EVERLAND: New Idles, New Queens

Your mom raised you as a prince, but this is Queendom, right? – Tomboy, (G)I-DLE

It’s no surprise that Anime and Kpop Cosplays Scene continues to thrive here in Bacolod City. Working adults and teenagers, even kids have been overtaken by this pop culture rave that Japan and Korea feels like it can be just in the right up in the closest street or even in the next event. One of the groups that are budding right now is none other than Kizuna’s 5-member cover GG: EVERLAND as one of the most powerful female icons in Kpop, (G)I-DLE.

What started as an idea sparked as five girls ready to take their crowns on stage. In the beginning, the girls were supposed to cover Aespa. However, due to their challenging choreographies and with beginners in dancing, options were explored like Red Velvet, New Jeans and LE SSERAFIM. There was a lot covering the newly released “Nxde” and a member backed out due to lack of time for practices. After a few discussions, members and the chosen group were finalized.

EVERLAND is composed of five charismatic, stunning, and talented women: Maven, Denise, ShaneHeart, Hyorei and Ria. Their artistic leader and center, who goes as Maven Han, is already an established cosplayer in the coscommunity with 7-8 years of experience. Meanwhile, Denise, the outgoing Eonnie and their Yuqi, started to attend Kpop cons since last year. Portraying Shuhua is the group’s visual ShaneHeart, whom has been dubbed by their group as somewhat- inspired. Hyorei, their enthusiastic maknae, is the group’s Miyeon. Lastly, EVERLAND’s ace and seasoned performer Ria is Soyeon, who was the 2nd Runner up at 1st Panaad Kpop Flex as TWICE’s Nayeon together with two of her groupmates who performed with her.

All the girls are students. School and performing are not exactly the easiest things to juggle. So, how do they do it? “As a college student, balancing is hard but the key is to work everything in the weekdays, in order to practice in the weekends,” said Denise. EVERLAND practices on Sunday afternoons for their dance routines and as preparation for their debut stage. Maven currently does offline modular, so balancing is easier for her. Hyorei, on the other hand, admits that as much as it is a balance, school is a priority.

However, aside from time, what other challenges could come with this hobby?

Maven tells: “Money, Technically, we have to start with a capital and if we do not have a capital for our costumes, we are practically entering the scenes and the competitions with a chance that we won’t earn our money back. It’s a huge risk but it’s also an experience for us.”

Yet, nothing comes for free. Passion does not assure that we would never get tired of doing what we do, only an assurance that we’ll keep going no matter what. What are the girls’ driving fuel?

“I’ve been dancing since I was 5 or 6. Dancing can feel like a chore sometimes because I have to do it over and over again but in the end it’s worth it. When I step on stage, with the costume, lighting, and the audience screaming, it gives me a rush. It’s the reason why I kept performing. Competition or not, I still get to be onstage. I love the stage and being on it. And it’s crazy to think that I’m fulfilling the dream that younger me could only dream of doing.” -Ria.

“It makes me happy. It’s a good distraction, a good hobby. And I found that I really enjoy dancing and covering groups and acting like the member I’m covering. I like having fun. I like meeting new people. I like hanging out with my friends. That’s what makes it worth it.” – Maven.

Somehow, it shows how not only their desire and enthusiasm connects them but also their relationships with one another. Hyorei confesses how before joining that she was not an outgoing person but later, it turned her into a loud and welcoming sunshine type. As for ShaneHeart, she’s taken the risk and opportunity to try and eventually brought her to where she is now. And of course, in their leader’s words: it’s also “Seeing how happy you make other people aside from yourself.”

Of course, cosplaying and covering starts somewhere for whoever that wishes to pursue it. Denise and Maven give their piece of mind to their hoobaes:
Denise advises: “If you have cosplans, go for it. Newbies have the tendency to buy expensively. Take your time to say, “This is my cosplay for now, I’ll improve it in the next time.”

Maven expresses: “As someone who’s been in the coscom for a very long time since it was the emerging days [in Bacolod] which was 2016, my biggest advice is when you start cosplaying or any hobby in general, make sure you have the money for it. Make sure you’re financially stable enough, like you have the means to produce your own costumes or to fund that hobby. Cosplay is a very expensive hobby. Kpop covering groups are too. Like Denise said, go for it. I’m very supportive for it. Also, don’t lose yourself in the hobby. It’s really sad if what you only have in mind is ‘Oh, I need to keep doing better’ or ‘I need to buy better costumes ‘cause I need to go with the bandwagon or I’ll cosplay [Genshin] because that’s what has the most attention.’ I think you should go for what you love. Cosplay is supposed to be something you love doing, not something that should pressure you. Try to have fun in the community. It’s not supposed to be a competition. It’s not supposed to be stressful for you. It’s supposed to be a place where you can feel more confident, freer.”

Catch EVERLAND’s mesmerizing debut stage on the upcoming BCD Fancon 2023 on May 27-28 at Acacia Hotel.

“Thank you for the opportunity. Support Kizuna. Support 7N. Thank you and we love you. We will do our best. We’re just starting out; I hope you can grow with us.”- EVERLAND.* (Ira Dawn Myer P. Vinco/BlueSnap Photography)