The moment I put on this cheerleader uniform for Nekozuka Hibiki cosplay and hoisted that massive yellow-and-white cylindrical gear onto my back, I immediately felt in-character. We chose a pure white backdrop for this shoot, primarily to highlight the character's clean color palette and energetic vibe. The design of this outfit is truly clever: the blue-and-white main palette paired with expansive yellow-and-white checkerboard patterns visually blends the freshness of collegiate style with dynamic athletic boldness.
For me, the greatest challenge of this Cosplay wasn't actually the bulky props, but rather the outfit's strict demands on body shape. As I complained in my original post, trimming waist fat is truly so difficult! This cropped Cheerleader cosplay top and ultra-short pleated skirt leave virtually no room to hide any physical flaws. To achieve a more natural presentation on camera, I had to undergo a period of fat loss and core strength training before the shoot, all to showcase the crisp, sharp lines that the character embodies.
In terms of gear, the floating glowing yellow halo and huge fluffy beast ears atop my head look incredibly adorable, but maintaining balance while wearing them requires extra care—especially with the goggles trimmed in thick black faux-fur and the beast ears on the wig, the weight on the head cannot be underestimated. The prop cannon is much heavier than it looks; wielding it for various poses challenged both arm and waist strength. Especially in Photo 5, kneeling on one knee while looking back over the shoulder, I had to stabilize the cannon's center of gravity while keeping facial contours and expressions lively—a true test of core stability.
For makeup, I emphasized the clarity of my gaze, complemented by yellow star decals at the corners of the eyes to elevate the overall anime aesthetic. It was a great pleasure collaborating with the photographer, who used shadowless high-key lighting to sculpt dimensional muscle lines and fabric folds, capturing the slightly lazy yet enthusiastic Big puppy aura I wanted. The high-key white background not only emphasized the contrast between skin tone and outfit colors, but also made the entire set feel remarkably crisp and luminous.
In fact, during Cosplay, body anxiety is something almost every girl faces. Wearing costumes with significant skin exposure makes it hard not to scrutinize one's waist and abdomen lines. But I'm gradually making peace with myself: exercising diligently shows a positive attitude, while confident self-expression is the true core of Cosplay. Through this shoot, I hope to present the unique charm of Nekozuka Hibiki from Blue Archive—both vibrant and delightfully lazy. Although each shoot requires lugging heavy props, the sense of accomplishment and love for the character upon seeing the shutter results completely overpowers the exhaustion.