Latest news with #cosplay
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
IP student drops out to study fashion and is now a cosplay influencer; No injuries in Tuas Port crane collapse: Singapore live news
Elise Lim was on the "safe path" to success – she qualified for the Integrated Programme (IP) after her Primary School Leaving Examination, and managed to get into the Art Elective Programme to pursue her interest in art. However, she stepped away from it all in her fifth year of the IP at National Junior College to study fashion at Temasek Polytechnic (TP). She had cultivated an interest in cosplay during her fourth year, and tried making character wigs and props, and tailoring costumes. She is now a cosplay influencer on TikTok with 94,000 followers. A new crane tipped over at Tuas Port during its delivery on 15 June to a non-operational berth. No injuries were reported in the accident. In a joint statement on the same day, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and port operator PSA Singapore said an assessment of adjacent port equipment and facilities has found no damage. The incident is under investigation. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. Singaporeans love to travel and that isn't lost on the telcos who are seeking to woo globetrotters with 'borderless' mobile plans at low prices. With these plans, consumers can use a generous bundle of mobile data across borders without paying more, or activating a travel e-SIM or roaming feature. M1 is the latest telco to jump on this trend with its Maxx plan that offers 290GB of data for use in Singapore and Malaysia for a monthly record low price of $7.90. The plan also includes 10GB of mobile data for use in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan. Singapore's virtual telco started this trend in September 2023 when they launched a monthly plan that let customers use 100GB across eight Asian destinations (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh). The plan cost $30 monthly for the first three months, then $37 after that. Fabian Sossa, vice-president of corporate and global marketing at said: "The plan is designed for mobile professionals, digital nomads, students, tourists and families with cross-border ties... essentially anyone who needs connectivity across multiple countries without friction." For more on local telcos' 'borderless' mobile plans, read here. A new crane tipped over at Tuas Port during its delivery on 15 June to a non-operational berth. No injuries were reported in the accident. In a joint statement on the same day, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and port operator PSA Singapore said an assessment of adjacent port equipment and facilities has found no damage. The incident is under investigation. For more on the Tuas Port accident, read here. Business owners in Johor Bahru (JB), especially hawkers, have raised concerns to the authorities about the impact of Singapore commuters on their businesses. The issue seems to centre around the fact that parking spaces near the CIQ complex and JB City Centre have been monopolised by Johor residents who commute to Singapore for work. These workers typically park as early as 5am, and return as late as 8pm. It was reported that workers even occupy designated lots for these businesses, removing cones and disregarding reserved signs. A hawker in Perling said she found that her allocated business lot had been taken when she arrived to her stall one morning. At the Iskandar Malaysia Food Court in Gelang Patah, a stall owner claimed nearly 20 vendors have experienced declining profits over the past two years due to this ongoing issue. For more on the challenges JB food vendors face over parking lots, read here. Elise Lim was on the "safe path" to success – she qualified for the Integrated Programme (IP) after her Primary School Leaving Examination, and managed to get into the Art Elective Programme to pursue her interest in art. However, she stepped away from it all in her fifth year of the IP at National Junior College to study fashion at Temasek Polytechnic (TP). She had cultivated an interest in cosplay during her fourth year, and tried making character wigs and props, and tailoring costumes. Lim said, "It's not common for people to drop out of the IP, and a lot of parents could be worried that this is an unstable future, which is true, because the design and art field is unstable." Yet, after three years, the 19-year-old has achieved some level of success in her field with more than 94,000 followers on TikTok where she posts tutorials on how to make wigs, and other cosplay content. On Instagram, she has 12,200 followers. Lim is now in her third year of the fashion design and management at TP. She juggles studies and taking on commission orders for wigs on a first come, first served basis. The prices of her wigs range from US$100 to US$700 (S$130 to S$900). Lim's mother, who only wanted to be known as Mrs Lim and declined to reveal her occupation, said, "I'm proud of Elise and generally supportive of her love for crafting... My main concern is her frequent exposure to chemicals when making wigs, and I hope she takes care to protect herself." For more on Elise's inspirational journey from IP to fashion and cosplayer, read here. Singaporeans love to travel and that isn't lost on the telcos who are seeking to woo globetrotters with 'borderless' mobile plans at low prices. With these plans, consumers