[Mr. C.B. Cosplay] Shining Moments in Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Jumping straight to the point, this shoot features Mr. C.B. from Umamusume: Pretty Derby. As a dedicated Mr. C.B. fan, I spent over a month preparing for this photoshoot, and I'd like to share my thoughts on this 2023 version styling. Compared to the 2022 sailor uniform shoot under natural outdoor lighting, this 2023 version focused heavily on the Wig styling and costume textures. The wig is styled in twin-tails; to recreate that windblown, dynamic unkempt look while running, I hand-sculpted it bit by bit with styling wax for nearly an hour to achieve this irregular, airy volume, deliberately teasing the roots for extra fluffiness—a very time-consuming process. I wore green contact lenses with a relatively large diameter, requiring defined eyeliner and lower lashes to anchor the gaze, otherwise it could look unfocused. The beauty mark by the corner of the eye was also drawn on to boost character recognition. The costume features a white-and-green jacket with gold buttons, layered over green fabric and white lace with subtle skin exposure. Wearing the choker nicely flatters the neckline, adding a touch of cyber style to the ensemble.

During indoor studio shoots, lighting places high demands on makeup. I chose photo 4 as the cover because the lighting was spot-on, perfectly highlighting the costume's design through the collarbones and the fabric drape on the chest. During the shoot for photo 3 in the studio, the lighting setup was complex with equipment cluttering the background, so I chose to shoot a clean half-body portrait against a gray wall. Beyond looking great in costume, natural movement is even more vital. I'm very satisfied with the pose in photo 4: resting my hand near my collarbone with a slight head tilt sharply contoured my face shape. Photo 5 captures an outstretched hand gesture, leaning more dynamic. As a devoted Mr. C.B. fan, seeing the expression align with the character during the shoot was immensely rewarding. This time, I used a relatively lightweight, translucent base makeup to reflect the character's demeanor, sculpting 2D facial contours within 3D makeup as much as possible. The core of the makeup lies in eyeshadow blending—avoiding exaggeration by layering an earth-toned base with subtle shimmer, letting the pupil color brighten the entire look. If given the chance, I'd love to try an outdoor shoot running backlit under natural light, which would definitely deliver a whole different atmosphere.