Nathan chats with Ohla about her journey to Ireland from Ukraine, and how she found the Irish cosplay community. Ohla has since returned home to Ukraine since we recorded the podcast.

About Ohla Zakharova 

My name is Olha, but in cosplay community I am known as Oliver Chest. I am from Ukraine and my hobby is, you guessed it, creating costumes! I was a gamer since early childhood, I started playing my first games with my father as early as 4. Fictional worlds always amazed me, they were my source of inspiration as well as a way of escapism. I wanted to bring something from those fantasy realms into reality, that's when I found out about cosplay. I started creating some accessories, swords even. My cosplay debut was in 2016 at Kiev Comic Con and my first costume was Wendy from Gravity Falls. Though it wasn't too complicated it was a success. I got excited and decided to get into crafting. For me, creating a costume is a challenge, a riddle I want to solve. How can I make this detail? What adjustments should I make? How do I make it look accurate? My biggest pride for now is my Garrus costume from Mass Effect game series. It took me about 3 years to make! There was a lot of learning, going back and forth, scraping old ideas and pieces and remaking them. And finally I got something I was satisfied with!

• https://www.instagram.com/Oliver_chest

ABOUT IRISH MAKERS PODCAST

• Host: Nathan Wheeler  (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBSsNl2OoE7XFGxHj-TAaw)


• Production: Vicky Twomey-Lee (https://beacons.page/whykay)


• Special thanks to Aoife Wheeler (Social Media) and Michael Twomey (AV) on the day


• Music: GurtyBeats - https://soundcloud.com/gurtybeats


• Community Partner: Coding Grace (https://codinggrace.com)

If you are interested in showing what you make or have a story to share, drop us an email: Irishmakerpodcast@gmail.com

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• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theirishmakerspodcast/


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• Website - https://irishmakerspodcast.ie