can use a generous bundle of mobile data across borders without paying more, or activating a travel e-SIM or roaming feature. M1 is the latest telco to jump on this trend with its Maxx plan that offers 290GB of data for use in Singapore and Malaysia for a monthly record low price of $7.90. The plan also includes 10GB of mobile data for use in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan. Singapore's virtual telco started this trend in September 2023 when they launched a monthly plan that let customers use 100GB across eight Asian destinations (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh). The plan cost $30 monthly for the first three months, then $37 after that. Fabian Sossa, vice-president of corporate and global marketing at said: "The plan is designed for mobile professionals, digital nomads, students, tourists and families with cross-border ties... essentially anyone who needs connectivity across multiple countries without friction." For more on local telcos' 'borderless' mobile plans, read here. A new crane tipped over at Tuas Port during its delivery on 15 June to a non-operational berth. No injuries were reported in the accident. In a joint statement on the same day, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and port operator PSA Singapore said an assessment of adjacent port equipment and facilities has found no damage. The incident is under investigation. For more on the Tuas Port accident, read here. Business owners in Johor Bahru (JB), especially hawkers, have raised concerns to the authorities about the impact of Singapore commuters on their businesses. The issue seems to centre around the fact that parking spaces near the CIQ complex and JB City Centre have been monopolised by Johor residents who commute to Singapore for work. These workers typically park as early as 5am, and return as late as 8pm. It was reported that workers even occupy designated lots for these businesses, removing cones and disregarding reserved signs. A hawker in Perling said she found that her allocated business lot had been taken when she arrived to her stall one morning. At the Iskandar Malaysia Food Court in Gelang Patah, a stall owner claimed nearly 20 vendors have experienced declining profits over the past two years due to this ongoing issue. For more on the challenges JB food vendors face over parking lots, read here. Elise Lim was on the "safe path" to success – she qualified for the Integrated Programme (IP) after her Primary School Leaving Examination, and managed to get into the Art Elective Programme to pursue her interest in art. However, she stepped away from it all in her fifth year of the IP at National Junior College to study fashion at Temasek Polytechnic (TP). She had cultivated an interest in cosplay during her fourth year, and tried making character wigs and props, and tailoring costumes. Lim said, "It's not common for people to drop out of the IP, and a lot of parents could be worried that this is an unstable future, which is true, because the design and art field is unstable." Yet, after three years, the 19-year-old has achieved some level of success in her field with more than 94,000 followers on TikTok where she posts tutorials on how to make wigs, and other cosplay content. On Instagram, she has 12,200 followers. Lim is now in her third year of the fashion design and management at TP. She juggles studies and taking on commission orders for wigs on a first come, first served basis. The prices of her wigs range from US$100 to US$700 (S$130 to S$900). Lim's mother, who only wanted to be known as Mrs Lim and declined to reveal her occupation, said, "I'm proud of Elise and generally supportive of her love for crafting... My main concern is her frequent exposure to chemicals when making wigs, and I hope she takes care to protect herself." For more on Elise's inspirational journey from IP to fashion and cosplayer, read here.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
IP student drops out to study fashion and is now a cosplay influencer; JB businesses see lower profits because S'pore commuters monopolise parking: Singapore live news
Elise Lim was on the "safe path" to success – she qualified for the Integrated Programme (IP) after her Primary School Leaving Examination, and managed to get into the Art Elective Programme to pursue her interest in art. However, she stepped away from it all in her fifth year of the IP at National Junior College to study fashion at Temasek Polytechnic (TP). She had cultivated an interest in cosplay during her fourth year, and tried making character wigs and props, and tailoring costumes. She is now a cosplay influencer on TikTok with 94,000 followers. