[Dolia cosplay] Honor of Kings Marine style cosplay: A convention day spent trying to hide my fishtail

Bringing Dolia to this convention took nearly half a month of preparation, from hair and makeup to crafting props. The wig was styled from ocean-blue long curls; to keep its fluffy volume, I spent the previous evening layering curls with a curling iron. The upward-curving antenna hairpiece on the crown was built on an aluminum wire armature, wrapped in lightweight air-dry clay and plush clouds so it wouldn't collapse even after walking around the convention floor all day. For makeup, blue contact lenses were paired with expansive red washes around the eyes, layered with blue teardrop pigment below the lower lids; multiple layers of setting spray were applied to ensure vivid color payoff even under harsh lighting. The dress was crafted from blue-to-purple gradient translucent organza, its multi-tiered skirt hem giving off a jelly-like luminous reflection, while the bodice was hand-sewn with white seashells, red starfish, and delicately scattered pearls. To evoke that marine creature ambiance, I also prepared jellyfish props and bubble machines of various sizes. Capturing those floating bubbles was the hardest part during the shoot, as gusts easily blew them away, and ensuring the camera caught the refractive sheen meant the photographer had to fire the shutter continuously. That gigantic clear bubble in Photo 2 is my absolute favorite: sitting atop it demanded incredible core stability and straight legs to keep the bubble from deforming, while the clear strapped sandals kept slipping due to a lack of leverage. Holding the blue-rimmed hand mirror and the pose in Photo 1 gently lifting the jellyfish were all designed to express her lively grace as a sea creature. The convention was packed with crowds, with black light stands and passing visitors cluttering the background; keeping disciplined facial expressions in such a bustling environment was truly no easy feat. Every time I cosplay a character with voluminous hair and intricate accessories, security checks and changing take forever, and the trinkets easily tangle with the slightest movement. Yet seeing the final photos made every bit of effort worth it. My fishtail was hidden very well today—didn't scare the humans at all!