Step into the spotlight and get to know the burgeoning cosplay star on the scene. At just 19 years old, she’s a delightful blend of charm and creativity, going by the moniker Nana Nya(พรกมลพรรรณ เปลี่ยนศิริ). Her rise to prominence? Dominating the cosplay arena with her portrayal of Shoto Todoroki from the beloved anime ‘My Hero Academia,’ and amassing a global fan base that can't help but swoon. Today, we sit down with her to uncover the wellsprings of her inspiration and more.
What’s the inspiration behind the name “Nana Nya”? ”I used to go by the name 'Nue,' but then I decided to switch things up and go with ‘Nya’ – it's inspired by the cute sound a cat makes in Japanese, and it even kind of rhymes with my nickname ‘Nana.’ The name caught on, so most people just know me as ‘Nya’!"
How did you start cosplaying? “I’ve always been head over heels for anime, totally captivated by those characters and their stories. Then, I crossed paths with this bunch of super cool online pals who were totally into cosplay. It was right during the whole COVID-19 phase, when everyone was staying put and I found myself with a lot of free time. So, naturally, I thought, ‘Hey, why not give cosplay a try?’ And that’s how the journey started.”
What was your first cosplay and which character do you enjoy cosplaying the most? “My first cosplay is Gojo Satoru from ‘Jujutsu Kaisen.’ My all-time favorite character since I started cosplaying is definitely Todoroki Shoto from ‘My Hero Academia.’ He’s a character that many of my followers really adore. I’ve done him at least 10 times so I’m a really big fan of his.”
Nana Nya as Inumaki Toge from Jujutsu Kaisen
What about your favorite anime characters? “I really love rowdy characters. Katsuki Bakugo from ‘My Hero Academia’ is one of my faves.”
What aspect of the cosplay scene left the strongest impression on you? “Since I started cosplaying, I’ve been able to connect with new friends and our community has grown significantly. It's been amazing to know people who share the same interests as me, and have a fanbase that supports what I do both locally and internationally. It really feels like I’m venturing into a whole new world.”
What are your most enjoyable and challenging moments? “The most enjoyable aspect has been cosplaying with friends and going out together for cosplay-related activities. On the flip side, the most challenging part would probably be the COVID-19 situation. Meeting people now involves wearing masks all the time, which unfortunately restricts our interactions with fans and friends.”
What are a few of the factors to consider when doing cosplay? “Time management and self-responsibility are crucial because each character cosplay demands a huge amount of time. So, I have to allocate time wisely to ensure it doesn’t interfere with my studies or work commitments.”
Can you tell us about your cosplay costumes? ”Most of my cosplay outfits are usually pre-ordered from China, but sometimes I just rent them to save a bit. My mom’s my go-to for all the fixes and changes needed. The tricky part is dealing with costumes that don’t fit right because of my above-average height. We’ve even had to get creative with lots of safety pins to keep things together!”
How do you decide which characters to cosplay as? “It’s usually based on my own preferences. I tend to avoid going for overly provocative options or selecting characters significantly older than myself, though."
What’s your usual timeframe for researching, taking photos, and getting your makeup just right for your cosplays? ”Not too long, honestly. When I’m in the mood to cosplay a certain character, I just dive right in! It usually takes me no more than a week to get some shots done and share them. As for the makeup part, it’s a pretty quick process too. If the overall look is good, I might just make a few minor adjustments. The only time it might take a while is when I’m dealing with a bad wig. I might need to style the hair differently or add some touches here and there. Like when I did a vampire character, I had to draw some fangs and stuff like that.”
What are your cosplay essentials? “A facelift tape! It really helps me transform into the character that I chose to cosplay as.”
What have you learned from cosplaying? “I feel super proud when I see how far I’ve come, the growth I’ve achieved, and the experiences I’ve had. It’s allowed me to improve in various aspects, like makeup application, performance, content creation, video editing, and even singing and dancing.”
What do your loved ones think about your cosplays? “Everyone around me, including my family, is incredibly supportive. Sometimes when I’m out shooting on location, kids will call their parents over to watch me. It can get a bit embarrassing, but it’s all in good fun.”
“My mom is absolutely adorable – she’s always there to support me and even becomes my official photographer”
Favorite cosplayer? “A Japanese cosplayer called Ojigi.”
Are there any characters you really want to cosplay as but haven’t got a chance to yet? “I’m interested in all these Vtuber characters. The costumers are super expensive, though.”
Have you ever participated in international cosplay events? What was that like for you? “I’ve been to the ‘CosNatsu’ event held in Bangkok, but I haven’t had the chance to attend international events. It was both exciting and a lot of fun to see people cosplaying as various characters. Meeting friends I’ve connected with through social media was a highlight for me.”
Do you have any other hobbies besides cosplaying? “I’m into dance covers, singing, and the K-Pop scene. Right now, I’m juggling these as hobbies alongside my cosplaying.”
Future plans? “Not much happening right now, but if work and studies pick up in the future, I might have to scale back a bit based on the situation.”
Tips for aspiring cosplayers “Make sure to balance your cosplay with your other commitments. I’ve actually given advice to quite a few people who wondered how to do cosplay in a way that their families would totally support.”
“As a young cosplayer, I get that adults might view it as potentially messing with my studies or adding expenses. As long as I handle my time wisely and make sure it doesn’t clash with my responsibilities or my parents’ expectations, there shouldn’t be any problems. When you’re just starting out in cosplay, you might run into issues with managing your time and renting costumes, which can lead to some hiccups. This often means the adults have to step in and take charge.”
Want more? Here are Nya’s socials: Instagram: nnnya.77 Tiktok: saysnanaya