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. Elise Lim was on the "safe path" to success – she qualified for the Integrated Programme (IP) after her Primary School Leaving Examination, and managed to get into the Art Elective Programme to pursue her interest in art. However, she stepped away from it all in her fifth year of the IP at National Junior College to study fashion at Temasek Polytechnic (TP). She had cultivated an interest in cosplay during her fourth year, and tried making character wigs and props, and tailoring costumes. Lim said, "It's not common for people to drop out of the IP, and a lot of parents could be worried that this is an unstable future, which is true, because the design and art field is unstable." Yet, after three years, the 19-year-old has achieved some level of success in her field with more than 94,000 followers on TikTok where she posts tutorials on how to make wigs, and other cosplay content. On Instagram, she has 12,200 followers. Lim is now in her third year of the fashion design and management at TP. She juggles studies and taking on commission orders for wigs on a first come, first served basis. The prices of her wigs range from US$100 to US$700 (S$130 to S$900). Lim's mother, who only wanted to be known as Mrs Lim and declined to reveal her occupation, said, "I'm proud of Elise and generally supportive of her love for crafting... My main concern is her frequent exposure to chemicals when making wigs, and I hope she takes care to protect herself." For more on Elise's inspirational journey from IP to fashion and cosplayer, read here. Elise Lim was on the "safe path" to success – she qualified for the Integrated Programme (IP) after her Primary School Leaving Examination, and managed to get into the Art Elective Programme to pursue her interest in art. However, she stepped away from it all in her fifth year of the IP at National Junior College to study fashion at Temasek Polytechnic (TP). She had cultivated an interest in cosplay during her fourth year, and tried making character wigs and props, and tailoring costumes. Lim said, "It's not common for people to drop out of the IP, and a lot of parents could be worried that this is an unstable future, which is true, because the design and art field is unstable." Yet, after three years, the 19-year-old has achieved some level of success in her field with more than 94,000 followers on TikTok where she posts tutorials on how to make wigs, and other cosplay content. On Instagram, she has 12,200 followers. Lim is now in her third year of the fashion design and management at TP. She juggles studies and taking on commission orders for wigs on a first come, first served basis. The prices of her wigs range from US$100 to US$700 (S$130 to S$900). Lim's mother, who only wanted to be known as Mrs Lim and declined to reveal her occupation, said, "I'm proud of Elise and generally supportive of her love for crafting... My main concern is her frequent exposure to chemicals when making wigs, and I hope she takes care to protect herself." For more on Elise's inspirational journey from IP to fashion and cosplayer, read here.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Canada's largest gaming expo in Edmonton for the weekend
Canada's largest gaming expo is expected to bring upwards of 40,000 visitors to the Edmonton Expo Centre over the weekend. Game Con Canada kicked off Friday and runs until Sunday, bringing together online and tabletop gamers of all ages together for three days. 'This is a weekend all about gaming, everything to do with gaming, video games, board games, Hollywood celebrities, movies and all of the above,' said Chris Meilleur, CEO of Meibell Consulting and Game Con Canada. 'This is just a fun-filled weekend for people to come out and have a good time.' The convention featured a Warhammer world championship, a live Dungeons and Dragons comedy experience, escape rooms and celebrity guests including Matthew Lillard, Steven Ogg and Aleks Paunovic. Meilleur said guests can expect to see a lot of cosplay, too, with a Sunday cosplay competition handing out $10,000 in cash prizes. 'Matter of fact, we're the largest cosplay cash prize in Canada,' he added. Cosplay Ian McDonald (left) and John Moffatt donned Halo marine cosplay for Game Con Canada in Edmonton on June 13, 2025. (Galen McDougall/CTV News Edmonton) John Moffatt and Ian McDonald attended the event Friday in their best Halo marine attire. They said it's great to have a space to share their love of the game and the getups with other people. 'You got Halo 3 in 2007 and it was like, damn, that was the moment,' McDonald said. 'You want to be a part of that. And being able to make costumes and do it where you could feel like you were really in the game, was what we wanted to do.' '(Cosplay is) a really great outlet for people,' added Moffatt. 'It's working on art that's not your most conventional form.' The convention will run until 7 p.m. Saturday night and will return from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sleep Token: The man who makes Download headliners' masks
Like thousands of other music fans, Lani Hernandez-David will be watching Sleep Token at Download Festival this unlike the rest, the 22-year-old can lay a claim to playing a role in the headline act's meteoric rockers have recently had their first number one album and have developed a huge following with breakout viral hits - all while remaining anonymous behind custom-designed Lani is the one who's been creating them for the band since 2023. Lani, who works out of a small studio in south London, has been into making masks and costumes since he was about first latex creation still sits on his workbench. Fuelled by his interest in cosplay, he says he refined his skills by watching YouTube tutorials and eventually began posting his own creations Token's drummer spotted them, and dropped Lani a DM asking if he'd like to work for the band."I thought it was a scam at first," he rock fan Lani said he noticed the profile's blue verification tick, and recalled that he'd actually been to see Sleep Token at a festival months the penny dropped."Oh, this is that band I saw," he says. Lani met the band, who provided him with ideas