[March 7th cosplay] Balancing Carbs and Swordsmanship in the World of Honkai: Star Rail

The Convention photos from the Jinling Youth Culture Expo are finally sorted out! This time, I cosplayed March 7th from Honkai: Star Rail. Huge thanks to photographer Paramecium Photography for the efficient on-site candid snapshots; finding such a clean and crisp background amidst the convention crowds was truly not easy.

First, let's talk about the costume preparation. The wig features a pink double bun style, embellished with floral accessories on both sides and blue highlighted ribbons, creating a playful visual effect. The costume incorporates a bold color-blocking scheme of red, white, purple, and blue. The stand-up collar coat with red-and-black flaps has a substantial texture, giving a powerful aura when worn. The metallic four-leaf flower badge on the chest is the finishing touch—just the right size to boost character recognition without looking over the top. The blue belt around the waist, paired with a lotus buckle on a metallic base and cascading pink ribbons, gives the waistline a crisp, cinched look. The lower half features a White thigh-highs outfit with black thigh straps and thick-soled black boots, combining the sleek efficiency and cuteness of a battle girl.

The props I brought to the venue were two long swords. The hilts were painted gold and pinkish-white, while the blades were red, with guards also decorated in four-leaf flower motifs that echoed the outfit's details nicely. To present a great state in front of the lens, I tried several different poses during shooting. The pose with the sword resting over my shoulder was actually the most relaxing to shoot, making a great fundamental stance. The one-handed chin-resting pose was meant to express the slightly playful teenage charm inherent to her character. The other two dynamic poses—such as kicking up one leg and reaching toward the camera, or standing on one leg while raising both blades high—were actually a true test of balance. To maintain body stability while ensuring the swords pointed correctly, I tried multiple times on set to find the right angle. Thankfully, guided by the photographer, the final photos turned out very crisp.

Regarding makeup, I used blue-purple contact lenses to fit the character setting. The eye makeup was clear and light, paired with reddish lip color to give a vibrant, healthy complexion. The ambient lighting at the convention was actually quite cluttered, but the photographer's wide-aperture lens beautifully blurred out background light stands and onlookers, focusing all visual attention on the costume materials and facial expressions. The red coat produced a subtle shimmer under convention lights, and this fabric sheen significantly elevated the photo texture.

One big takeaway from doing this cosplay is that although the photoshoot process was delightful, maintaining character state truly requires self-discipline. So on set, I kept mentally chanting, "Green Dragon on the left, White Tiger on the right, eat fewer carbohydrates" as a psychological hint to myself; otherwise, I would have been easily drawn away by food stalls at the venue. But then again, being able to connect with fellow fans at the expo while taking these memorable photos was deeply fulfilling in itself. The atmosphere at the Jinling Youth Culture Expo is always fantastic, and the synergy between the photographer and me was seamless. The candid captures without forced clichés ended up showcasing the character's most natural and vivid side. I was extremely satisfied with this Convention photos experience, thankful for everyone who supported on site, and eagerly looking forward to the next convention journey!