At the Honor of Kings National Competition anime convention, I completely transformed into a selfie queen. From entering the venue in the morning to the fall of night, my phone gallery was packed with photos of myself from every conceivable angle. Today, let's look back on the styling, makeup, and photo journey of this 2D daily life and collection of Anime convention selfies.
First, regarding makeup and styling: to match the venue's diverse atmospheres, I prepared multiple entirely distinct styles. From golden long locks to deep blue braids, pastel pink twintails, and silver textured short hair, every wig required advance maintenance; the crown volume and bang hold directly dictated facial contouring on camera. For makeup, to counter the venue's harsh lights from washing out details, I deliberately intensified the eye colors—wearing colored contact lenses paired with dense false eyelashes, and accenting the inner and under-eye areas with rhinestones and glitter. For the base, I prioritized a long-wearing matte finish, as walking through the packed exhibition halls easily brings on sweat. For instance, styling featuring golden dragon horns and red gemstone forehead pendants looked stunning, but wearing them on the head for hours left my scalp aching from the pressure. Double buns and braided styles required dozens of bobby pins to secure; to avoid any mid-day collapse, I reinforced them with multiple coats of firm-hold styling spray. Eye makeup subtleties also involved switching pupil colors: swapping between blue, brown, or violet lenses alongside tailored eye-shape adjustments completely altered my persona.
As for costumes, some were elaborate long gowns, some were a Traditional Chinese style outfit adorned with traditional frog buttons and embroidery, and others combined delicate lace and metallic accents akin to a Maid cosplay. The single greatest challenge of wearing these ensembles was restricted mobility—especially outfits with hoop petticoats or metallic ornaments, which required extreme vigilance when navigating dense crowds. Yet I persisted in pulling out my phone to snap Anime convention selfies before every backdrop. After all, you know your own angles and expressions best—whether flashing a simple peace sign or tilting the head slightly to flatter the neckline, every click captured a gratifying moment. The secret to great selfies is natural ease. Many assume cosplayers' selfies are stiffly staged, but convention selfies are truly about seizing candid frames. Gestures like partially concealing the face with a folding fan or covering the chin with a blue floral prop effortlessly eliminate awkward hand placement. When surrounded by crowds, I lifted the phone high, utilizing a top-down angle to crop out the heads of passersby.
During the day, the outdoor venue had abundant light but cluttered backgrounds, so I sought out clean monochrome sponsor boards or used props along the lens edge to keep the focus squarely on the subject. Come nighttime, stage lights became the primary illumination; magenta, cyan, emerald, and amber spotlights cast across the face proved a real test for camera sensors and ambient exposure. To record a true first-person perspective of the convention, I even mounted an action camera to my chest. By mealtime, unable to comfortably sit in restaurants in full cosplay, I grabbed a quick burger at the venue periphery, taking a few bites wrapped in paper before rushing right back to touch up my makeup.
Certain outfits featured elaborate detailing, such as giant bows or fluttering butterfly wings on the back, which easily caught on others' clothing in cramped corridors. Wearing these designs kept me on high alert, consciously avoiding abrupt movements. The hall was teeming not only with tournament teams and enthusiastic spectators, but also countless photography enthusiasts wielding heavy telephoto lenses. As a cosplayer, maintaining poise and posture is essential, but one must flexibly adapt to the chaotic environment. By the end of the day, my shoulders and feet were terribly sore; the moment I unclipped the wigs and intricate headpieces, a wave of pure relief washed over me. Yet scrolling through those vibrant selfies captured across varying light, all the fatigue faded into pure fulfillment. That is the indelible charm of convention life: celebrating your favorite characters through the most exquisite, dedicated styling.