Rising Stars: Meet Irishimo Orlok of Colorado Springs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Irishimo Orlok

Hi irishimo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a child I loved to draw & make many crafts. I was inspired by films, especially when they got creative with costuming, background, makeup & props. In my teens I heard the term “cosplay” & that truly rocked my world. I learned the different types of conventions & their history. I realized that it’s okay to be nerdy, crafty, & creative. I was bullied a lot growing up, because I was different. I decided I didn’t want to fit into a box. My imagination cannot be contained & I get an itch to create. I was a face painter for a long time for parties & events. I would go out dressed up & I fell in love with the Club scene & became a Club Kid. I was introduced to the term “Drag” & all the different forms of performance arts & that opened me up to my passion to entertain. I loved performing as a kid, but as an adult it is something powerful. You can make people laugh, cry, feel different types of emotions & open them up to something new. Something they haven’t seen before. We need it.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing is ever easy, especially when you’re passionate about something not everyone will understand. Art has many categories, a lot of people expect “something nice” like: “can you draw a pretty flower?” My answer is “Yes I can, but not everything in life is pretty.” Sometimes you have to see the hardships. I’ve received lots of backlash from people who don’t understand my art & work their ways to try to stop me. I have severe depression that makes it a struggle to create, but I still have the strength to get my art done. Life isn’t going to be the same for me as it is with others. Transitioning has helped me discover who I am & how I want to shape myself, not letting others shape me & my destiny. It is a battle. I am passionate about my art & to keep going. Since Covid-19 I had been homeless for a short time & have lived all over the state; yet, I was still traveling for shows & events & making outfits from scratch.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am known for my makeup, sewing skills & performing. I love to play with SFX makeup & Prosthetics. I use a lot of the traditional stage makeup & cosmetics to create my pieces. For sewing I can use just about anything from soda tabs to expensive material. I don’t judge! Something will be made from it. Even when I’m not performing, I will design an outfit or fit aesthetics & be a Club Kid! I want to show that it’s okay to dress up & be different in a positive way. Performing I will use a mix of things such as stage acting, cosplay, burlesque, drag, modeling, dancing, magic & so much more~! I’m very proud of what I do. I’m happy that others enjoy my works as well. My goal is to inspire & be inspired. Recently, I’ve been hosting panels for conventions.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to be open to something new. Everyone’s art is different & people should be allowed to show their art. If everyone was the same, life would be boring.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irishimo/profilecard/?igsh=MXgzNXhwdzZ6bTNnbA==
• Other: https://linktr.ee/irishimo

Image Credits
Dr Graves

Maldicion

Purrfect Kitten