for designs, and he started the nerve-wracking task of creating them."I'd never made masks for a touring band before, " he Token debuted his creations at their sold-out Wembley show in 2023, a moment Lani says he won't forget."When they came out wearing my masks I just pinched myself," he tells BBC Newsbeat."I remember thinking: 'That was made on my kitchen table - that's insane'." Lani, who still has a second job in a costume shop, has since been approached by other bands to make masks for he's approached, Lani says he will "binge all their music, watch all their interviews"."You never know what will inspire from the music, the lyrics, back into the mask-making," he says."So I try to really involve myself with the artist just so I can get back in the zone."But Lani says he owes a lot to Sleep Token."That was my first one and I've learnt so much from meeting them."I've tried to incorporate that knowledge back into mask-making and just improving every time." The rise of Sleep Token Music journalist Emma Wilkes says part of Sleep Token's appeal is in their "genre-bending" are often described as a metal band but Emma says they also employ elements of "pop, R&B, a little bit of trap as well". Emma says the band has been on a "meteoric trajectory" since 2023 album Take Me Back to Eden, and viral hits that have propelled them "to a level of success at a speed nobody could have anticipated".Their latest album Even in Arcadia topped album charts but, more significantly, also generated a top 10 Sleep Token's success has also generated negativity - especially among some long-time rock music scathing review of their most recent album said it was "metal music for Disney adults".Emma says she's surprised by the level of anger they sometimes attract. "I can understand if people listen to it and they don't quite understand it," she says."It's a bit different, it pulls influences from all over the place. "If you don't get it fair enough, but the sheer levels of vitriol, especially after this new album has come out, it's quite astounding to me." One of the most common criticisms of Sleep Token is that their masks are a gimmick to generate not so sure."They could make all of the music without the get-up and I think they'd still do well," he says."But the lore, the 'gimmick', really helps."Sleep Token seem to have inspired other masked bands. President - probably the most high-profile recent example - are also set to play at Download this year. "That's good for people like me," says Lani, who has also worked with President."Maybe too many people will do it one day but for now it's great." Lani says his dream client would be Slipknot, the nu-metal band with nine masked members that provided a prototype for bands like Sleep for now he's content."I'm doing what I've always wanted to do," he says."If you had told 14-year-old me I'd be making masks for bands I'd have told you 'no way'."Now, he says, he's known as "the guy that does the band masks"."Five years down the line hopefully I can work for myself and make more crazy silly stuff." Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
ABC News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Amid concerns about China's falling birthrate, the 'boy sober' movement is rising
When Beijing university student Maman, a fan of K-pop and anime, became tired of not finding a compatible man to date, she decided to hire a "cosplay boyfriend". First, the 22-year-old searched online for cosplay actors who offer companionship services. The date was simple: they spent the afternoon drawing together, taking quirky photos around the city, and joking about their favourite characters. "Virtual reality dating, and cosplay dating has helped women increase their self-awareness and allows a deeper understanding of what they want in relationships," Maman said. Cosplay (short for "costume play") is a kind of performance art where people dress up as characters from anime, computer games and other pop culture. Maman's cosplay boyfriend was dressed as Osborn, the talented race car driver from the mobile game Light and Night who sports jet black hair and smouldering looks. For Maman, who declined to give her full name, the date was not a mere escape; it was a refreshing break from transactional, often demeaning, dating app culture. She's part of a new generation of heterosexual women in China embracing the TikTok #boysober trend — no dating apps, no situationships, just self-care and staying single by choice. Xuanzi, a follower of the "boy sober" movement from the port city of Dalian, said she had grown tired of online dating that often felt like a series of check-boxes and so opted to hire a cosplay boyfriend for a day too. In China — where those who don't marry before 30 risk being called "leftover women" — the boy sober movement is largely a rejection of societal pressure to marry by a certain age. That pressure has stepped up even more so as the birth rate has plummeted — with the country's population falling for a third consecutive year in 2024. The government has loosened the one-child policy, instituted a 30-day cooling off period for divorces, and even suggested at the National People's Congress plenary meeting to allow people a week off "to enjoy love". But for many women, these measures feel like token gestures, designed to curb demographic decline without addressing the deeper societal issues. Pan Wang, a sociologist in Chinese studies at the University of New