Also the influence of friends because I love creating things with other people so if my friends want me in their cosplay group and I vibe with the character, I’m all in!
Q: What tips do you have for new models and/or cosplayers?
A: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, and attend your first event. Even if you go just to politely spectate, you can learn a lot! I call myself an introverted people person because I thrive when I’m doing things I love while also being a relatively quiet person until you get to know me. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy when it comes to nitpicking ourselves, but once you take that first step, everything comes easier after that!
Q: What types of challenges have you had to overcome in your time as a model/cosplayer, (past, present or future) and how did you overcome that situation (or how to you plan to)? (loss of inspiration, learning new skills, working with others, etc.)
A: The ability to say no is one I still struggle with. I’m a workaholic procrastinator which is an awful combination when you’re living it, and tag on people pleaser to make it mildly worse. So one of the hardest talks I’ve had to have with myself is that it is okay to say no. If your interest is not in the subject or you’re not comfortable with it, listen to yourself because forcing yourself to do that group cosplay or that modeling gig is not going to make you happy in the long run. It’s still something I have to work on with myself because I love my friends and I want to do everything with them that I can, but it’s important to do your own interests too! Surrounding yourself with good people also works wonders because they’ll never expect anything more than what you’re willing to give (and will also talk you out of impulsive decisions). Progress isn’t linear, so remember to be kind to yourself even on those harder days. It does get better!
Q: Anything else you like to share with us?
A: I say this on my socials all the time, but I absolutely adore AZ Photo Meetups. The atmosphere is always friendly and comfortable, and I’ve made so many new friends just with the three events I’ve been to. These events are the highlight of my month whenever they happen, and I hope the business continues to grow as more people see just how cool and fun these events are. I appreciate the hard work of everyone involved and I can’t wait for more events!
Cover photo (first photo) taken by @japanda.photo taken at out event Cars & Cosplay co-hosted with Street Senpais