1) Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and background.
I'm an Art Director in Boston and I recently got to work very closely on an "official" Star Wars project and even have designed a few Star Wars "collectibles." My hobbies are Star Wars (of course), crafting (just about anything), and Kung Fu (which I'm an instructor at my husband's Kung Fu school). I'm also a member of the 501st Stormtrooper Legion.
2) How long have you been costuming? What kinds of experiences have you had?
I've been costuming since 1988, when I went to my first ren faire (where I actually met my husband). I did the ren faire/fantasy scene for about 10 years before I went to my first DragonCon. A friend invited me and we decided to go as Jedi. I've been doing strictly Star Wars costuming ever since.
3) What's your earliest memory of seeing Return of the Jedi?
My earliest memory is actually the Friday of the opening week of ROTJ in 1983. My mom let me and my sisters skip school and drove us to the movie theater at 8:00 in the morning. Me and my two younger sisters were number 15, 16, 17 in line for the first showing. I was wearing black pants and a black shirt similiar to Luke's in ROTJ. My sister had her hair braided like Leia's in the Ewok Village. I was much more of a Tom-boy back then and wanted to be Luke more then Leia, so I don't really remember what I thought of Leia in the gold bikini when I "first" saw her.
4) When did you get your first "metal bikini" and what drove you to it?
I wore the "metal bikini" in 2001. In 1999, I was one of a handful of female Jedi at DragonCon. Everyone was impressed and we all really stood out. In 2000, I returned to DragonCon as a female Jedi, only to find that there were 2 dozen other girls dressed as Jedi as well. I liked having a costume that stood out and vowed that the following year I would do Slave Leia. In 2001 I dawned the "metal bikini" and quickly surpassed my goal of "standing out".
5) What is your favorite memory of appearing as Slave Leia?
There are SO MANY memories. But I think my favorite is when I first put on the costume and headed out to wear it on the floor of the DragonCon. My friends opened the door of our hotel room, two guys walked by, I stepped out, the two guys were about 3 strides away when they quickly turned around and said "can we take a picture?" The cameras didn't stop flashing until I was behind closed doors once again later that night.
6) If you danced for Jabba the Hutt, what song would you dance to and why?
Wow, that's a hard question. I'd dance to just about anything. I love to dance. I'm actually known for spending 3 hours in a go-go cage at an after party at Celebration 2.
7) Any final words?
If you've ever wanted to know what it's like to be a celebrity hounded by paparazzi, then put on a metal bikini.
Thanks Lori! |