South Wales, said the boy sober movement was largely limited to feminists in urban areas. "Women are rejecting marriage because of the unequal distribution of domestic work, male chauvinism, and intense social pressure," she said. The expectation to care for two families due to China's aging population also places a heavy burden on women, she added. "There is a trending phrase on Weibo, 戒断男性专注自身# — 'Detox from boys and focus on yourself,'" Xuanzi said. At one point, the hashtag had around 320 million views on the social media platform, she said, showing that "young women are having a collective awakening". The hashtag is blocked on Weibo and RedNote but the discussion remains in some posts. "We are not rejecting love, but rejecting the countdown of 'must marry' before 30," said Xuanzi. Maman said experiencing gender inequality in relationships was one of the driving forces behind her decision to hire a cosplay boyfriend. "In my past relationships, I often encountered young men who displayed very obvious patriarchal traits," she said. "They either placed too much emphasis on family expectations, or saw women as nothing more than objects of pleasure. It was a binary I didn't want to be a part of." Marriages in China plunged by a record amount last year, falling by a fifth to just 6.1 million — less than half the number that got married in 2013. The high cost of childcare and education has been blamed, along with economic uncertainty. About 42 per cent of China's youth were not looking for a relationship, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences' 2022 Report on the Mental Health of College Students. Of the 80,000 surveyed, 41.93 per cent were single and wanted to stay single, 27.61 per cent were in relationships, and 25.40 per cent were single but seeking a relationship, while the remainder did not answer. Websites and mobile apps, which have largely replaced traditional marriage markets, were supposed to make dating easier. But, as in the West, many Chinese young people have also become disillusioned with meeting people online. "Dating apps have made us into products, constantly advertising ourselves to potential suitors," said Ms Yan, a bisexual university student who declined to provide her first name. "But the reality is that many men haven't evolved with the expectations of gender equality." Rather than facilitating genuine connection, the apps have been critiqued for turning dating into a commodified experience — resembling a game where swiping right has replaced meaningful interactions. "Dating apps have made it 'fast-food love', swiping left or fight to get more and more people but it has also led to the counter-trend, more people like me," Xuanzi said. In a world of seemingly endless matches, it was easy to fall into the trap of "networked loneliness", said Hao Xu, from the University of Melbourne, noting the abundance of choice leading to fatigue and dissatisfaction. "This abundance of choice creates superficial interactions, where individuals are treated as commodities rather than potential partners." What's more, online dating has begun to replicate real-world inequalities. On dating platforms like Qingteng Love, users must now verify their degrees. Some users say this kind of filtering makes dating feel more like job recruitment than emotional connection. "Dating apps have become more exclusive," said University of Technology Sydney sociologist Tingting Liu. "People don't talk about class and instead use income — apartment ownership, car ownership and education," she explained. It's against this backdrop that many young women are embracing alternative forms of companionship. It's not just cosplay boyfriends — others are delving into virtual realms, experimenting with AI boyfriends or video game-based interactions. Maman said many women preferred to go on cosplay dates with female actors dressing as male anime characters. "It's because we feel safer if we know other women," she said. "Some of them even look more like the characters." Lexie Chang, who has been working as a cosplay actor for a year, charges about $75 a day. Her clients — mostly professional women and university students aged 17 to 30 — wanted emotional care, not romance, she said. "I listen, offer comfort and hugs, I focus on their emotions like a therapist," said Ms Chang. "While there are some clients who choose this service due to loneliness, they represent a small minority. "Cosplay commissions, as a new dating trend, reflect the diversification of emotional needs in modern society, the fusion of anime and real-life experiences, and the rise of emotional consumption. "As society changes, more women are focused on self-realisation rather than traditional roles like marriage or childbirth." Rui, a 29-year-old cosplay actor from Beijing, said she herself has given up on dating. "I focus more on friendships now. Not sexuality, but sociality." "When women realise men can't meet the standards of a gender-equal relationship, they stop trying," said Ying, a student from Zhuhai. "The pressure to date, even from a young age, just becomes too much." Leta Hong Fincher, the author of Leftover Women about the growing gender inequality in China, said movements like boy sober represented the growing feminist consciousness. "Fewer women are willing to make major compromises," she said. "They're finding more support in their friendships and choosing to remain single until — or unless — someone truly fits."
